This article focuses on Progressive Web Application, everything you need to know about it, why your business needs it, Why it is better than the native app, the advantages, and the structures. Keep reading to discover all the hidden benefits of PWAs. Enjoy.
Introduction
For decades now, people have continued to enjoy the benefits and advantages of smartphones. With the introduction of smartphone, web and mobile apps soon became the next best thing to ever come on board, because without them, the world won’t be such a comfortable and convenient place to live. You can have access to anything in this world with just your smartphone and the Apps.
Is there anything you want to do that cannot be done on a smartphone? Absolutely nothing. Apps have continued to play an irreversible and unquantifiable role in our personal, social, financial, emotional, academic, and business life. Recently, Apps have taken new turns, and another regular feature has been introduced. It is Progressive Web Applications, otherwise known as PWAs.
What Is Progressive Web Application?
Progressive Web Applications, which others prefer to call PWA is an app developed from the web technology such as JavaScript, HTML, and CSS, but with different functions and features from the usual native app that you know.
They are built with modern APIs to work effectively and efficiently and deliver flexible, accessible services like the native app for anyone, anywhere and anytime. PWAs are also referred to as tools to enhance your online presence, give you a digital identity, and serve as a plug to connect you directly to your audience.
Just like Native apps, PWAs are known for being reliable, installable, and capable of giving you the strength and ability you need to reach out to as many people as possible simultaneously and create a better version of your business. They are designed for your needs.
The structures and Appealing Features of PWAs.
Since you already know some information about the progressive web app, you should also know its unique features and structure. This article promised to enrich you with the knowledge about PWA and everything you need to know about it.
Progressive Web Applications has many appealing features that make them more preferable and better than the native Apps. With the amazing features, you can do virtually anything on the web app. Here are the exceptional structure and features of PWAs.
Server-side rending (SSR)
This is one of the structures of PWA that enables it to a website to work on a server. It works well across browsers and loads a page as quickly as possible. The major disadvantage is that it takes time to navigate through the server.
Client-side rendering (CSR)
It allows the website to be updated in the browser almost instantly when navigating to different pages. It is very fast when navigating through pages. The major disadvantage is that the website works slower on the first visit.
Addition of SSR and CSR
PWAs combines both Server-side rendering and Client-side rendering to produce the best result. Due to SSR, it allows a page to load faster, and with the addition of CSR, you can smoothly and quickly navigate through any pages.
With these structures, PWAs allow you to add any page or pages to your home screen, push notification, and many more.
Other Outstanding Features of PWAs.
Reliable
Being able to visit a website irrespective of the bad services at a fast pace is one of the outstanding features of PWAs. Speed is essential for getting people to visit a website. In fact, people get frustrated and irritated when they try to load a page, and it’s taking a long time.
What makes PWAs reliable is that users can easily access it regardless of a bad network service or offline. The performance and velocity of an app will determine the review and how well users will make it their priority instead of others.
Installable
Here is another feature of PWAs. An installed progressive web app runs on a single website instead of a browser tab like a native app. It can easily be added to the home screen, taskbar, or shelf for retrieval and quick access.
This feature also makes it possible to create shortcuts while working on other pages; it accepts other applications and engages users in the best way possible.
Capable
Progressive Web Application is capable of performing any task assigned to it. You can do a lot of things on it, such as push notification, create shortcuts, and compress the pages you visit on the web.
Ranging from file system access, media controls, app badging, to full clipboard support are all the capabilities built with PWA. Web apps are more capable than when they were first created because they have included all these features and many more.
Linkable
Progressive Web Applications can easily be linked to their users and can be shared with other people.
See The Primary Reasons Your Business Needs PWA To Function Properly.
Companies and businesses that are using PWAs can testify to the increase in sales and enhanced customer engagement they have witnessed ever since they started using them. There are several benefits that you and your business can get from PWAs.
It Works While Offline
Let’s be practical for some seconds.
Have you ever search for something while online, and after reading through, you exit the page. As time goes on, you want to access the same page, but you don’t have an internet connection? What happens then?
If you have a PWA, then you are saved because you can access the page while offline. It is one of the fantastic benefits of using PWAs for you and your business.
What progressive web app does is save your article or the pages you visited while online and make them available for your use while offline. Isn’t this great? You don’t have to worry about not having an internet connection when there is an emergency, and you need the page.
Push Notification
Here is another thing that PWA can do for your business. If you own an eCommerce app, you need a PWA because it will send push notifications to your customer’s devices even if their browsers are not open.
Take a look at Jumia, Aliexpress, Twitter, and other popular industries that use PWA; they are able to engage their customers, get more sales and stay ahead of the competition because they have the right tool.
Instead of employing a sales personnel, PWA act as the sales personnel, it feeds your customers with the right content and creates awareness for old and new products through push notification.
Web linking and sharing.
Nothing sounds better than being able to share content between apps; it is necessary for this century. PWAs allow you to share your business content with your customers through the app and other platforms, irrespective of where you are and where they are.
Worldwide Connection
Parts of the tech tools that PWA uses are JavaScript and HTML, which is what every smartphone users need to access the web. Imagine if half of the smartphone users can visit your web page daily. Wouldn’t your business dreams come true?
Documentation
Have you ever visited a page and felt like adding it to your home screen? Do you want to create shortcuts and navigate easily to a page? You need a PWA because it allows you to add to your Home screen and create shortcuts to a web page without stress.
Increase Customers engagement:
When your business uses PWA, it creates a beautiful experience for them, thereby engaging them and making them stay loyal to your brand forever.
SEO optimization
Do you know what it means to be recognized by Google? One of PWA’s benefits is that the URLs are recognized by Google, making it easy and straightforward for your audience to find you.
Low cost
According to secondary research, it was discovered that PWA could be developed between the cost range of $3,000 to $10,000 while the native app starts from $30,000. Isn’t this what you need?
When Does Your Business Needs PWAs?
You might be wondering or confused about this PWA of a thing, or maybe you are not sure if your business needs it. Well, see the list of when you need the Web app for your business.
When you budget a low amount for app development
Your business needs PWA if you budget a low amount or do not have a massive sum of money to pay for app development. You can easily opt for PWA if you want a low cost and installable web app for your business.
When you want to have an enhanced digital identity
It is advisable to opt for PWA when you want your business to be recognized globally and especially by Google.
When you want to improve your online presence
In case you want to improve your online business presence and create a global awareness for your brand, use PWAs.
When you want your business to be accessible offline and on Mobile
Go for PWA because it is accessible to users both online and offline. If you also want the smartphone users to be able to access your products at a fast pace, choose PWA.
Relevant Examples of PWAs
Starbucks: They built PWAs for ordering system just like the native app. Starbucks PWA allows their customers to browse the menu, make orders, and add items to their carts without access to the internet.
Uber: The Uber PWA is designed to make car booking viable on low-speed, 2G networks, and within 30sec.
Others are; Jumia, Twitter, Aliexpress, Flipboard, Pinterest, and LinkedIn.
In Conclusion
The best way to connect directly with your audience and engage them is by launching a progressive web app. Many companies like us are enjoying the full benefits of PWAs, so why should you be left out? In the coming future, PWAs will replace and take over the world from Native Apps. Your business should make it to that future as well.
