Enterprise Application vs Web Application: Definition, Working, and Benefits

Enterprise web application: the basic choice comes down to “web application vs enterprise application”. If you are confused about which type of application is suitable for your business, then you have come to the right place in the quest for your answer.

In this blog, we will discuss the vivid details in terms of enterprise application vs web application. But first, let’s get our basics clear now, shall we? 

Web applications are the apps you run on a browser with the help of an internet connection but without downloading them previously from an app store. These apps update automatically and can perform various functions to offer an app-like experience. 

Web apps are stored on servers that users can easily access through URLs. Let for example say that you open a google doc in the browser; using the web browser as an interface, you can easily perform all sorts of functions from creating content to storing and sharing it similarly as you can do on any pre-installed native application. 

In contrast to that, enterprise applications are separate software designed for some specific business functions. It is used to moderate mission-critical business management challenges. It comprises varied performance parameters and touchpoints to make it appropriate for the business. 

Let us dig deeper into the difference between web applications and enterprise applications. 

Defining software applications 

What do you mean by Web applications? 

In the case of serving its users, web applications are universal in nature. Now, what does that mean? It means that it is used widely as a promising tool for diverse use cases at commercial as well as at individual level. It can be defined as a web-based computer program that uses a web browser as an interface to perform one or more functions for its users. 

Web applications are responsive to every operating system and device in the world. And the users can access it from anywhere over the internet. Now, that is what we can call a true universal nature. 

What is an Enterprise application? 

The type of applications used to solve a business’s operational problems effectively can be called enterprise application software. In the business realm, various enterprise applications include SAP, a comprehensive ERP application for accounting. While a business development department would also need some kind of scalable business intelligence application tools. 

Similarly, every department in the company would need a software solution appropriate for their work to overcome everyday challenges. Additionally, to gain an operational advantage, you can connect every application through an uninterrupted channel for effective communication. 

If you want to commence smooth communication between applications and systems, then enterprise application integration is critical. This enables businesses around every industry vertical to generate real-time data and perform efficiently with a data-driven approach across various platforms.

Working on software application: enterprise vs web 

Enterprise web application 

With the addition of simplified business management solutions, enterprise app technologies are growing with time. The vendors offer application design and development services for cutting-edge enterprise software apps that come in various packages like Software as a Service (SaaS), business web app services, and progressive web apps.

There are different kinds of devices and integrated platforms through which you can access a wide range of enterprise applications. These applications can exclusively be used for in-house functionalities and remote accessibility, which can be proven helpful in the current pandemic. 

A lot of enterprise companies nowadays are shifting their entire infrastructure to the cloud. No doubt cloud is one of the latest technology trends; with its help, you can access not only the system but its database too from anywhere in the world. Many enterprises hire an in-house app development team to build industry-appropriate enterprise applications. 

Web application 

Unlike native apps, web applications work with distributed application layers in a client-server architecture. It would only need a web server, an application server, and a database to create a functional network for web applications. 

The complete working cycle of web applications starts through a user prompt via a web browser or a web interface. Now, the web server passes on the request to the application server for its execution. Accordingly, after querying the database, the application server will process the request and send it back to the web server. 

The client-side scripts like Javascript, HTML, ASP, and PHP are used to build web applications with browser-appropriate servers. Integrating the code in a web application perfectly will help cater to the users’ requests effectively.  Additionally, in contrast to static applications, dynamic apps demand server-based processing to perform any function or task for the users. 

Benefits: web application vs enterprise application 

Advantages of web applications 

• Cost-effective app experience at the expense of a website
  
• Responsive design with time-saving request execution cycle
  
• Cross-device functionality and seamless application integration
  
• Servers multiple users at a time without technical snags
  
• Secure data centralization with easy backup functionality
  
• Uninterrupted app services across different Operating systems.

Advantages of enterprise applications 

• High Data Capacity and Scalability
  
• Extensive Interoperability
  
• Excellent Configurability
  
• Operation Analytics
  
• Exceptional Identity Management
  
• Disaster Recovery and Redundancy
  
• Assured Privacy and Security

Web application technologies and examples

There are hundreds of web applications to name in the digital world. Attentively or not, we are using at least a couple of web applications in our daily life. There are two types of web applications. It is also called a proportionate mix of client-side coding and server-side coding. 

Client-side coding technology stack

• Cascading Style Sheet (CSS)
  
• HyperText Markup Language (HTML)
  
• Asynchronous JavaScript and XML (Ajax)
  
• jQuery
  
• Dojo Toolkit
  
• MooTools

Server-side coding technology stack

• Hypertext Preprocessor (PHP)
  
• Active Server Page (ASP)
  
• Zend Framework
  
• Coldfusion
  
• Ruby on Rails
  
• Python
  
• ASP.NET
  
• pearl

Examples of enterprise application

• Customer Relationship Management Software
  

• Salesforce CRM
  
• Freshsales CRM
  
• Hubspot CRM
  
• Project Management applications
  

• Asana
  
• Basecamp
  
• Zoho projects
  
• Trello
  
• Enterprise Resource Planning (ERP)
  

• Bitrix24
  
• NetSuite
  
• SAP Business
  
• Sage 300cloud
  
• Tally.ERP 9
  
• Dynamics
  
• Treasury Management System (TMS)
  

• SAP for finance
  
• Oracle treasury
  
• Tm5
  
• IBSFINtech
  
• CAPIX
  
• ZenTreasury
  
• Business Intelligence (BI)
  

• Zoho analytics
  
• SAP Business Intelligence
  
• Jaspersoft
  
• Sisense
  
• MicroStrategy
  
• Business Continuity Planning (BCP)
  

• Microsoft R Server
  
• Nero
  
• Folder Lock
  
• GoodSync
  
• Spanning Backup 

Final Verdict – web application vs enterprise application

The purpose of the web applications and enterprise applications intersects at possibly a common point. I say this because both apps are dedicated to serving their users to perform business or commercial functions without facing any complexities. 

The only difference between the two is that enterprise applications are more loaded with user-specific functions than web applications. However, both enterprise web apps consist of server architecture and complex networks to be able to deliver the services constantly. As enterprise apps deal with more functions at a time, it incorporates more technical attributes to simplify complex business management activities. 

Now, after reading this article, I’m sure you would have got a complete picture of enterprise application vs web application. Now you are armed to make an informed decision to pick the kind of applications that meet the business requirements of your company. However, if you have any queries or suggestions, leave them in the comments section below. We will get back to you as soon as possible.