What Are The Benefits Of Progressive Web Apps?

• By Sarah
• General News
• 1582 Views
• 06th June 2022

The highly popular CMS and e-commerce platform Magento has developed a set of tools for Progressive Web Apps (PWA) over the past few years. An increasing number of businesses are launching PWAs, or plan to launch one in the near future. Here’s a closer look at what these are, and the advantages of using them over a more traditional website.

 

What exactly are PWAs?

A PWA is a web application that offers some of the cross-functionalities of a browser, with built-in security features, and a fast-loading time. They have all the advantages of custom-built mobile apps, but with all the flexibility of a website.

 

Quick installation process

PWAs can be installed to any device, which is what makes them particularly attractive to many brands and businesses. Customers now browse across multiple devices throughout the day, from desktops, to laptops, tablets, and phones. A PWA will work seamlessly on any device, and are very easy to install and use.

Once installed, the app icon remains on the user’s home screen in a standalone tab that doesn’t rely on a browser window, providing instant and easy access at all times, and raising the profile of the brand. The app will automatically adapt to suit the screen size, with a custom-built responsive layout that puts the user experience first.

 

Offline capabilities

Not only does the app work on any device, but it is designed to operate in an offline mode. This is because all the features of a PWA are saved and cached, to avoid dependence on downloading information. Even if the user wants to view new information, they will be re-directed to an offline page.

This is ideal for retailers, who often find that customers research products online, and then follow up with an in-store visit. Even if the network connection is disrupted or unstable, the customer can still access product pages via the PWA.

 

Automatic updates

Furthermore, the app will automatically update itself, without the need to send notifications, ask for permission, or require relaunching to function. There is the capacity to add push notifications if needed, which many brands find useful for marketing messages, and to keep their presence fresh in the user’s mind.

 

They can boost SEO rankings

PWAs are also a useful aid for search engine optimisation (SEO) because Google includes high quality PWA content in its search results, and even allows the operator to specifically identify the apps performance with its analytics tools.

 

Which businesses would benefit most from a PWA?

Major global brands, such as Twitter, Starbucks, and Pinterest, have all developed PWAs to enhance their businesses over the past few years.

PWAs are especially useful to retailers and e-commerce stores who want to reach as wider an audience as possible. The standalone tab means that the company branding will be seen by the user every time they open their phone or laptop, and the instant access from anywhere means that opening and interacting with the app is easier than ever before.

 

If you are looking for a white label WordPress agency, please talk to us today.