There can be a disconnect between the iPadOS and Android versions of the same mobile app. Here’s an example. Last night my wife wanted to check the status of an order with a popular retail store called JOANN. She asked me, “Why can I see the order status on my phone, but not on my iPad? That doesn’t make any sense.”
I explained to her that the Apple and Android versions of the mobile app may be developed by two entirely separate teams. They aren’t the same app. The only thing in common is the database, which was clearly working because she could access her order status on her phone.
Ideally, if a company employs two separate teams for their mobile app, those two teams should be in constant, tight communications. The two apps should have a similar look and feel (User Interface, UI), and similar functionality (User Experience, UX). Activities like updates, which may temporarily “break” the functionality, should be closely coordinated.
As she walked away, I wondered to myself, “In the real world, how closely do the Android and iOS/iPadOS teams work together?” I suspect it varies from one company to another. For those who know, can you give the rest of us any insight on this? Is it usually two teams or one? And if it’s two teams, how closely are they aligned?