"We need an app." This sentence often comes up in first conversations. Sometimes it is true. Sometimes a well-designed company website meets the need better, and faster. The right choice depends less on the technology than on what your visitors need to accomplish.
What a company website does
A company website presents your business: your services, your team, the areas you cover, your contact details. Its main purposes are to:
- be found on Google by people looking for your services;
- inspire confidence through clear, up-to-date information;
- turn a visit into contact (form, call, appointment request).
A company website is visited occasionally. Visitors come, read, then contact you or leave. Its success depends on content, clarity and search optimisation. For a local business, local SEO in French-speaking Switzerland plays a central role. Our websites and SEO page explains this approach in detail.
What an app does
An app is a tool. Users log in to do something, often repeatedly. There are two kinds:
- The web app: accessible in the browser, with no installation. It is well suited to client areas, internal tools and file-tracking portals.
- The mobile app: installed on the phone from the App Store or Google Play. It is justified when use is frequent, on the move, or when it uses the phone's features (notifications, camera, geolocation). See our mobile apps page.
An app involves user accounts, rights management, a database and regular maintenance. It requires more design work and ongoing follow-up.
Questions that help you decide
Before choosing, answer these questions:
- Do your visitors need to log in? If not, a company website is probably enough.
- How often will they come back? A one-off visit argues for a website; weekly or daily use for an app.
- Do they need to enter or view personal data? If so, security, hosting and the nFADP (new Swiss Federal Act on Data Protection) become central issues.
- Do you need to be found on Google? A company website is essential for that; an app on its own is barely visible in search engines.
- Who will keep the tool running? An app requires technical updates and user support.
In many cases, the answer is "both, in a specific order": a website to attract and inform, then an app or client area for advanced features.
Use cases
- A fiduciary wants to be found by new clients: a company website with pages per service and per town. Later, a secure portal for exchanging documents. See fiduciaries.
- A real estate agency wants to showcase its properties and receive viewing requests: a website with property pages and appointment booking. See real estate.
- A network of advisers needs a field tool to track its appointments and files: a custom web or mobile app. See custom software.
- A shop wants to sell online: a website with a catalogue and payment, without a mobile app at first.
How we work
We start by clarifying your objectives and your users' journey, before talking about technology. If a company website meets the need, we will tell you. If an app is justified, we define a limited first scope that can be tested quickly, then expand it in stages. To estimate the time required, read our article on how long a software project takes. Our method describes our working stages.
Frequently asked questions
Is a company website enough for an SME?
Often, yes. If the goal is to be found, present your services and receive contact requests, a well-optimised company website meets the need.
When should you consider an app?
When your users need to log in, enter data, track a file, make bookings or use a service regularly. An app then becomes a tool rather than a presentation.
Can you start with a website and add an app later?
Yes, it is a common and prudent approach. The website attracts and informs; the app comes later for advanced features, once the need is confirmed.