When your app needs to work everywhere — cross-platform development without quality compromise

Cross-platform mobile applications are built from a single codebase and run on both iOS and Android without requiring separate development teams or parallel projects. Unlike native apps written specifically for each operating system, the cross-platform approach allows the same business logic, interface, and features to be delivered on both platforms simultaneously. Done right, this is not a trade-off — it is an architectural decision that results in an app that feels native to users while delivering measurable savings in development and ongoing maintenance.

Ionic and Capacitor — the technology behind Prolink apps

Prolink develops cross-platform applications using the Ionic framework in combination with Capacitor. Ionic is a battle-tested framework powering tens of thousands of business applications globally, and it has reached a level of maturity where performance, component ecosystem, and development productivity are comparable to native approaches across a wide range of business use cases. The underlying interface is built with web technologies — HTML, CSS, and TypeScript — but compiled and packaged as a true native application, not a website running inside a browser.

Capacitor is the bridge between that web layer and the device's operating system. Through Capacitor, the application gains access to native APIs that are invisible to users but functionally critical: this includes camera and photo gallery access, high-precision GPS location, push notifications that work even when the app is not active, biometric authentication via Face ID and Touch ID, NFC reading, Bluetooth communication, on-device file management, sensors such as the accelerometer and gyroscope, and offline operation with local data storage that synchronises when the network connection is restored. The Capacitor plugin ecosystem continues to grow, and for specific needs not covered by existing plugins there is the option of writing native iOS and Android extensions that integrate seamlessly into the rest of the application.

Types of applications Prolink builds

The cross-platform approach is well suited to a wide range of business applications. Field and operational apps — tools used by employees on location to record data, take photographs, scan documents, and report in real time — are one of the most common categories, as these applications must operate reliably even in conditions of poor or absent network connectivity. B2B and internal business tools, from employee and schedule management applications to approval workflows and asset tracking systems, fit naturally into the cross-platform model because they are functionally moderate in complexity but must be accessible on devices running any operating system employees happen to use.

Consumer-facing applications through which companies communicate with end clients — loyalty programmes, booking apps, order and service tracking portals — are also a frequent use case, especially when simultaneous presence on both the App Store and Google Play is a requirement rather than an option. IoT applications communicating with hardware devices via Bluetooth or Wi-Fi, barcode and QR code scanning apps in logistics and retail, and applications where the camera is the primary input all perform well in the Ionic and Capacitor environment. Complex games, applications with intensive 3D rendering, or solutions requiring deep integration with platform-specific graphics APIs fall outside the optimal scope of cross-platform development, and for those cases Prolink explicitly recommends native development.

A brief comparison with native development

Native development — a separate Swift/Objective-C app for iOS and a separate Kotlin/Java app for Android — is justified in scenarios where graphics rendering performance is an absolute priority, where advanced AR or deep integration with platform-specific APIs unavailable through Capacitor is required, or where the team already has deep native expertise for both platforms. For the majority of business applications, the cross-platform approach delivers near-identical performance at significantly lower cost. Prolink evaluates the right approach for each project individually and does not recommend cross-platform where native development genuinely delivers a better outcome.

Development process

Projects in practice

Prolink developed an application for Institut IGH enabling field researchers to record, synchronise, and report data from mobile devices directly into a central system. For Skipper4you, an employee management application was built to coordinate schedules, availability, and real-time team communication. AVIS rent a car uses the application to digitise the vehicle handover process — scanning contracts and documenting damage photographs in a single workflow without paper forms. Taxi Vozek relies on the Prolink solution for ride coordination and dispatcher-to-driver communication.

Maintenance and application lifecycle

Apple and Google release new versions of iOS and Android once or twice a year, and each new operating system version can introduce changes that affect the behaviour, appearance, or functionality of an application. App Store and Google Play also periodically update their submission and update policies, introduce new security requirements, and change the minimum SDK versions applications must support to remain available in the stores. The Ionic and Capacitor ecosystem evolves in parallel — new framework versions bring improved performance and security patches, but migration between major versions requires expertise and a thorough understanding of breaking changes. Prolink offers a technical maintenance plan covering OS compatibility monitoring, regular dependency updates, security patches, crash and error monitoring, and priority response to critical issues affecting application availability or core functionality. Most applications also evolve functionally over time — new business processes, new user requirements, and new regulatory frameworks introduce the need for new features, and Prolink builds applications with modular architectures that make expansion straightforward without requiring rewrites of foundational components.

Frequently asked questions

How much does cross-platform app development cost?

The cost depends on functional complexity, the number of integrations with external systems, and design requirements. Simpler applications with a clearly defined scope can be delivered at a lower budget, while complex business solutions with multiple modules, offline functionality, and deep integrations require a larger investment. Prolink does not publish fixed prices because every project carries its own requirements — instead, a concrete quote is prepared based on a brief description of needs, with no obligation.

How long does app development take?

A simpler application with a limited number of screens and one or two integrations can be ready for submission within two to three months. More complex business solutions typically develop over a range of four to eight months, depending on scope and the speed of decision-making on the client side. The discovery phase at the start of the project provides a more accurate timeline estimate than any general guideline can.

Why Ionic and not React Native or Flutter?

Ionic is the technology in which Prolink has deep expertise and proven projects in production. React Native and Flutter are valid alternatives, but the choice of technology is not a matter of following trends — it is a matter of knowing a tool well enough to guarantee quality and long-term maintainability. Ionic in combination with Capacitor covers all functional requirements that business applications typically have, and the maturity of the ecosystem means clients do not take on the risk of experimenting with uncharted technology.

When is native development a better choice than cross-platform?

Native development is justified when an application requires intensive 3D rendering, advanced AR functionality, or deep integration with platform-specific APIs not available through the Capacitor plugin ecosystem. For the vast majority of business applications — field tools, B2B solutions, consumer apps, and internal systems — the cross-platform approach delivers equivalent functionality and user experience at lower overall development and maintenance cost. Prolink always recommends the approach that fits the specific project, not the one that is easier for the vendor.

What does collaboration look like during development?

After the specification is agreed, development proceeds in two-week sprints, with a demo of the functionality developed in that period at the end of each sprint. This means the client always knows exactly where the project stands and can provide feedback before the next layer is built. Prolink uses project management tools that give clients transparent visibility into task status, and communication goes directly to the development team — no intermediaries, no information lost in translation.

Who handles App Store and Google Play submission?

Prolink manages the entire submission process, including listing preparation, screenshots, descriptions and metadata, ASO optimisation, and communication with Apple's and Google's review processes, which can take anywhere from one day to several weeks depending on the platform and application type. App Store submission requires an active Apple Developer account, and Google Play requires a Google Play Developer account — Prolink assists with setting these up if the client does not yet have them.

What is included in post-launch maintenance?

Technical maintenance covers compatibility monitoring for new iOS and Android versions, regular Ionic and Capacitor dependency updates, security patches, crash and error monitoring, and priority response to critical issues affecting application availability or core functionality. Functional development — adding new features and adapting existing ones — is agreed separately, either through a monthly development retainer or on a project basis, depending on the pace and scope of changes the client expects.

Can an existing application be migrated to Ionic?

Yes, migration is possible and Prolink carries it out when it is economically justified. Older applications built on technologies that are no longer actively maintained, applications that have become incompatible with new OS versions, or native applications whose continued development and maintenance is too costly due to the need for two separate teams — all are scenarios in which migration to Ionic and Capacitor delivers long-term savings and brings technical debt to a manageable level. An assessment of migration viability is part of the initial consultation.

 

Your application today, reliable five years from now

Prolink does not deliver applications — it delivers solutions that serve the business long term. Every project Prolink takes on is built with architecture that supports growth, technology that can be maintained, and code that the next development team can understand and extend. The experience gained on projects for clients such as Institut IGH, AVIS rent a car, and Skipper4you is embedded in every new project as knowledge that does not need to be relearned. If you want an application that works just as well two years after launch as it does on day one, request a quote.