PWA applications benefits - Эполь Софт

PWA applications for minimum free memory for installation and full functionality.

In recent years the most significant trends in the online sphere have been growth of the number of smartphones and users shifting towards interaction through mobile devices. Most companies resort to developing their own native mobile applications for their clients’ devices, a trend that is characteristic not only for online commerce, but also for media companies, service industries, and manufacturing businesses.

However, mobile device users use smartphones and tablets not just as communication tools, but also as storage for important information: documents, photos, videos, audio recordings. They often are careful with the contents of their devices and don’t always rush to delete things to make space for new applications. On the other hand, having an application allows for constant communication with the customer, such as sending notifications.

Is there an alternative that will be convenient for users while able to maintain the advantages of a mobile application?

Trivago, a hotel booking service, started searching for a solution that would meet the new demands of users and overcome the limitations of native applications, which are:

Long loading times;
Available free memory on the phone;
Memory requirements for correct operation;
The need for updates.

The search for a solution led to Progressive Web Apps (PWA), which support most of the features of native applications, such as offline access, push notifications and home screen shortcuts, whiling remains accessible through a regular mobile phone and any browser. The use of PWA technology has yielded good results:

User engagement, measured by adding the app to home screen, has increased by 150%;
Repeat visits by old mobile website users increased from an average of 0.8 to two visits per PWA user;
Thanks to subscriptions to push notifications, which now surpass email subscriptions, brands gained a valuable new way to work with customers;
Increased engagement led to a conversion rate improvement, with a 97% increase in the number of clicks to hotel offers.

Are PWA applications popular among developers? From a technical point of view, the development of Progressive Web Applications is gaining popularity because it offers a simple way to create an application that works on any operating system, reducing the development period and costs.

Comparison table of native and PWA app

Characteristics	Native application	PWA
Development time	More (separate code for each platform)	Less (one codebase for all platforms)
Support cost	Higher (multiple code bases)	Lower (one code base)
Distribution	Requires approval and payment in app stores	Installed directly from the website
Feature set	Access to all native device functions	Limited access to some native functions
User experience	Individual and flawless	May lack some features typical of native apps
Offline functionality	Available	Available (can be developed to work offline)
Load time	Fast	Fast (can be developed for quick loading)
Development cost	Higher	Lower
Cross-platform compatibility	Limited to specific platforms	Works on any device with a modern web browser
Push notifications	Available	Accessible
Availability in app stores	Higher visibility and trust	Lower visibility and trust
App store fees	App store payments are applied	No app store payments
App store review process	Must comply with app store rules and approval process	No app store approval process
Monetization options	More options such as in-app purchases and advertising	Limited monetization options
User acquisition	Need to attract users to the app store for download	Can be discovered through search engines and easily distributed
App size	Can be larger due to native code	Less due to the use of web technologies

The evaluation of each characteristic may vary depending on the specific requirements of the project and the experience of the development team.

The most effective areas of business where PWA applications demonstrate themselves are:

News websites;
Booking services;
E-commerce;
Paid informational courses;
Banking and financial activities;
Food and beverage industry.

Would you like to assess the development of a PWA application? You can find a checklist for evaluating IT projects at the following link.