What Are the Risks of Choosing Wrong Technology for Your Web App?
An experienced web development company can provide valuable guidance in making the right choice. By the end of this article, you will find six straightforward tips to help you avoid choosing the wrong technology for your web application.
What does a “wrong choice” mean in practice?
First, it's important to define what a "wrong choice" for the technology in a web application means in practice. The technology you select for your web application could be unsuitable for your project and business needs. When starting work on the app, consider your goals and how they align with your business objectives.
Ensure that the technology trend you're interested in isn't declining, as using such technology may negatively impact the software development process and the maintenance of the application after its launch. Outdated technology often lacks adequate security. Make sure the tech you want to use is properly updated (by the community or the corporation that supports it) and effectively secured.
Ongoing support is another factor to consider when choosing the technology for your web application. If the technology isn't regularly supported and upgraded by its creators, it may have an uncertain future. You don't want your business to rely on a technology with an unclear outlook, do you?
Additionally, verify that the underlying technology you want to use is well-regarded and has a solid track record. While some rising stars exist among web application technologies, others might be short-lived "buzz" that fades quickly. Always opt for reliable and proven technology.
Lastly, remember that a low price doesn't always equate to good quality. Selecting technology that is cheaper than comparable options but less efficient is a common mistake.
When building a web application, always work with a trusted and experienced web development company. Your technology partner will help you choose the best and most secure option tailored to your needs, business goals, technology assets, and future plans.
The business consequences of making a bad technology choice
So, we have established what a "bad choice" for the technology in a web application means in practice. Now, let's take a closer look at the consequences of that decision and analyze how it can affect your business processes and organization.
Problems hiring developers who will be able to expand your existing app
Choosing the wrong technology for your web application may result in having serious problems with hiring developers who will be able to expand your existing app. If you've built a web application in the past, you may have chosen a technology that developers don't want to work with anymore. The decision may have been right when you made it, but the environment has changed, and the stack you used is now outdated.
Being sure that the technology you want to use is not outdated is also important because it may occur that, from the start, you have chosen an old-school technology, and developers no longer want to work with it.
Keep in mind that the technology landscape in the developers' market is constantly changing. New technologies appear, developers stop using some technologies (for example, Ember), and they start using another – better, faster, more attractive, or easier to learn – solution.
An example of a technology failure is what happened with Ember. There used to be a time when everyone was using Ember for their web applications. It was a hot tech; the amount of buzz around it was significant. But it was only a bubble, and after it burst, it became difficult to hire Ember developers.
If you choose a technology that no one later wants to work with, you lose options for developing and expanding your app as a result, which will negatively affect your business. When you can't upgrade your app and add new features to it, you may lose clients and miss your business goals. It could also cost you more to find people who want to work with outdated technology.
The necessity to rewrite your app to a new technology stack
Using outdated technology can also result in costly rewrites of your app and the necessity to switch to a whole new technology stack. And that costs a lot of time and money to execute.
Sometimes, creators of a given technology decide to stop supporting and developing it, and you have no other choice than to switch. But you can avoid this by relying on the expertise of your technology partner who will recommend the most future-proof tech available.
Transferring an app to a new technology stack may be difficult, time-consuming, and expensive, but there are situations in which it is worth the effort.
The danger of security leaks
Outdated or unproven technology is often not secure enough and has numerous security vulnerabilities. Choosing such technology means exposing your company to the serious threat of data breaches and leaks, reputation problems, a potential PR crisis, and, in effect, a decline in your business.
Sometimes, in the case when a technology founder decides not to support a technology anymore, it means that the systems and apps built with this technology will have security problems. With every update of the technology always comes a new security patch, but if the tech is no longer supported, new security features for a given technology are no longer created. Hackers and cyber-criminals love to exploit such technology failures and security holes.
Check how to improve security in mobile app development here!
Problems with developing and adding new features to the app
Choosing the wrong technology for your web application and limitations of a given technology makes adding new features impossible. Do not be stubborn with maintaining and developing an app or adding new features to an app that is made in an already outdated tech – sometimes rewriting it might be a better idea.
Imagine that you want to add a new feature to your web application and the development process in a given technology has already started. You come up with an idea to add something completely new that was not consulted on before, and your tech partners inform you that, because of the tech you have used, it is simply impossible to do.
Sometimes, companies choose technologies that have a lot of ready-made, built-in solutions. WordPress and e-commerce platforms are good examples of this. It may be a good choice in certain cases, but chances are that you'll want to introduce some custom features, and it is not possible or demands a lot of developers' work.
Always ask your technology partner about all the limitations of the technology you're planning to use for your web app. And make sure that the tech is still being developed and supported by the company that created it. If it's not, often it means that you will not be able to add new features.
Additional and unnecessary setbacks
Some firms and organizations tend to develop simple apps with complex frameworks; they're using technology adjusted to complex business operations, to create a simple app. And sometimes it goes the other way – the technology used for the development of a web app is too limited to create it properly.
Choosing the right technology for your business and organizational needs is key. You need to determine what you want to achieve in order to know how complex your app must be. Some firms don't adjust the technology to project complexity, and it results in huge development delays, longer time to market, lost sales, and missing business goals.
To avoid these setbacks, it's essential to collaborate with a technology partner who can help guide you in selecting the appropriate technology stack for your project. By aligning the complexity of your app with the right technology, you can reduce development time, ensure a smoother launch, and ultimately achieve your business objectives more efficiently.
An app full of bugs with serious quality problems
Cost is an important factor to consider while developing a web application, of course. But don't look only at the price you have to pay for the project. The quality of the app is more important than the budget you have. Sometimes it is good to do less but better, than trying to chew up too much.
Firms tend to choose cheap technology only because of the price and the number of developers who use it (if there are a lot of developers who use a certain technology, prices are lower). Some technologies are easy to learn, and there are a lot of developers out there to create your app. It is easy for businesses to find developers, but much more difficult to hire true professionals.
Focusing only on the price tag may result in creating poor-quality code, exposing your business to cyber risk and security leaks, infecting your app with numerous bugs, and the impossibility of adding new features. All of those setbacks lead to one simple consequence – losing users of the app caused by using cheap and bad tech.
Long-term negative consequences of choosing a wrong technology
Choosing the wrong or outdated technology for your web application will certainly have a long-term negative consequences for your business:
- Unnecessary costs: Choosing the wrong or outdated technology for your web application can lead to increased development expenses, higher maintenance fees, and the need for costly rewrites or updates in the future. This financial burden can strain your business resources and limit your ability to invest in other areas of growth or innovation.
- Longer time to market: A wrong technology choice can slow down the development process and delay the launch of your web app. This can result in missed opportunities, allowing competitors to gain an advantage while your business struggles to catch up. The longer time to market can also negatively impact your overall business goals and objectives.
- Difficulty attracting and retaining clients: An outdated or poorly performing web application can frustrate users and drive them away, making it challenging to attract new clients or retain existing ones. This can lead to reduced revenue, stunted growth, and a diminished market share.
- Challenges in attracting investors and developers: A web application built with the wrong technology may struggle to gain the interest of investors and skilled developers. Investors may be hesitant to invest in a product with a questionable future, while developers may prefer to work on projects using more popular or cutting-edge technologies. This can limit your access to funding and talent, hindering your web app's growth and success.
- Reputational risk: A web application built with the wrong technology can reflect poorly on your brand and reputation. If your app is slow, buggy, or difficult to use, users may associate these negative experiences with your business as a whole. This can damage your brand image, making it harder to win over new customers and retain existing ones. Furthermore, a damaged reputation can also make it difficult to attract investors, partners, and talented employees in the future.
- Obsolescence and lack of support: Relying on outdated or unsupported technology can leave your web application vulnerable to becoming obsolete as newer, better technologies emerge. This can force your business to invest in costly rewrites or abandon the app altogether. Additionally, lack of support for the chosen technology can make it difficult to address any issues or implement updates, further exacerbating the negative long-term consequences.
- Limited potential for growth and innovation: A web application built with the wrong technology may struggle to adapt to changing business needs or industry trends. This can hinder your app's ability to grow and evolve, limiting its potential for success and stifling opportunities for innovation.
In conclusion, choosing the wrong or outdated technology for your web application can have significant long-term negative consequences for your business. It's essential to thoroughly research and evaluate available technologies and work with experienced web development partners to ensure that your chosen technology aligns with your business goals, objectives, and future plans.
6 simple tips that will help you avoid choosing bad technology for your web application
- Choose a trusted and experienced web development company: Working with a reputable and experienced web development company ensures that you receive expert advice and guidance in selecting the right technology for your web application. These companies have a proven track record of successful projects and can provide you with valuable insights based on their experience with various technologies and industries.
- Choose an agency that offers numerous technologies: Selecting a web development agency with a diverse range of technologies in its portfolio allows you to explore multiple options and find the best fit for your project. A company with expertise in various technologies is better equipped to recommend the most suitable technology stack for your specific needs and requirements.
- Don't decide based solely on the buzz: While it's essential to stay updated with the latest trends in web development, don't make technology decisions based solely on hype or popularity. Research the technology, consider its long-term viability, and assess how well it aligns with your project goals and business objectives before making a decision.
- Don't decide based solely on a low price: While cost is an important factor to consider, it should not be the sole determinant in choosing a technology for your web application. Prioritize quality, scalability, and long-term support over short-term cost savings. Remember that a cheaper solution may end up costing more in the long run due to maintenance, updates, or necessary rewrites.
- Be open to your technology partner's suggestions: Your web development partner has the experience and expertise to recommend the most suitable technologies for your project. Listen to their suggestions and be open to exploring different options. They can provide valuable insights into the pros and cons of each technology and help you make an informed decision based on your specific needs and goals.
- Discuss your long-term plan and strategy with your web development company: Before selecting a technology for your web application, discuss your long-term plans and strategy with your web development company. This will help them understand your vision and recommend a technology that can grow and evolve with your business. A technology that supports your long-term goals will be more sustainable and provide a better return on investment.
