What is MBaaS & How Does It Work?
What is MBaaS & How Does It Work?
The mobile development space is more challenging and compelling than ever for both users and business leaders looking to provide the best new tech solution.
The tech industry is constantly changing, making companies’ understanding of innovative tech solutions imperative when building a product. App development knowledge will help businesses get their name out, despite the saturation in the mobile app space.
There are plenty of tools companies can use to stand out from the crowd, one being MBaaS. Businesses with mobile app products should understand the basics behind MBaaS and how it stands to benefit tech companies.
View The Manifest’s list of top app development companies.
What is MBaaS?
MBaaS stands for mobile backend as a service. Companies that provide MBaaS offer B2B solutions for companies with mobile apps. Focusing specifically on the backend of mobile applications, MBaaS providers aid companies in managing the complications of a mobile backend.
Mobile backends are technically complex and can have several API integrations, load challenges, storage issues, and more. Often, companies don’t have the internal resources on their teams to address some of these issues.
Investing in MBaaS
Companies can’t just give up on backend functionality. Instead, they invest in MBaaS for the following features:
- Notification sending services
- Cloud storage
- Social media compatibility
- API integrations for each feature
A major perk of MBaaS services is seamless API integrations. On their own, internal development teams may run into a number of challenges surrounding APIs alone. Companies that invest in MBaaS save their team the headache of dealing with technical complexities with APIs.
Other types of tech providers may offer similar services, but MBaaS companies are unique in extending unified cloud services specifically for apps. Companies that choose MBaaS can rest assured that their app will offer a seamless experience upon launch.
What Does a Mobile Backend Do?
When users download, open, or otherwise use a mobile app, a lot of activity needs to happen behind the scenes to make the app function optimally.
These activities occur on the backend of the app. The backend is not customer-facing. Instead, it’s inaccessible to users to allow for technical processes to run.
Backend app activity includes:
- Data processing
- Information storage
- Algorithmic operations
A mobile backend is composed of an application and web server and a database. Additionally, the functions of the backend application will connect with customer-facing apps via APIs.
Source: OS System
Along with APIs, app development teams may also employ cloud computing services or other enhanced capabilities to optimize the performance and quality of the mobile application.
With all of these features working together and unified, developers can provide a functioning application for end users. End users will enjoy the intended user experience without being exposed to any of the technical processes on the mobile backend.
How MBaaS Helps Companies
With the help of an MBaaS team, you’ll be outsourcing mobile app infrastructure tasks that would otherwise burden your team. Companies worldwide have recognized this as a significant benefit and made the choice to invest in MBaaS.
Some of the most widely used and trusted MBaaS services are offered by the following providers:
These providers can extend a number of benefits to clients, including improved app communication capabilities, better UX, and more ideal storage options.
Improves Lines of Communication
MBaaS helps to make company apps more seamless. Communication between the app and users who download it is smooth and easy with a reliable mobile backend.
For instance, push notifications are one of the primary ways that companies can direct users to their app to check on updates or new information. Users have come to recognize and expect notifications when they download new apps, sometimes even relying on them for reminders.
In fact, app retention rates increase by up to 500% when companies send push notifications. It’s no question that push notifications are a key piece of engaging a mobile app audiences.
To make push notifications work, three components must be present: the mobile device, push notification service, and a mobile backend.
Source: Digital Vidya
This is exactly where an MBaaS provider can come into the picture. MBaaS has the ability to manage this entire process through backend management and API integrations.
Enhances the User Experience
User experience for consumers is also improved with oversight from an MBaaS provider. MBaaS companies also leverage API technologies to develop a seamless user experience for apps.
The API sits between the mobile application, web server, and database. This allows the front and backend of your app to communicate.
Source: Zestard Technologies
Additionally, APIs allow you to implement connections to other services within your application. For instance, users can access social media accounts through company applications using each social platform’s respective API.
Popular social media integrations for mobile apps include:
- YouTube
- Snapchat
APIs for each social media platform allow users to access social pages, make posts, use search functions, and create stories. By giving users a quick and easy way to access social accounts, you’ll improve their experience on your app and keep them engaged for longer.
Betters Storage
Companies are enthusiastically adopting cloud computing. Currently, 30% of all enterprise IT budgets are devoted to cloud computing.
One of the big perks of MBaaS is that it enables your app to operate on the cloud. By extending clients’ access to cloud storage, MBaaS providers may eliminate a company’s need to spend additional money on internal storage and server management.
Secondly, the cloud is considered to be a strong option when it comes to cybersecurity as well. A Salesforce study found that 94% of businesses saw a security improvement after switching to cloud services.
Source: Salesforce
Your team will benefit from MBaaS cloud access internally. On the cloud, all of your teams will have an easier time accessing and sharing company files. This promotes a more cohesive work environment and culture, even if your employees are no longer working in the same office.
Should You Buy Into MBaaS?
MBaaS offers tons of opportunity for companies looking to vamp up their technical offerings.
Stanislav Misiurev, head of technology at Clutch, believes MBaaS is a good match for companies that need to start up quickly. However, Misiurev notes that MBaaS may cost more money in the long run compared to other solution.
“It's suitable for MVPs, but enterprise companies may find it's not flexible enough,” Misiurev says.
By investing in MBaaS for a mobile app, both app users and your internal team will benefit from more streamlined processes. This is bound to lead to increased engagement from users, propelling the success of your app.
Additional Reading
