the power of cross-platform mobile technology

We’ve dealt with applications that require real-time updates (like vehicle diagnostics or driver alerts). In these cases, React Native and similar frameworks often struggle with animations, background processes, and seamless data rendering, especially on lower-end Android devices.

• Plugin Dependencies and Native Bridges

Cross-platform apps often rely on community-maintained plugins. When a new OS version rolls out (currently it is iOS 17 or Android 14), we’re left scrambling to update the plugins or create custom native bridges. In comparison, our native teams can react faster and with more confidence in such scenarios.

• Testing and Debugging Overheads

Ironically, “write once, test everywhere” becomes “debug everywhere.” One bug can behave differently on Android and iOS in a cross-platform codebase. This multiplies testing effort rather than saving it, something that surprised us in the early stages.

Mobile applications today are expected to deliver consistent, high-quality experiences across a range of platforms, primarily Android and iOS, and in some cases, desktop environments. In enterprise settings, where apps must scale quickly to meet operational, customer needs, maintaining separate native codebases often introduces unnecessary complexity, increased development costs, and slower release cycles.

The strategic need for cross-platform development

Users expect their apps to work smoothly regardless of device. Businesses, meanwhile, are seeking to minimize time-to-market, reduce development costs, and improve maintainability. Cross-platform development addresses these needs by allowing teams to write code once and deploy it across multiple platforms. This approach is particularly valuable in fast-moving markets.

At Volvo Group Connected Solutions, we faced similar challenges while building mobile apps for diverse Volvo business areas.

For example, in the Truck Charging app, managing separate native stacks for iOS and Android was slowing us down. Choosing React Native allowed us to unify our development effort, reduce delivery lead time, and better align with Agile release cycles.

Leading mobile development frameworks

Among the popular cross-platform solutions today, React Native and Flutter are the most widely adopted. React Native, developed by Meta (Facebook), allows developers to use JavaScript and React concepts to build mobile apps. Flutter from Google uses Dart and a custom rendering engine. Both provide the ability to write once and deploy across Android and iOS, unlike fully native approaches that require separate codebases.

Our decision to adopt React Native was influenced by our existing JavaScript expertise and the need to reuse code across platforms efficiently. In the Truck Charging app, React Native helped us achieve consistent user interfaces and streamline feature development, especially where backend integrations and UI behavior needed to be tightly aligned across Android and iOS.