If you’re in the software development world, I’m sure you’ve heard of progressive web apps, aka PWAs. That’s because PWAs are now too big to ignore, bringing numerous benefits when it comes to increasing user engagement and retention. One thing that you may not know is how easy it is to build progressive web apps, and that’s exactly what we’ll cover here.

In an era where customer experience is king, businesses need to find ways to go that extra mile to make their customers choose them over a competitor. And that’s where PWAs come in, as a new way of distributing apps, providing users with frictionless experiences. Let’s quickly recap what PWAs are all about before moving to how easily you can start building your own.

What is a PWA?

PWAs combine the functions of native apps and website accessibility, all while not requiring any app store involvement. Like native apps, PWAs can work offline, send push notifications, and access device hardware, such as cameras or GPS. This allows you to create user experiences similar to native apps on mobile and desktop devices.

But unlike native apps, PWAs are built using standard web technologies such as HTML, CSS, and JavaScript. This means that you won’t need to resort to native mobile-specific development teams, which massively reduces both the time and cost required to build them. Additionally, with PWAs, you’ll experience:

• Faster development and reduced maintenance costs: Since PWAs are mobile-optimized versions of web pages, you have one codebase for all devices.
• Easier deployment: PWAs don’t need to go through the process of distribution through the app stores. So, whenever you need to update your app to fix a bug, for example, you don’t need to wait for those changes to be approved by the app store. This way, you can get that new version out much faster.
• **Broader reach: **PWAs are searchable by search engines, making them easier to find.
• Reduced customer friction: Because the user doesn’t have to go through the hassle of downloading the app from the app store, they’re more likely to download a PWA than a native app. Plus, PWAs also have a smaller size (often under 1MB), making the download much faster while taking less space on the user’s phone. Thus, you’re able to increase customer engagement and reduce waiting times.

If you want to learn more about the benefits of PWAs and when you should choose them over native apps, here’s a great article about the topic.

#web app #low-code platform #digital strategy #native application #react native