Numerous leading software companies in Sri Lanka have been at the forefront of the global outsourcing industry through their skilled workforce and in-depth familiarity of emerging technologies. This combination of expertise has now turned otherwise commonplace web and software development into a process that is far more streamlined than ever before, what with the likes of technologies such as AI, workflow automation and conversational intelligence.
Front-end web development, thus, is also no exception. Being the first point of contact for users that interact with businesses via digital platforms today, front-end interfaces need to be easy to access, easy to use and quick to turn around with necessary information – else businesses risk losing their customers to their competitors. As the modern business landscape becomes fiercely competitive, leaders want to maintain web presences that can captivate their users, but also meet important business KPIs in due course.
At EFutures, we understand this predicament. As a software development company based in Sri Lanka, we have long-standing experience in crafting and maintaining websites, mobile apps and custom enterprise software in accordance with the objectives laid out by our clientele – as well as based on what makes their customers tick.
In this article, we’ll be focusing on front-end web development, and sharing insights pertaining to:
While this article emphasises on front-end interfaces, we’ll also touch base on the back-end, wherever applicable. Read on to know more!
Front-end web development is the design, structuring and coding of a website or mobile app’s user-facing components. From online shopping carts to score widgets for your favourite sports, every user that interacts with the web does so via a front-end system. At the same time, a back-end system consists of servers, gateways and databases to display the latest data, depending on what a user inputs.
Both front-end and back-end systems need to work smoothly together in order to keep sites and apps functional for those who depend on it. Through global outsourcing and EFutures, our teams are equipped with top talent to build, maintain and debug web applications on an end-to-end basis. Whether it is building a brand new digital presence or overhauling an existing one, our experts can offer tailored solutions to build or upgrade a website or mobile app that meets your business’s individual requirements.
The front-end of your website or mobile app is the first thing your users will see. From prospective customers to recurring ones, your front-end shall be the primary online touchpoint that users will rely on to seek information, get help or purchase a product/service. A website that is hard to navigate around, presents excessive 404 errors, or crashes unexpectedly is bound to frustrate users and contribute to bounce rates.
A thoughtfully designed front-end and customer experience go hand-in-hand, as users who are happy with your site or app will report positive feedback, word-of-mouth recommendations and even return to purchase from your business.
As your website or mobile app’s front-end is the first point of interaction for users, it has to be pleasant on the eyes. Intelligently designed front-end interfaces will have the correct colour combination, font size and component placement – all of which go in line with the branding etiquettes of your business. Leading software outsourcing companies specialise in both front and back-end web development, so businesses can monitor progress and request for changes where necessary in order to build a front-end that truly resonates with your customer base.
When it comes to front-end web development, ensuring aesthetic appeal alone isn’t going to suffice. Your website also needs to be functional so that users are able to fulfil what brought them to your site or app in the first place. Users’ actions and CTAs also need to be in alignment with your business’s end objectives, so when your users are completing a task, they are also helping your organisation create bottom line growth. 
It’s no secret that a well-built website is bound to attract better search rankings. This includes conducting both front and back-end web development with careful attention to detail. While an excellent website will be a hit with your users, it subsequently signals search engines that your website is high-value and therefore deserves to be ranked higher across search results, for relevant keywords.
Additionally, careful web development will also mean that your software development team would’ve built sitemaps, prioritised on indexing important pages, and established redirects in place to prevent 404 errors – all of which when combined lead to positive results in terms of SEO.
Although technology stacks that are eventually used by your software development team depend on the nature of your project, here is a quick peek at three libraries and/or frameworks that are popular amongst individual developers and software companies alike.
React is an open-source JavaScript library that is used to build websites and mobile apps. Owned by Meta and supplemented with updates from a community of developers, React is often paired with a framework such as Next.js to build applications. React’s reusable component capability makes it highly versatile, as developers can nest these components under others to build functional code with minimal effort and error.
Bootstrap is also an open-source framework that is used to build responsive desktop and mobile websites. Featuring templates that are based on HTML, CSS and JavaScript, Bootstrap offers a variety of elements to choose from. Many WordPress themes are also powered by Bootstrap, as the framework is easy to use and syntax consistency is easily maintained even when your code crosses multiple developers over time.
Vue.js is another JavaScript library that is used to build dynamic websites and mobile apps. Based off of Angular (a TypeScript-based library), Vue.js is particularly adept at displaying updated data across pages without having to force a hard refresh. Being lean and lightweight also means that applications built from Vue.js can be easy to integrate with other systems as well.
When designing the front-end of your website or mobile app, make sure your team has been briefed on necessary KPIs that need to be met, both when it comes to the user, as well as your business. Displaying on-demand products during peak season above the fold or making popular features easily accessible are some out of many examples, so that the design of your website or app’s front-end is crafted to satisfy customer needs as well as meet business KPIs.
The industry of software development in Sri Lanka is home to leading companies that work closely with each client to develop a website plan that meets niche requirements, while also engaging customers via interactive experiences and self-service. As no two clients have identical needs, every plan is customised and built to scale, in the event of future business growth or seasonal demand.
With numerous options available out there for users to take their picks from, nobody wants to spend extra time on a website or mobile app unless it is truly engaging and valuable. If users are forced to figure out how to navigate a complex web presence, it is likely that they may bounce. Creating a minimalistic user journey that requires users to undergo the least number of steps to act on a CTA is going to improve the CX quotient of your site or app, as users will not be inconvenienced when browsing around.
Front-end web development isn’t a one-off thing; it’s a constant work in progress that demands round-the-clock monitoring and openness towards endless streams of user feedback. Identifying problems via regular testing and comments made by users can be valuable sources of insight to determine the next round of updates for your website or mobile app’s front-end, so your digital presence is always on par with the expectations of your customers.
Front-end web development is a common component across any software development lifecycle, but it is just as imperative to get it right as a number of crucial factors depend on it. Customer experience is one such factor, as the overall sentiment your customers feel when interacting with your website or mobile app will determine whether they return and remain loyal. Meeting your business’s KPIs is another, so your organisation can distinguish itself from competitors and thrive in a fast-paced environment.