Mobile back-end services deliver capabilities to mobile apps via APIs and/or software development kits (SDKs) that can be incorporated into mobile apps, and, increasingly, web apps and other digital channels. MBSs are commonly cloud-hosted services, but they can also be deployed in a virtual private cloud or even on-premises. The services are delivered as middleware between the client resident mobile apps and the enterprise systems of record, whether on-premises or in the cloud, along with any public or third-party data sources. In addition, many MBS providers also offer hosted databases for both structured and unstructured data. These hosted solutions can be independent of back-end data repositories, or they can be a buffer for the systems of record and provide a cached data source to isolate back ends from high transaction rates, which are often seen in conjunction with mobile apps.
An MXDP is an opinionated, integrated set of front-end development tools and “backend for frontend” (BFF) capabilities. It enables a distributed, scalable development approach (in terms of both teams and architecture) to build fit-for-purpose apps across digital touchpoints and interaction modalities. At minimum, an MXDP must support cross-platform development and building of both custom iOS and Android app binaries, responsive web apps, and at least one of the following: PWAs, chatbots, voice apps, wearables and Internet of Things (IoT) apps, and augmented-reality (AR) and mixed-reality (MR) apps.