PWA or progressive web application is a hybrid of a website and a mobile app. In this article, you will learn what PWA is and why it is a cool feature for business.
What is PWA?
This is a technology that adds the functionality of an application to a website. In the desktop browser, the progressive web app remains a regular site. And when a visitor opens it in a mobile browser, the PWA turns into a website/app hybrid.
PWA does four cool things:
- Can be installed on the device in one click without app stores;
- Loads fast thanks to a pre-built page cache;
- Works offline thanks to the same cache;
- Sends push notifications to users.
Related: Why PWA for eCommerce? Recap on PWA Meaning, PWA Examples, & Benefits
Why Should Businesses Use Progressive Web Apps?
PWAs help businesses:
- Sneak into the user’s mobile device, bypassing Google Play and other app stores;
- Make the site available offline. This works even for online stores, but information about completed transactions “arrives” in the store when the user has an Internet connection;
- Increase site loading speed on mobile devices;
- Send notifications to users.
Important: Progressive Web App functionality does not prevent you from using the site in the normal way. Just as important, turning a website into a PWA is faster and cheaper than building a native app.
When is Progressive Web Application technology suitable?
PWA technology should be considered when:
- You need a cross-platform app for mobile devices, but the budget is limited;
- It is necessary to make constant updates, the content changes too often. Especially for ecommerce websites, when new items, announcements often appear on the site, or a chatbot for customers is attached;
- Limited time. Developing a PWA for an already finished website will be much faster than developing a separate native application.
Whether to use PWA or not is the choice of the site owner. Of course, someone will object that ordinary programs are also convenient to use, and they open on smartphones running different operating systems. But PWAs are already beneficial as they are easier to set up and initially provide for multiplatform.
