Progressive Web App (PWA) in E-Commerce

December 7, 2020

Since the introduction of Progressive Web Apps in 2015, there have been a lot of companies that have taken advantage of this technology. This technology is able to provide a highly engaging user experience for an app without the same development costs while at the same time reaching new user bases. It has been used extensively by huge companies such as Twitter, Alibaba, Walmart, and more to get a high conversion rate and increase revenues. Some of these large companies have claimed that building great mobile experiences is an indispensable part of their success, which enables them to grow three times faster. Any business can take advantage of this technology to create an app-like experience for their customers and grow their audience.

What Is a PWA?

Progress Web Apps, or PWA, is a technology that enables companies to build web applications that have the look and feel of mobile apps while using web technologies such as Javascript, HTML, CSS, etc. It runs in a browser but gives users the experience of a native app through key features like access to the app through the mobile home screen, offline app access, push notifications, and more. It is a combined approach to developing a platform that operates as an application as well as a website.

Why is PWA technology the future of e-commerce?

Marketing efforts alone are not sufficient to ensure you are reaching customers. As a merging technology changes the way consumers experience on-the-go e-commerce, prominent businesses are focusing on enhancing the user experience with the PWA platform. The following are the factors of e-commerce when customers browse through your site:

Customer conversion rate
More page visits
Increase the amount of time spent on the site
Higher engagement
All of the above can be achieved with lower data usage.

What are the benefits of Ecommerce PWA Platform?

Offers a quicker release time
PWAs are designed with reusable codes, so developers can use the same codes and modules in quick succession. Additionally, as the app primarily redirects to the original e-commerce site, the groundwork has already been laid. For e-commerce business owners who want to offer their customers native app-like features, implementing a PWA may prove to be the most efficient alternative to developing a native mobile app or mobile-friendly website.
No installation is required.
PWAs are primarily websites and are accessed through browsers only. It avoids the lengthy process of installation. Similar to surfing a website, the users can view the pages quickly, navigate to different sections of the app and complete a seamless checkout process.
One-size-fits-all
PWAs can be accessed on any browser, like Google Chrome, Mozilla Firefox, Opera Mini, and more. Therefore, anyone can make it work across all browsers or any specific one of your choice that brings in more traffic to your e-commerce site.
Native app-like experience
The coolest thing about PWA is that it doesn’t look like a normal web page that is opened inside a browser window. It works and looks similar to the native app, thus making it truly compelling. It also employs smartphone features like contacts, cameras, maps, and many more.
Quick loading
Caching is one of the distinctive features of PWAs over native apps. PWA makes speedy responses possible by storing the repetitive elements and then, later, when required, injecting them into the browser. This makes an e-commerce site more user-friendly and loads pages quickly.
Lower data consumption
PWAs load quickly. They leverage new, open web APIs to deliver a mobile web experience that uses less data but loads fast, thus re-engaging users in multiple ways.
Enhance visibility
Your native app sleeps in the app store while your customers may be searching for you on their browsers. This diversion is overcome by PWAs, as they offer the same app functions as searchable web pages.
Reach a wider audience
PWAs are designed to work for every user, regardless of what platform they’re on. They’re also responsive to fit different-sized screens. Since they’re instantly accessible to a wide audience and easy to share through a link, more people adopt them than would take the time to download an app.

Conclusion

PWAs promise a lot in the coming future. Features like ease of use, lightweight functionality, and less demand on resources deter users from seeking an alternative technology. With mobile phones being heavily embedded in most aspects of our lives, the device is fundamentally changing how we shop. Our demand for better and highly engaging user experiences, instant loading times, instant access to information, and network independence is growing rapidly.

Business owners can’t ignore the combination of the immersive experience offered by native apps coupled with the reach and ease of access to the internet that PWAs are providing. Getting started with Progressive Web Apps is not something that should be delayed any longer.

With the minimum required investments and a record-speed time-to-market, anyone can start to drastically change the experience they deliver to their audience today, increasing conversion rates and ultimately improving their bottom-line results.

Want to get started with PWA E-Commerce?

Getting a head start with PWA is going to be the go-to option for everyone looking to increase mobile conversions. If you really want to deliver a rich and faster shopping experience to your customers, then getting PWAs developed for your e-commerce store will benefit you without any doubt. PWA, along with an excellent shopping cart app development solution, will yield you more than you invested in, for sure.