Is a Progressive Web App the Best Option for Your Business in 2021?

Mobile apps have become an essential tool for companies and brands. There are 6.3 billion smartphone users globally, and 88% of mobile time is spent on applications.

But the last few years have seen an evolution of the mobile app. More and more of the biggest brands and publishers, including Forbes, Uber, and Starbucks, have turned to progressive web apps (PWAs).

This new web app technology provides the functionality of native apps with the accessibility of a website. 

So should you be focusing on PWAs, or are native apps and responsive websites the better option?

In this guide, we’ll take a closer look at PWAs, examine the benefits and drawbacks, and check out some real-world examples. 

A progressive web app is an application that is built on a web framework. In contrast to a native app, users can use a PWA by visiting a URL on a web browser. Users don’t need to use an app store to download the application. 

PWAs utilise service workers and web app manifests to provide most of the functions offered by native apps, including push notifications, faster speeds, and an intuitive app-like user experience. Users can also access most of the features when offline. 

PWAs can be operated when the device is offline. While a website requires an internet connection, the built-in service workers cache the most important features and data of the web app automatically. Once cached, users can access most of the features without an internet connection. 

If a user attempts to open a page that has not been cached, the web app can show a custom offline page. The user might not be able to complete the task they wanted to, but the experience is still within the app, rather than the default “No internet” web page that leads to user abandonment. 

If you meet any of the four criteria below, you should consider a PWA for your development project:

You Have a Limited Budget

The cost of development and maintenance of a PWA is significantly less than a native app. Because of the different requirements for Android and iOS, you’ll need to develop and maintain two versions of a native app. With a PWA, a single development caters to all operating systems and devices.

Time To Market Is Important

Your PWA development team only needs to work on a single version of the code. Rather than building two versions of a native app from scratch, you can focus on creating a single progressive web app that works on all devices and operating systems. PWAs are much faster to develop and bring to market. 

Offline Access Is a Priority

Users can access your PWA 24/7, even when their device is not connected to the internet. In areas where internet connectivity can be unpredictable, PWAs work offline, allowing users to spend more time engaging with your product. It’s important to remember that 46% of smartphone users access the internet through 2G or 3G devices. 

You Want to Reach a Wide Audience

Progressive web apps enable you to reach a wide audience across multiple devices. Users get the same fast and smooth experience whether they access the PWA through mobile, tablet, or desktop. 

If a user loves your app and wants to share it with a friend, it’s as simple as copying and pasting a link. Users don’t need to navigate to the app store and download your product before using it.

You PWA can also rank in search engine results for a range of relevant search terms, rather than competing in an ultra-competitive top 10 list on app store rankings. 

PWAs offer the fast and intuitive user interface and experience of a native app, but there are some limitations. 

Since 2018 and the iOS 11.3 update, progressive web apps have been supported on all Apple devices. However, iOS does not support PWA push notifications or background sync. 

It’s also worth noting that Safari does not show an “Add to Home Screen” installation prompt when a user accesses a PWA. Users can still use the app, but they will need to open the browser settings to find the installation option and add a shortcut icon to the home screen. 

For both Android and iOS, PWAs can’t access Bluetooth and USB functionality. PWAs are also unable to access device GPS location data for GEO-fencing. 

There are very few progressive web applications that need to leverage this device hardware, but if these functions are integral to your product, a native app would be a better option. 

In the first quarter of 2021, 54.8% of all website traffic came from mobile devices. More and more people are using their smartphones to find your products and services and engage with your business. 

Native apps can still be a valuable asset for most businesses. But PWAs combine the accessibility and reach of web development with the intuitive user experience and engagement of native apps. You can capitalise on the fast time to market and avoid the expense and complexity of developing a native app.

If you’re interested in how a progressive web app can help to grow your company, get in touch with our friendly development team here at Zyrous. 

Zyrous provide mobile, web, and progressive web app design & development services. We couple UX design and human-centered design methodologies to develop scaling products that provide value to the people that use them. With teams based in Perth, Abu Dhabi and Dubai, we specialise in validating concepts through to product launch and beyond. We deliver transformative digital products into government and enterprise through agile project methodology in a highly secure environment.