As the demands for excellent solutions is increasing, newer technology trends are answering every requirement raised by businesses and developers alike. Ending the years-old debate between mobile apps and mobile websites, a new concept of technology is serving every demand of business and their customers alike. Known as Progressive Web Apps, this concept helps businesses increase their ROI (Return on Investment) while also delivering excellent user experience and efficient services.
What Is a Progressive Web App?
Also known as PWA, a progressive web application is a hybrid and evolved version of traditional webpages and a mobile application. Adapting for the best from both mobile apps and mobile websites, a progressive web app delivers an excellent user experience that redefines the concept of web applications.
How Does It Differ from Web Applications?
Web applications are not required to be installed on your system or device. And also, to run a web app on a device, internet connectivity is a must. However, progressive web applications are the evolved version of web apps and hence, they are developed to run without needing internet connectivity and they can be installed on the system too.
How Does PWA Run?
Irrespective of the app platform used, i.e., whether the device used by a user is Android or iOS or any other, progressive web applications can run across all platforms as they do not remain constrained to any particular platform. They run through the browser installed on the user device and hence, all that is required for running a PWA is a supported browser that must be installed on the user device.
Chrome, Opera and Samsung's Android browser have already included the support for running PWAs but IE (Internet Explorer), Safari, Edge and more are yet to be added in this list. The success ratio of PWA is rising while the possibility of it replacing the traditional mobile apps is also higher. There are many online businesses that have implemented PWAs for their business and earned results that were fascinating.
Why Online Businesses Are Benefiting the Most from Progressive Web Applications
Leading to millions of apps available on the app stores, mobile app development has become rather a common facility for businesses as they can opt for any excellent mobile app development company available. However, this has created a tough market competition to tackle and for businesses not having enough financial support to run their app through thick and thin, it becomes more difficult to answer the demands of users at lesser charges.
However, turning to PWAs benefits them as the development approach is pretty simple. As the developed solution is progressive, responsive and secure than many of the mobile apps, it helps them reach more target audiences at once without requiring different platform-specific app solutions and enhance their customer experience by providing an app-like experience on whichever device they use.
Practical Use Cases of PWAs
Many of the leading tech companies and businesses have introduced their progressive web applications to users to test the hype created around PWA. And it turns out, the results obtained are not just excellent, they are pointing towards some major changes in industry trends also.
Uber
A leading ride-hailing giant, Uber has implemented the concept of PWA in its business to optimize the app loading speed. The goal behind developing the PWA was to make the app run faster than ever even on 2G internet connectivity. And guess what?! Uber did develop a PWA that was 50k gzipped that can easily launch within 3 seconds even on 2G internet connectivity. Hailing a ride has become simple, easier and now faster than ever with Uber's own PWA.
Tinder
Famous dating app Tinder also tried on implementing the concept of progressive web application and it fits them like a glove! The progressive web app by Tinder loads 4.69 seconds faster than the native Android application [](the loading time was 11.91 seconds) and is 90% optimized for space. Also, user engagement is boosted compared to the native application of Tinder.
Flipkart
One of the leading e-commerce giants, Flipkart decided to reach customers living in the rural areas and limited by slower internet speed and less device storage and the requirement for a solution fitting in both constraints was answered by PWA. Flipkart noticed a very warm response from customers for the progressive web app as it drives 50% of its new customer acquisition numbers. And 60% of the users who installed PWA uninstalled the Android app as PWA offered the same functions and features at a much faster rate.
There are other successful use cases also, for example, BookMyShow, Forbes, Ola, OLX, Twitter Lite and more. All these gained a higher customer retention rate while the ROI and app performance also increased significantly.
Will Progressive Web Apps Replace Native Applications?
Not yet. The limitations of progressive web applications are yet to be answered. However, the continuous progress in the development approach and innovative concepts that are tested and implemented for better results guarantees great progress in the performance and productivity of PWA. Hence, businesses opting for PWA are increasing as new concepts and techniques for better support are defined.