Web applications
When you have customers, vendors, and employees outside of your own network who need access to your database, a web application is definitely the way to go.
Benefits of web applications
- Available to users both inside and outside of your office network
- Require no installation; the app relies on a browser
- Allow you to create different permission levels and capabilities for various users
- Tolerate slower or intermittent internet connections
- Support usage of other devices like tablets and phones
- Allow you to integrate other web services and internet resources
- Offer the highest level of security
Desktop applications
If your users all are internal employees and have high-speed access to your network, a desktop application may be the best and most cost-effective fit.
Benefits of desktop applications
- Take less time and money to develop
- Offer excellent interactivity with existing files and integration with frequently used programs such as Word and Excel
- Provide users the familiar Windows® look and feel, minimizing learning curves
- Have a higher “functional density” (i.e. more features fit on each screen) than web applications
