Progressive Web Apps: Do You Need One For Your Business?
Smartphone users demand a consistently good experience in both native apps and mobile web apps. They want to switch seamlessly between these two to meet their everyday needs like shopping, communications, and entertainment. According to a CamScore report, the majority of consumers in India are accessing the web content on a mobile device only.
With Progressive Web Apps (PWAs), these users are getting a native app-like experience on the web without downloading it on their smartphone. As PWAs offer native-like functionalities like offline availability, push notifications, and device hardware access; they have become mainstream in the e-commerce industry in recent years. Are you wondering what is this new trend and how to create PWAs for your business, then read the full blog for better understanding:
What are Progressive Web Apps?
PWAs are websites that use modern web technologies to create the same experiences that native apps deliver. These apps help in improving user engagement and enable seamless conversions for e-commerce, productivity, publishing, games, or media. These applications give users the best of both web and native environments.
PWAs can be delivered progressively via a link in an email, a chat, search result, a QR code, or an ad. While a user interacts with the app, you can check their device capabilities and load more data in the background. You can also offer increased functionality further like offline usage, notifications for new data, and various other conveniences.
What makes a good PWA?
One of the most useful frameworks of a PWA is FIRE: Fast, Installable, Reliable, and Engaging. If you break it into three major characteristics, then good PWAs should have:
Speed – When a user first interacts with a PWA interface, it should offer an immediate, responsive, and enjoyable experience.
Installation – A PWA should install like a native app i.e. showing on your desktop or home screen rather than requiring a browser.
Engagement – A PWA should follow the best practices for UX & UI and work irrespective of the network status or device capability.
Technology Stack and Development
To start PWA development, first, you need to build a website that becomes your application. It should be as small as possible to be fast and smooth and follow responsive web design principles. Because PWAs are written using HTML, CSS, and JavaScript, there is no need to install a development environment.
The second step is to create a web manifest, a JSON (JavaScript Object Notation) file that describes your PWA. It will include the PWA’s name whether it opens in landscape or portrait, what access it needs to the device, its description, screenshots, and icons.
And the final step is to set up a Service Worker, a JavaScript solution that runs in the background when a user accesses a PWA. It allows you to define what data to store on the device and what to reload from the web when the user is online again.
How to ensure an excellent user experience in a PWA?
Native apps such as news apps work regardless of network connection. So when users visit the app, they can browse the previously downloaded content. It is necessary that PWAs meet the same standards; otherwise, the experience will feel broken. Here are a few fundamental rules to ensure an excellent user experience:
Responsiveness – A PWA should work on all devices across mobile, tablet, and desktop.
UI – Mockup your design with and without the browser to discover any potential layout issue.
Accessibility – Design your PWA for different situations like offline, flaky network, and content failing to load.
Permission – Make a strategy when you plan to prompt the users to add your app to their home screen.
Location Data – Always do this in context so that the users can see its value and allow you to access their location.
Today, global marketers are using PWAs to create a seamless user experience on mobile without building an app. Small and medium enterprises (SMEs) generally have customers who do not own a high-end device. This customer segment can be targeted using a mobile web app as it does not force them to download anything. Hence, SMEs can develop an active online presence and enhance their customer experience by using Progressive Web Apps for business.
