Progressive Web App

Progressive Web Apps (PWA)

What is a progressive web app (PWA)?

A progressive web app (PWA) is a set of mobile web application development techniques that entails building apps that feel and look like native ones. Using a web stack (JS, HTML, and CSS), progressive web apps combine rich functionality and smooth user experience associated with native apps. Simply put, PWA is the web app with the native-app flavor: After the installation, a user clicks on its icon on a device’s home screen and gets straight to the website. It is full responsiveness and browser compatibility, Connectivity independence, App-like interface, Push notifications, Safety, Discoverability and easy installation.

Pros of PWAs

Progressive web apps’ features are interconnected and explain the reasons for their development.

Development savings

Specialists who follow the progressive web apps trend use a web stack for their development. This approach takes less effort and time, so it’s more cost-efficient and effective.

Reduced installation friction

Discoverability, one of PWAs’ core features, increases their competitiveness over native apps. This advantage is especially meaningful considering that each additional step to download an app reduces the number of its potential users by 20 percent.

Easy updates

In addition to skipping the app store, surfing, and installation, PWA users free themselves from updating (or accepting the update offer) for the app each time a developer releases new versions. Users always have access to up-to-date solutions. This feature allows companies to avoid the problem referred to as software fragmentation when they have to maintain old versions of apps or risk the loss of users until they start the update.

Higher User Engagement

Researchers from comScore also found out that 80 percent of mobile users intentionally move apps to the home screen. So, the ability to be added to the home screen makes PWAs more competitive with web apps. There have to be other reasons people decide to try the app, of course. The frequency of use (61 percent), the simplicity of access (54 percent), and speed of access (49 percent) are the top factors influencing their decision. The chances for better distribution are, therefore, higher for PWAs. Push notifications also fuel user interest in the app.

Major companies like AliExpress have already benefited from launching progressive apps. The eCommerce giant’s conversion rates have increased by 104 percent, the time spent per session increased an average of 74 percent across all browsers. Besides this, users started visiting twice as many pages each session.

Cons of PWAs

PWAs aren’t only about pros: Their drawbacks are directly connected to the benefits.

Limited functionality and increased battery use compared to native apps

Despite their progressiveness, these are still web apps. Without access to device hardware, PWAs can’t support such native-app typical features as fingerprint scanning, vicinity sensors, NFC, Bluetooth, geofencing, inter-app communications, and advanced camera controls. While app sharing via URL is convenient, it requires a connection, which drains a device battery faster than a native app.

Search traffic losses due to no presence on app stores

We mentioned that presence on app stores eliminates several steps users take before running an app, which reduces installation friction. Mobile web traffic can be redirected to an app store to showcase the app to users, while not being in an app store leads to potential traffic losses

Progressive Web Apps (PWA): Going Beyond The Basics of eCommerce Business

1. 24×7 through your branded B2B & wholesale through PWA App.

2. Maximize growth with a global-ready B2B eCommerce platform for Catalog-centric B2B Sales.

3. Seamlessly connect and manage online and face-to-face buyer experiences.

4. Adapt B2B eCommerce operations to evolving sales strategies at the speed of business.

5. PWA App supports is offline so anytime and anywhere can do the operations.

6. B2C-like buying experience for wholesale buyers configured to your needs in Easy and Intuitive.

7. Catalogs, price lists, payment options, shipping methods, and more, are tailored for your buyers by using PWA.

8. Configure catalogs, pricing, promotions, and workflows once, and use them across all channels as it is centrally configurable.

9. Accept payments of any type through seamless integration to payment gateways.

10. Consolidate, validate and approve orders with your specific business workflows and rules using PWA App.

11. Keep data fresh, relevant, and consistent across channels, with seamless back-office integration.

12. Up-sell & cross-sell opportunities are increasing more in PWA as technology has gotten a lot smarter in recent years. Mobile sales apps now have up-sell & cross-sell functionality, so sales reps are prompted to offer exactly the right up-sell or cross-sell product based on their customers’ preferences and previous purchase history during the order-taking process in the field. In addition, reps can build value with special promotions and discounts, such as tiered pricing, coupons, free gifts, or other enticing offers, that can up the customer’s ante while ensuring them a bigger win.

13. As the B2B buyer becomes younger and more accustomed to technology, they’re opting for the omnichannel approach more and more. They’re looking for choice and to be in control of how they buy. They want to buy “their way” on the sales channels they prefer.

If your orders come in from a range of different channels, a B2B platform to manage all your orders in one place is a necessity. Part of this platform will include mobile eCommerce. The benefits of this in an omnichannel context are numerous, but most importantly it allows you to speed up the sales, ordering and fulfillment process for customers, leading to a quicker and more efficient service.

Additionally, B2B mobile eCommerce offers you more brand exposure, consequently attracting new customers as a result.

14. Customers can purchase when and where they want as customers are too busy to sit down at their desks and place orders. They spend their time running around the store, checking inventory levels, restocking items, and helping customers. A mobile B2B eCommerce solution gives them the ability to place orders shelf-side as they’re walking sales floors. They can easily access your product e-catalog and purchase history for a quick re-order. They can even use their smartphone or tablet to scan barcodes and add items to the order. Mobility makes all the difference.

15. We’ve already mentioned how a B2B eCommerce platform will increase the speed and ease at which your customers can order.

Taking it a step further, a mobile eCommerce platform will help you personalize your offers and improve the customer experience. Offer your retailers’ product catalogs relevant to them, with their own specific pricing and terms. Create personalized promotions and discounts to drive sales to specific customers.

16. If your business is ready to scale, but your ordering process is not, it will greatly hold you back. Slow fulfillment times, overworked staff, and bad customer service experiences resulting from inadequate order processes will bring your growth to a screeching halt.

To set yourself up for success, a cloud-based B2B mobile eCommerce solution will offload many of the mundane tasks sales reps and office staff needs to perform. Not only will automation help you scale, but you will benefit from the flexible nature of a cloud-based solution, so you can scale your system as your business grows.

Contact us to know more or email us at sales@bistasolutions.com