Understanding Native User Experiences

Native user experiences are designed specifically for a product or an app, and have very low latency. They tap into all the built-in features that make the experience seamless and look like a part of your app.

Speed and responsiveness

Native apps perform faster since they're built for that OS and hardware. They can access device-specific capabilities without the latency of the web. Opening a native app is nearly instant, and features respond quickly to taps and swipes.

Benefits of Crafting Native User Experiences

1) Improved User Experience

Building a native mobile app or website tailored to a specific platform leads to an overall better user experience. Users feel more at home with navigation and interactions that match what they're accustomed to on that product. They can get to what they need faster without figuring out a new system.

2) Higher Engagement

When an experience feels natural, users engage more. They explore more features and content because the app is easy to use. They return more often for the same seamless experience. Over time, high engagement leads to increased loyalty and brand advocacy.

3) Improved Performance

Native experiences tend to perform better since they're built specifically for that product. They can handle more advanced animations and graphics that would lag otherwise. And because much of the work is handled natively rather than in a mobile browser, native apps generally consume fewer resources like battery and data.

4) Competitive Advantage

Providing an optimized experience for each platform gives you a competitive edge. Users come to expect a native-level experience, so companies that don't deliver one risk appearing outdated or uncaring.

In the end, the extra effort to go native pays off hugely in the overall success and longevity of your digital products. Users get the seamless, high-performing experiences they want, and you get the growth and retention every brand dreams of.

Key Considerations When Going Native

Going native with your digital experiences means designing them specifically for the platform they’ll be used on. Before taking the plunge, weigh these factors:

1) User Expectations

People expect native apps and mobile sites to look, feel and function in a certain way. Matching these expectations will lead to higher satisfaction and engagement. Study design conventions for the target platform to ensure your native experience feels familiar to users.

2) Development Costs

Building native experiences typically requires separate codebases for each platform, increasing costs. You’ll need developers skilled in the programming languages and frameworks for iOS, Android, web, etc. However, with platforms like Nudge, you can build out native user experiences without any developer bandwidth needed.

If your goal is to maximize accessibility and minimize friction, native is likely the way to go.