The PWA (Progressive Web Apps) technology was announced by Google in 2015. It has yet to gain widespread adoption, as most market players are only starting to explore its new possibilities. However, large corporations, including Twitter, Aliexpress, Starbucks, and others, are already using PWA applications in addition to their main ones.
What is PWA?
Simply put, websites built on Progressive Web Apps can be installed on a smartphone like an application. Why is this necessary? For fast performance and loading, sending notifications to the desktop, integrating with other services and phone system programs.
The three basic principles of PWA:
- Reliability. The application works the same way in online and offline mode, and data is loaded even with a poor and weak internet connection.
- Speed. The loading of the application site is very fast and does not require a stable and fast connection.
- Attractiveness. Progressive Web Apps are popular with customers as they are very convenient to use.
How does it work?
Let’s break down how the technology works with a simple example. Imagine you are an average buyer who has gone to a sushi and roll delivery website. At the bottom of the page, you see a notification – “20% discount when ordering through the app.”
Naturally, this seems attractive to you, and you click on the red button underneath the text. After that, the application automatically installs on your smartphone – without going to the market or other third-party services.
You get a discount, and the delivery owner gets access to your notifications. Now they can send push notifications about new promotions, menu items, discounts, and contests.
This method of promotion is much more effective than marketing emails, which, let’s be honest, are not always read.
Advantages of PWA technologies
Progressive Web Apps have many advantages.
These include:
- Easy installation for the customer. They don’t need to go to the Play Market, install something from the website, or download a file. You just need to press one button, and after a few minutes, the application will appear on the main screen.
- Universality. Website applications work on almost any touch device.
- Safety. The main requirement for PWA development is that data is transmitted only via the https protocol. It is recognized as one of the safest and most stable.
- Stability. The application works with poor internet, without the internet at all, and with constantly dropping connections. Data is preloaded into the cache.
- Low development costs. Making a PWA-supported website is easier and cheaper than creating a full-fledged application, even for 2-3 operating systems.
- Lightweight. The application takes up no more than a megabyte of device memory, unlike full-fledged programs.
- The possibility of re-engaging the customer without cost. Notifications can inform customers about new features instead of mailing or calling.
- Integration with internal services. Progressive Web Apps can work with the camera, geolocation, microphone.
- Better SEO ratings. The use of Progressive Web Apps raises site ratings in Google.
Among the disadvantages are limited capabilities. PWA cannot obtain the same permissions as a full-fledged application. Additionally, such sites are not supported by all browsers. Notifications do not work on Safari on iPhones.
Who is it for?
Website apps have their development requirements:
- Adaptive mobile layout;
- SSL certificate;
- A separate address for each page.
If your website meets these requirements, PWA can be implemented. Such solutions are most relevant in deliveries, online stores, media and news portals, and network companies.
PWA is a relatively new technology, but it has already proven its effectiveness.
