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Progressive Web Apps are replacing Native Apps. Here’s why your Company should join the PWA Bandwagon

There are two distinct avenues to connect with your audience: through a responsive website and via a native app. While the prior requires a user to access the browser, the latter begins with downloading a space-consuming app. Both suffer from certain drawbacks. As we all know, mobile websites fail from a user-experience perspective whereas native apps are sometimes not easy to adopt as it's limited to select devices. This is exactly where people seek something in-between. Progressive Web Apps (PWA) are exactly that! By combining the best of both worlds and overcoming the drawbacks of each, it comes up as a robust substitute. The debate of progressive web apps vs native as an ideal technology started when consumers realised that there's no justification for keeping an app, which they use once or twice a month. In response to it, the progressive web app framework was born. We are sure you are curious as to how it works and the benefits it brings along to a company. The blog here discloses it all to readers unaware of its existence and the fact that it's gradually growing up to be a trend.

Understanding PWA, its Properties & the Technology it Depends on

PWA is a self-contained mobile app that runs on a browser and delivered through the web. Much like a mobile app, it's enclosed in an app shell with usual gestures and navigation. The point of difference, however, is that you need not visit an app store to enjoy the all-new experience or spend your time in updating them to behold the recent version. Upon launching, you shall come across the following characteristics:

  • Responsive It's scalable and fits into desktop as seamlessly as it adjusts into a mobile or a tablet.
  • Universal Operable on almost every possible device on condition that it possesses a platform-agnostic version.
  • Progressive Since progressive enhancement constitutes its core, it runs on every browser.
  • Fresh Saves one from re-downloading an app through automatic refreshes, which opens up to the newfangled features.
  • Prompt Operates fast irrespective of internet access. So, you can always use it offline and in situations when the network is weak. All thanks to progressive web app's support from 'service workers', which are nothing but code snippets, working in the background.
  • App-like Doesn't let you compromise app-like navigation and interactions.
  • Linkable Easily shareable. All you have to do is send across the URL of a PWA and the recipient only has to launch it on one's device. In a nutshell, it saves one from complicated installations.
  • Installable Saving it to the home screen is all that's needed to remember it.
Enlisted above are not just PWA properties but the reasons why companies should switch to this efficient alternative. Built on the following technologies, it has successfully confirmed its position in the latest web development trends.
  • React
  • Angular
  • Polymer
Should your Business take the Plunge then?

Well, facts and experiences shared by other companies say in favor of the progressive web app as a medium to improve engagement and encourage conversions. Several businesses are already basking in glory. While Twitter enjoys greater engagement by minimizing data usage among users, others like Jumia now attracts 9 times more conversions through push notifications. Similarly, Forbes, Pinterest, Lancôme and The Washington Post have already gone progressive. After all this, do you think your business should take a back seat? The answer is a big 'No'! So, what if certain features of progressive web apps on iOS devices, such as background sync and push notifications are still not supported? Apple will soon follow the trend. Let's keep our fingers crossed.

Final Thoughts

PWA is undoubtedly the future of all apps. Given so, the enthusiasm to embrace it should be high. You can watch progressive web app tutorials to learn more about it. But coming to implementation, leave the job to the smartest tech wizards at Plus Promotions. They are experienced and knowledgeable enough to develop progressive web apps with Angular or progressive web apps with React. Let's join the bandwagon and together bridge the gap between native and web apps.