Progressive Web Apps (PWAs) were introduced in 2015 and have been growing in adoption by 30% YOY. Have you heard of this approach? In simple terms, it’s a type of website that looks and behaves like a mobile app. They’re built using web technologies and designed to be fast, reliable, and accessible. You’ve probably used a bunch. Twitter, Pinterest, Starbucks, and Uber all boasted the PWA approach. I find myself captivated by this angle but of course there are pros and cons.
Anyway - do you remember the early days of mobile web? We were thrilled to access websites on our phones, even though they were often clunky, slow, and not quite fitting the small screens.
Then came native apps, offering slick, responsive experiences, but with their share of drawbacks— development complexity, platform dependence, and the need for constant updates. It was a puzzle.
I remember debating with teams, always seeking that perfect approach for our desired outcome. PWAs entered the scene, promising the best of both worlds. But as we know, all promises are not always kept.
PWAs, in essence, are websites that offer an app-like experience. They load like regular web pages, offer most functionality traditionally available only to native applications. This magic happens thanks to modern web APIs and a crucial component called service workers. These scripts, running separately from the main browser thread, are the heart of a PWA, enabling resource caching and offline functionality.
Offline capability. One of the most overlooked features of PWAs. I remember working on a project for a client whose major pain point was losing customer engagement during poor internet connectivity. (Sometime’s we completely overlook this in the United States, not considering what other countries deal with regarding connectivity access.) When we updated their platform to a PWA, customers could browse products and add items to their cart regardless of their internet connection. This not only enhanced the UX but also reflected positively on sales.
Install-ability is another feather in the PWA cap. Searching an app store, downloading an app, and tossing it into the last screen of your device is a friction-filled experience. Unlike traditional apps, users can access a PWA without going through an app store. This significantly affects user engagement and accessibility.
Designing responsive PWAs is an area where kings and queens are made (or they’re thrown off a cliff). Designing apps like this demands a user-centric approach, ensuring they are as responsive and accessible on a mobile screen as they are on a desktop. It's a challenge, yeah, blending aesthetics with functionality and all the viewports out there. Cross-browser compatibility can be a huge pain but it’s crucial here. All apps (not only PWAs) must deliver a consistent experience across browsers if it’s going to be successful.
Take traditional web apps - they're the reliable old friends we've known forever. Easy to access, simple to update, but they might struggle in certain aspects. They're great for basic tasks but might not be the best when offline capabilities or high-end performance is paramount.
Then there's the native mobile apps. Picture them as the tailored suits of the app world, designed to fit perfectly on iOS or Android. They're the high performers, but tailoring costs time and money - and don’t under estimate the hassle of convincing users to download them from the app stores.
Hybrid apps? They're the middle ground. Not as sleek as native apps, not as universal as traditional web apps, but they try to bring the best of both worlds. A bit of a compromise, but sometimes, that's exactly what‘s needed.
You read it, 30%YOY growth. Looking ahead, I see them playing a an increasing role in the software landscape. They’ll become not just tools for presenting content but platforms for immersive, interactive experiences.
· Voice and AI integration will create more intuitive and seamless user experiences. This is going to shape how you interact with your customers whether you like it or not.
· Mobile adoption will continue to increase. We're likely to see continued advancements in push notification technologies, making user engagement more sophisticated and targeted.
· Cost-effective scalability. They’re built using established technologies like HTML, CSS, and JavaScript, which eliminates the need for separate development teams.
PWAs will allow for new billion dollar businesses to be created. Despite concerns and challenges, PWAs continue to be a compelling choice for businesses looking to enhance their digital strategy and customer experience.
This approach gives new leverage to companies looking for growth. E-commerce, media, travel, finance — PWAs have powerful use cases across all sorts of industries.
