Category: Progressive Web App

Progressive? Responsive? Aren’t all one and the same? Well, making a web presence today needs you to decide between too many things and one among which we are going to discuss below.

You decided to get an online presence developed and approached a decent web development company but are asked to choose whether you need a responsive website or a progressive web app, and out; comes your reply, “whatever is the cheapest or as you seem fit.” Well, PWA or responsive website is no rocket science that you cannot understand. Once you know both, you can easily pick what you want rather than leaving it to the developers. So, are you ready to learn about them? Let’s begin!

Progressive and Responsive; indeed both sound, look, and function similar but, there are a few detailed differences that one needs to understand if one doesn’t want to be left behind in the cutthroat competition.

So, beginning with the introduction:

A Responsive Web Design is an intellectual approach to provide a seamless user experience on devices of any size, type, platform, etc. due to the sharp rise of mobile shoppers. Smartphones have become a part of our life, and there’s nothing that cannot be done via them therefore, people today expect to get a remarkable mobile experience no matter what device they are using, which has become possible with responsive web design.

While Progressive Web Apps (PWAs) are next-level web apps. They run in the browser mimicking the behavior of an app without the need to download the app from the Google Play Store or iOS App Store. Although they feel, look, and perform similar to native apps, the innovation of PWA was made to overcome all that native apps lacked like offline support, push messages, faster response time, less storage space, and other advanced features that customers expect in a UX.

Overview of current PWA market trend

The way PWA offers the most up-to-date web capabilities into app-like capabilities to users its fanbase is spreading wide. Users are getting attracted like a magnet which is making many business owners opt for PWA app development in order to stay put. Need proof? Big and esteemed brands like Instagram, Pinterest, Twitter, Trivago, etc. are some of the finest examples who after getting their PWA developed experienced an impressive rise of on-page per session and a reduction in the bounce rate which would have taken years to achieve with responsive websites. In fact, Google itself transformed its Chrome Apps to PWAs in 2018 and as per 87% of digital marketers, PWAs as an upgraded and improved version of web apps; is the future.

Similar experiences yet different, how?

PWA and RWD both give almost similar user experiences and share almost all the same benefits from the Web which include – one URL, one codebase for all platforms, enhanced security with HTTPS, better discoverability, and always up-to-date, etc. but differ a lot in their real-world impacts. So, let’s dig into what makes them apart.

Feature-wise

Push Notification

One of the most important features that make PWA stand out is Push Notification. It gives you a pop-up where the user will be asked to subscribe for notifications. Once subscribed, the user will get a subscription ID after which every user will start receiving unique notifications.

Offline Capability

Poor or no connection at all, PWAs function just fine under all circumstances unlike in responsive websites where you get stuck with a shaky Internet. Users can browse, shop, stream, easily because PWAs smart cache feature allows websites to store a large amount of data offline, giving PWAs much of the functionality of native apps.

No Download Required

PWAs are great space savers. A Progressive Web App is like a soul without a body means it can live on your home screen as a tappable icon and does not need to be installed taking up space on your phone like native apps. You simply have to “Add to Home Screen” and use it just like native apps.

Performance-wise

Lightning Loading Speed

Speed matters the most today as people today do not even have a split second to wait and hence if something takes more than a few seconds to load, that’s it, people leave the very moment. A responsive website is impressive but a PWA is a level-up and the reason behind it is its “App Shell” architecture that consists of the code that caches to the mobile device after loading it for the first time. Hence, the speed. Moreover, due to cached content, PWAs can load fast even with poor connectivity or function in offline mode as well in mobile devices. Also, since faster loading translates to better indexing by search engines, PWAs have considerable SEO advantages.

One For All

We never know what kind of device do users use and hence making a solution that works for all is what we can do with PWAs. They are extremely adaptive and hence require no separate coding for the platform (Android, iOS, web).

Usability-wise

Budget-friendly

Many don’t even bother to find the truth about the PWA app development fearing it will be expensive as it’s something new. Well, guess what? PWAs comparatively are expensive to make than websites but are cost-effective than native apps. PWAs don’t cost as much as developing a native app from scratch neither do you have to upgrade it frequently which would cost you in any way.

Better App-like Experience

Compared to responsive websites, PWAs give better user experience, engagement, and conversions due to their impressive features that a user cannot find anywhere else. With PWAs one can not only attract users but can also channel them down the sales funnel due to its simplicity, usability, and smart features that native app lack behind.

So, do we have a winner?

Well, clearly PWA appears to be a winner as we are praising it since the beginning but, although it might appear to be tempting to jump on board the PWA bandwagon, not necessarily it is the only thing your business needs. Nor does it make responsive websites or native apps useless. Each come with their pros and cons and hence it is up to you to decide which technologies are right for your requirements.
Jump the PWA train if you want to provide a seamless mobile experience with app-like features like (easy home screen app access, offline use, and high-quality, full-screen functionality), and if site speed and accessibility is your target then responsive web design is all you need. No matter what you pick, MobiCommerce, a Progressive web app development company, known for its effective digital solutions is within your reach anytime, anywhere.

The mobile platform has not only changed the way humans communicate today but also redefined their buying patterns. Research shows that 96% of Americans own a smartphone, and considering 69% have shopped on mobile at least once in their lives shows that this technology is here to stay. Businesses must leverage that.

Interestingly, the monopoly of mobile apps was challenged several years ago with the advent of Progressive Web Apps. Short for PWAs, they are a powerful combination of the web technologies such as HTML, JavaScript, and CSS and the feel and functionality similar to an actual native app. PWAs do not require any downloads and can be delivered through the web.

How PWAs Outperform Native Apps in eCommerce

Although the amount of revenue that mobile apps drove globally exceeded $580 billion in 2020, there are several ways in which PWAs outperform them:

1. Loading speed

Since PWAs use service workers to manage requests, caching, and storing shell data, they load quicker than a native app — even without the internet. However, the data would not refresh until the app is reconnected to the internet.

But that is a small price to pay when it comes to delivering excellent user experience. Since loading speeds have a tremendous impact on user retention and engagement, this is a critical benefit of a PWA.

2. Development cost

Building a PWA that runs on multiple operating costs and platforms is cheaper than developing a native app from scratch for both Android and iOS. In fact, it would dramatically reduce your workload as you would not have to invest time updating it and adding new features to it now and then. Managing PWAs is hassle-free.

3. Storage space

Native apps take up space on the mobile phone. The heavier the app, the more space it will take — which is not favorable in the long run. With PWAs, that is never a problem. The end users can access the PWA’s full functionality without having to worry about the storage space.

4. App visibility

Unlike native apps that can be downloaded from the app store, PWAs can be accessed on the browser. A PWA is basically an app-imitating website that needs to be search optimized, increasing the opportunities for organic growth and engagement.

Key Features Of Mobi PWA Solution

Our Progressive Web App Builder is everything you need to achieve success and consistent growth in your eCommerce business. It is compatible with Magento 2.3 version and enables you to create blazing fast and reliable customer experiences on mobile.

Mobi PWA delivers the convenience and utility of the mobile app combined with the reach and engagement of a website in a way that benefits both end customers and eCommerce business owners. Here are ten features of Mobi PWA to know about:

1. Lightning fast speed

Speed is everything online, and if you want to capture your audience’s attention for the long haul, you must deliver a storefront where it loads the pages fast. Mobi PWAs use service workers to do local caching and fetch data. This means the page content within milliseconds — even without the internet connection. Who does not want that?

2. More customer engagement

You want your customers to be receptive to your offerings. Your business success depends on it! Mobi PWA is engineered to bridge the gap between demand delivery with smooth checkout, simple UI, and fast speed. You can enjoy 50% higher customer engagement rates with our PWAs. That is a guarantee!

3. Native functionalities

Our mobile-first UX emphasizes making shopping easy for your customers. Besides, our PWA app builders are highly secure, multi-browser-responsive, and SEO-friendly. You can send push notifications and give access from the device’s home screen — without installing it!

4. Multi-platform solution

Your customers are everywhere, which is why developing an app for just one platform is a huge mistake. Mobi PWA is designed to deliver a unified experience across devices. Whether it is mobile or desktop, they will browse through and shop the same way.

5. Marketing compatibility

Knowing how your storefront is performing across platforms is imperative for business growth. Our Mobi PWA helps you analyze your marketing efforts by easily integrating with Facebook Pixel, SEMrush, and Google Analytics. Numbers speak volumes; listen.

6. Flawless user experience

Eliminate the distracting navigation menu on the top and the address bar at the bottom to enable your customers to see the big picture. Allow them to “add your app to home screen” without downloading the app from the app store.

7. Page builder functionality

MobiCommerce wants you to envision the PWA of your dreams, where our proprietary page builder comes in handy. Allow yourself to design the app interface however you like. Create the homepage and category pages using our advanced widgets. You do not need any technical expertise to do this.

8. Multiple integrations and add-ons possible

Our developers will ensure your PWA has all the necessary integrations in place. For instance, if you want smooth web browsing functionality, we would suggest PrestaShop. If security is a huge factor for you, we will go with WooCommerce. Similarly, we would integrate your app with other tools like SEMrush and GA.

9. Responsive and engaging UI

PWAs allow you to offer your end-users a unified experience on the browser and the app installed on their devices. As the interface would be the same on both platforms, the user would not have to learn browsing through more than one interface.

10. Most powerful tech stack

Build a high-performance PWA on Magento that has proven its mettle in the market for boosting user engagement, conversions, and the bottom line. Mobi PWA is exactly the eCommerce PWA solution you want — robust and timeless.

Combine the strength of Magento with the richness of React Native, which comes with a best-in-class JavaScript library for building user interfaces.

In a nutshell, if you aim to fetch maximum traffic to the app without compromising the user interface, Mobi PWA delivers that smoothly and cost-effectively.

Four PWA examples in eCommerce

There is no doubt that PWAs are reliable, incredibly fast, and highly engaging. They have found their worth in eCommerce and how. Here are a few examples:

1. India’s eCommerce poster boy, Flipkart, adopted the PWA technology and fetched 3X more user engagement and lower data usage and 40% higher re-engagement.

2. Alibaba’s PWA achieved around 76% higher conversions across browsers, 4X higher interaction due to the “Add To Homescreen” prompt, and 30% and 14% more monthly active users on Android and iOS.

3. The world’s leading hotel search engine, Trivago, increased its user engagement by 150% after launching a PWA.

4. Top African eCommerce site Jumia reduced its bounce rate by 50% and gained 12X more users after introducing a PWA for their online business. They also witnessed a 33% higher conversion rate.

Over to you

PWAs certainly offer a ton of benefits to the eCommerce landscape, enabling online shops to engage users for the long haul and enjoy higher conversions. If you have not given PWAs a thought until now, Mobi PWA is the right choice for you, and you know why! We are the best Progressive Web App builder. So, do not waste time. Just book your demo here to get started with MobiCommerce.

PWA is believed to be one of the greatest innovations in the online sector offering several benefits unmatched. What is impressive about the PWA is that it leverages UX and conversion rates by many folds. Progressive Web Apps is a new and emerging technology that contributes to the way people interact with websites. PWA ecommerce solutions are used by several top industries worldwide. It offers several applications and ecommerce websites to run faster and grow the conversion rate.

Latest trends of PWA for ecommerce sectors:

The latest trends of PWA Development Company for ecommerce sectors have brought significant enhancements. The ecommerce industry is evolving with constant innovations that are changing the way customers purchase products and services. In the year 2019, it has been seen that around 65% of all online purchases were done using mobile devices. Therefore, it is estimated that PWA will soon replace 50% of consumer-facing apps.

Major reasons why PWA is the future of the ecommerce industry:

Open apps directly from web browsers:

One of the most significant benefits of Progressive Web Apps is that there is no installation required to use them. Unlike apps, PWAs can be opened directly from the web browser without downloading any particular apps. PWAs help to save time and space in our devices as it does not require any installations.

Applicable across devices:

Another interesting fact about PWAs is that they can be accessed in any browser, such as Google, Chrome, Opera Mini, UC browser, and many more. This gives the user independence to work across all the browsers or use a specific browser for the best results. PWA is a fantastic platform that is fit for all devices. You can use PWA on your mobile, tablet, laptop, or even computer.

Instant Development:

PWA is one platform that allows rapid development and can be updated automatically. Unlike apps, progressive web applications can be enhanced quickly. Changes made to PWAs can be experienced faster as the process is relatively quick when compared to apps. With quick development it offers a complete PWA software solution for ecommerce.

Add your favourite apps to the home screen:

The add-to-home screen features have made PWAs very convenient to access when required without wasting any time. Initially, the user has to load the page on the browser, but it is advised to add it to the home screen for easy accessibility when prompted. There will be an icon showing “add to the home screen.” It is advised to click the icon to allow the PWA to settle in the home screen for easy access. Using this feature, you can install PWA on any device and use it right from your home screen for the best results.

Enhanced experience on web browser:

One of the most exciting features of PWAs is that it offers a native app-like experience though being opened in a usual web page. Not just the look, but it works and feels very similar to a native app but with a quick response system. These features make PWAs truly compelling, giving them an advantage over native apps users. It also uses your smartphone features when used on your phone browsers features like contact, maps, camera, and many more. These features help to provide you with better suggestions and answers.

Offline capability:

One of the most talked-about benefits of the PWA is the offline functionality allowing users to browse even when there is no network. This is possible only with the help of service workers and cache API. This helps to store new content in the browser cache and allows offline functionality. The service worker is responsible for working on the background and is responsible for pulling in the cached material and push notifications.

Fast page uploads:

When compared with the native apps, the ability of cache in the PWAs is unmatched. This is also one of the most distinctive features of PWAs over native apps. Furthermore, the method is straightforward, wherein PWAs store the repetitive elements and feeds them to the browser system. This offers speedy responses loading up pages quickly and making ecommerce websites user-friendly.

Minimum data usage:

As discussed earlier, the PWAs can load even when the network is poor. This is because the PWAs use opens web APIs that are capable of delivering a mobile web experience that uses less data but at the same time loads fast. This helps to re-engage the users in multiple ways.

Minimum maintenance required:

PWAs are easily maintainable and can be used easily on all leading platforms. This means that there is no need to have separate developments for each of the platforms. PWAs are cost-effective compared to apps, as they do not require developers to develop them for each platform. By using single development and single code management, the maintenance and prices are both easy to maintain.

Compatible with SEO:

One great thing about PWAs is that they can be optimized as per Google’s guidelines and indexed by Google bots for the best results. Such advantages make PWA the right choice for many developing ecommerce businesses worldwide.

Magento Compatibility:

PWAs are compatible with Magento. In addition, the Magento PWA studio offers a set of development tools that helps in maintaining, developing, and deploying the PWA storefront. With the help of Magento integrated with PWAs, it is possible to use modern tools and libraries to form a build system framework for the best results.

PWA use cases for different ecommerce types

After understanding the benefits of a PWA storefront with an ecommerce store, it is essential to know the PWA use cases for different ecommerce types. Mentioned below are some of the options that you can use to build your storefront.

Diety:

Diety is one of the most renowned PWA and micro service-oriented platforms. The Diety Falcon allows businesses of all sizes to be scalable by offering a robust web and mobile experience to users.

Gatsby:

Gatsby is used with React to build static PWA sites. Gatsby is an overall framework having excellent documentation and community support. The community of developers helps to build websites and apps that are fast and reliable.

Vue Storefront:

Vue storefront is a universal and fast-growing PWAs that can be used with almost all ecommerce websites. The Vue developer’s community is growing, offering the highest benefits to ecommerce storeowners.

Also Read: Key benefits of PWAs for e-commerce sites

Examples and success rates:

Starbucks:

Starbucks launched its PWA in 2017, primarily to provide a fast and responsive performance to its customers. It has offline access and smooth animation that is very similar to an app experience. The success rate after launching the PWA has increased to 2x, which is remarkable. In addition, the PWA built by Starbucks requires just 233KB.

Forbes:

Forbes had built a PWA to rebrand their mobile experience. With the introduction of PWA, they were able to offer a solution that was fast and reliable compared to their mobile website. After incorporating PWA, Forbes has reported a 43% increase in sessions per user. In addition, there has been an increase of 20% in ad viewability.

Conclusion:

PWAs are the future of web applications that are reliable, fast, and less space-consuming. When compared to an app, there are several advantages, much of which are mentioned above. PWAs have taken the ecommerce businesses to the next level, offering solutions that are reliable and profitable. Many of the ecommerce businesses are now opting for Progressive Web App as they believe it is the future for ecommerce businesses.

A few years ago, people couldn’t have imagined that new technology could imitate the native-app experience. However, as the demand for mobile apps is growing exponentially, developers are focusing more on launching cross-platform apps that offer the native-app experience to users.

You can use the PWA builder to launch the progressive web app for your website and offer a seamless and uninterrupted shopping experience to your audience.

How is PWA Helping eCommerce Sites Grow?

Fast Installation

PWAs have made the app installation procedure a whole lot smoother and faster for your audience. Now, they no longer need to wait for the apps to be downloaded on their smartphones. PWAs are easy and fast to install, and they can be accessed on a desktop.

Better Performance

Performance is never a concern with these modern desktop apps. They load faster than websites, give a native-app-like feel, and feature an interface that looks similar to the website. Overall, PWA gives you a wonderful experience.

No Update Issues

Your customers will never be bothered or bombarded with notifications asking them to upgrade the app for the best experience. These apps are updated automatically. The best part is your customers do not have to install the updates in batches. Every time they visit the PWA, they will get the updated interface.

Access to a Wider Audience

Progressive Web Apps are designed for all types of users. These apps run smoothly on all smartphones and they fit all screens seamlessly. This is one of the qualities that set PWAs apart from standard mobile apps. The best part is that these apps can be shared through a link and accessed easily, making them a better and convenient option for smartphone users.

Native app-like experience on the web:

Though you get to launch mobile apps for different platforms with the same code in PWAs, you don’t have to worry about the customer experience. PWAs offer the same level of experience you get from native apps.

In addition, the notification-enabled function makes it easy for consumers to stay updated. What is even more impressive is that you do not have to enter the website’s name all the time as it saves as an icon on your home screen. Desktop installation is also possible with PWAs allowing you to start shopping for your favorite products online.

Low development cost and time:

Now, it’s possible to develop a mobile app that works on Android, iOS, and windows without having to use separate codes for each platform.
With the help of PWA, there is no need to develop a separate mobile app. Generally, every e-commerce business owns a website and uses PWA progressive app to offer consumers a better opportunity to shop online.

PWAs do not require any extra budget for development but can offer excellent ROI value, which is remarkable. Not only does it save you the time of writing the lengthy codes for differen devices, but it’s quite a cost-effective solution to the native apps that are built separately.

Speed and Accessibility:

Research shows that people are likely to abandon a website if it doesn’t load within 3 seconds. Speed is your customers’ priority, and PWA can guarantee a speedy website browsing experience as these apps are designed to load quickly. These apps are built on modern frameworks. Plus, they come packed with the latest technology that speeds up their loading time.

Moreover, PWA loads the program with the help of cache to remain active even when the network is poor. Simply put, it is possible for your customers to access the progressive web app without connecting to Wi-Fi.

Better conversion:

As an eCommerce store owner, it’s your job to ensure that your audience enjoys seamless and uninterrupted connectivity when shopping from your website. Not only do they need a fast-loading platform, but they look for a user-friendly interface. The better experience your customers get from eCommerce shopping, the higher your conversions will be.

Take Alibaba, for example. The company reported an increase in its conversion by up to 76% after it embraced progressive web apps.

Better marketing Opportunities:

PWA e-commerce development has brought great benefits to online businesses. One of the most significant advantages of PWA is that it can be used for SEO, unlike apps, as they are not found on the web. This allows PWA to be more reachable to its consumers, increasing the market opportunity.

Quick Response:
Generally, apps in the app store take a lot of time to load, unlike PWAs. The PWAs load programs using cache and can run on devices connected to unstable and poor connections. The ability to allow consumers to shop on ecommerce websites offline makes PWAs the most reliable and efficient option.

Offline experience:
PWA solution development has brought forward immense improvements allowing consumers to shop on e-commerce websites, even offline. Users that rely on 2G and 3G connections may face several connectivity issues, which can make online shopping a hassle. The app can cache all the activities executed offline, and the data is automatically saved once your device is reconnected to the internet.

PWA Success Story:

Tripoto:
Though there was excessive competition in the travel industry, Tripoto remained at the top as they chose Progressive Web App. They were able to enhance the user experience by offering an uninterrupted service irrespective of the network. Consumers looking for travel details online on Tripoto face no issues as it works on the PWA platform. Tripoto has reported improvements in its services after incorporating PWA into its website. Using PWA, there have been considerable developments in Tripoto. To this day, Tripoto has a 100% increase in click-through by travel enthusiasts and a 100% increase in revisits.

Book my Show:

PWA has served as a blessing in disguise for India’s No. 1 ticketing firm Book My Show. Book My Show witnessed a whopping growth in its conversion, i.e. by 80%, after it launched the PWA. The size of the PWA is almost 54 times smaller than the app, offering consumers uninterrupted browsing and online booking experience. The PWA takes less than 3 seconds to load, and users can check out within 30 seconds. Book my show enjoys a huge mobile user base.

Conclusion:
PWAs are one of the best platforms for e-commerce consumers as it offers several benefits to eCommerce stores and customers. It is fast, reliable, offline, and secure channels for browsing the internet, occupying very little space and memory.

The more the technologies, the more is the confusion. With a number of cross-platforms rising, it becomes difficult to decide upon which one is the best. Well, sit back and relax as here is a guide that will give you a clear picture. Mobile development was an easy process earlier. People approached a mobile app development company, mutually decided the features, developed, launched, it and done. Today, the competition has become fierce, and the technologies have multiplied. The era of cross-platform is here! No, that does not mean native apps are becoming a thing of the past, they are still in demand but many entrepreneurs consider it as an additional expense when they have the website and back out in order to avoid chipping in for both Android and iOS individually. While cross-platform, it is like you can kill two birds with one stone.

The Craze for Cross-Platform

The reason cross-platform is getting too much fan-following is because of the flexibility it gives in developing applications that can run on multiple platforms. It uses a single codebase which is then exported to various smartphone platforms allowing the one “app” to work across multiple habitats. With cross-platform development, the benefits for a business are many like – low development cost, less time consuming as the coding has to be done only once, increased uniformity across different operating systems that provides users with seamless user experience, wide customer reach, quicker deployment, increased exposure, high ROI, etc. Now coming back to the point, today, there are two famous cross-platform frameworks – Flutter and PWA (Progressive Web App), that are winning hearts but simultaneously making people confuse with their similarity, about which, we are going to take a deep look into its features, benefits, and come into a conclusion which one is the best for business but before that let’s understand each individually.

PWA (Progressive Web App)

A progressive web app is like old wine in a new bottle. It is a website that gives the look and feel of a native app while eliminating the drawbacks. It provides a seamless native app experience along with offline functionality and can be opened in a web browser on any device including desktops, laptops, smartphones, and tablets. It has access to the device hardware (push notifications, camera, GPS, etc.), and can be installed on the home screen directly without any need to download and update, unlike a native app. In short, it is an incredible mix of the best of both, the web and native applications.

Also Read: Progressive Web Apps: Shaping the Future of mCommerce 

Flutter

If you shop from Alibaba, run campaigns on Google Ads, book an Ola cab or watch videos on Voot, then guess what? You are already using Flutter apps. Google’s new open-source technology – Flutter is more of a comprehensive SDK i.e. software development kit than a framework because it comes with everything that you need to build the cross-platform application which includes rendering engine, readymade widgets, options to test and integrate APIs etc. Its ability to create fully-featured native Android and iOS apps with the help of a single code base has made it popular on GitHub within a short period of time. Now, although both are Google’s creation and can create mobile apps using a single codebase, it is time to compare them by getting into the details of each.

Flutter vs PWA

The Good 

• Other than the above comparisons, there are a few things in which each is best. For example, PWAs are good for SEO. Since PWAs have URLs, they can be indexed in Google, and due to their fast loading speed, they rank higher in the search results that means you get greater visibility.
• Flutter is good in debugging because of the tools – Dart Analyzer and Dart Observatory in it which find errors with the help of specific commands. Moreover, being a comprehensive SDK, it comes with an automated testing toolset that allows developers to perform unit testing, widget testing, and integration testing easily.

Don’t miss: PWA for Online Marketplace: A Right Technology Investment? 

The Bad

• Flutter has relatively high app size due to inbuilt widgets. Also, it is difficult to find Flutter developers since it is new, and Flutter has no support offered for TV devices (Android TV, Apple TV).
• PWAs have limited support for device features and have higher battery usage. They can be buggy if the user has the out of date version or some uncommon browser.

Whom to Choose & When?

If you need a fast-performing application to serve iOS users at large, that supports device hardware features, with beautiful app designs, then Flutter is for you. While if you are low on budget and are planning to serve both Android & iOS equally with seamless user experience, then PWAs should be your choice. They may look a lot similar but, ultimately, it depends upon your requirement whether to opt for Flutter or PWA and as far as Flutter PWA is considered, we have to wait and watch. For now, if you need the best progressive web app builder for eCommerce, MobiCommerce is at your service.

Mobile phones are no longer limited to communicating, via them, we can shop an aeroplane today. Although it sounds exaggerated, looking at the way mCommerce is growing and with PWAs becoming dominant, that day may come soon.

Smartphones make the most of our day. From the moment we open our eyes to off we go to bed; we are scrolling our mobile screens jumping from one mobile app to another. The shopping-on-the-go has gotten us so much that now downloading mobile apps and browsing through them seems to be time-consuming as it happens, they take time to load or ask for an update while you are about to pay for the product you purchased. It kills the mood, isn’t it? Enter, PWA (Progressive Web Apps), the superhero of mCommerce.

Progressive Web Apps, what are they? 

The monopoly of mobile apps was challenged in 2015 when PWAs came into action. Due to its powerful combination of two technologies – native applications and web apps which results in its functioning as both an application as well as a website, PWAs started getting all the attention. With no downloads required, PWAs which can be run over any browser from desktop to mobile versions offering the same kind of experience just like any native app started making mobile shopping, even more, easier and convenient giving way for mCommerce.

mCommerce vs eCommerce

Without a doubt, mCommerce is leading the race. In fact, the graph of mobile shoppers is constantly rising with no pause or turning back and hence; a majority of retail e-commerce is expected to be generated via m-commerce in the future.

Due to the increased mobile engagement, businesses started to launch native apps of their website to attract more customers, provide easy and convenient shopping, give a personalized experience, and much more. But, unfortunately, customers started getting annoyed from native apps too due to the installation, high space and data usage, connectivity issue, frequent update requirement, and slow loading issues which are posing a risk for mCommerce, therefore, as an answer to which PWAs came into existence.

How Progressive Web Apps are shaping the future of mCommerce?

First of all, PWAs need not be installed on mobile devices. They can be simply launched on any internet browser without compromising in its speed. In fact, its reach is 3 times higher than you get from native apps. It gives native app-like experience with push notifications and user-friendly navigation allowing you to browse and shop products on the go.

Recommended Blog:  Why Progressive Web Apps Are Important for Businesses?

The best thing about PWAs is that they are offline ready. The customers won’t have to experience a break in their shopping routine even in a slow internet connection unlike in native apps where you have to wait for good network connectivity.

PWAs are super-responsive. They can fit into any device be it a desktop, a mobile, a tablet, or even something that hasn’t been created yet!

The need for updates which annoy the most gets eliminated in PWAs as they automatically update themselves.

PWAs work for both – Android and iOS and hence the extra effort that is required in coding for Android and iOS separately in native apps is null in PWAs, which means, you save time, money, and resources with progressive web app development.

Does it mean an end for native apps? 

Absolutely not. Native apps are not going to vanish all of a sudden. It is true that PWAs have the potential to make apps a thing of past, outstripping Google and Apple’s biggest app store operators but not so soon as PWAs are still in their infancy and Google or Apple will certainly not pull the plug on their stores this decade. Nevertheless, PWAs have the potential to change user behaviour of all smartphone users. The shopping behaviour of customers from classic mobile apps to a website that looks like an app is completely opposite and hence the difference in the results.

But it is possible that native apps may start experiencing slower death in the coming years because approximately 94% of apps used are devoted to social engagement, entertainment, and information causing less download and usage of them later, which means, only five apps account for 85% of the overall app activities. The real struggle for retailers lies in driving initial and repeat use of native apps because the majority of downloaded apps are accessed less than five times – and after 30 days, retention is, on average, below 10% even for constant mobile users, all of which is posing a risk for the future of native apps.

Need proof?

Impressed with the capabilities of PWAs, some of the famous merchants have started leveraging progressive web apps for mobile commerce and here’s what they have achieved so far:

• Alibaba’s PWA witnessed about a 76% higher conversion across browsers, 14% more monthly active users on iOS and 30% more on Android, and 4 times higher interaction due to the “Add to Homescreen” prompt.
• On the other hand, Flipkart – India’s biggest e-commerce platform, adapted PWA and experienced 3 times more user engagement, 40% higher re-engagement and 3 times lower data usage.
• While Jumia, Africa’s most renowned and the largest eCommerce site, witnessed a 33% higher conversion rate, a 50% lower bounce rate, 12 times more users and 5 times lower data consumption upon introducing PWA into their online business.
• Similarly, when Trivago, the world’s leading hotel search engine increased its user engagement by 150% with PWA, AliExpress turned their fortune wheel and reached 104% more users, a 74% increase in time spent and 84% increase in iOS conversion rate with their PWA.

In a nutshell,

The shopping experience for customers’ needs the most attention and is something to be taken very seriously by retailers if they really care about customers as the sales of the business depend on it. Progressive web apps with its app-like experience on the mobile web and amazing features are so far capable of winning customers more than native apps which must be taken into account by retailers and hence should think about moving from native mobile apps to PWAs by now.

If you are worried about where to find the best progressive web app builder then don’t worry, look for MobiCommerce and you will know for yourself.

The battle of technologies is never-ending. When one appears great, other technology emerges and then are clashes in the market to be the best. There’s one such fresh fierce competition going on today between two PWAs and that is Scandiweb v/s Mobicommerce.

Since every second matter in ecommerce, companies have started giving importance to native apps more than the websites as the count of mobile users is spreading like fire. Smartphones have become a convenient way to shop things online due to their speed, seamless user experience, and convenience but then, every coin has two sides and people need more.

Customers today have no time to wait and due to certain issues with native apps like network connectivity, constant updates, space issues etc. mobile apps also have started upsetting users who expect more and more ease and convenience every time they shop online. There, a promising technology called PWA (Progressive Web App) emerged as a solution to all that was causing roadblocks for the customers.

Progressive Web Application, which is a combination of the best of the both – web and native apps came with phenomenal mobile user experience, offline usability, no downloads, auto-update feature, push notifications, faster—​instant load time, low data usage, and access to device hardware providing higher engagement, satisfaction, and conversion rates for your website or eCommerce store.

Now, the real trouble arises in getting a PWA for a business as there are types of PWA like Magento 2 PWA and React Progressive Web App as well as quite a number of progressive web app development companies which makes the decision even harder as whom to choose?

Well, to help you decide better, here’s a comparison of the two top PWA development companies along with a final verdict – which one is the winner. Let’s take a sneak peek.

Scandiweb PWA

Known to be the first ready-to-use, open-source PWA theme for Magento, ScandiPWA provides a powerful experience for both merchants and developers.

Unlike other solutions, ScandiPWA is not a storefront. It is an installable theme that can be implemented on any Magento 2.3 version project without making any changes to its core infrastructure. It comes with detailed documentation and consistent architectural solutions and does not have any middleware to slow down or cause bugs. It upgrades itself to latest stable version via composer and is quite easy to maintain. ScandiPWA’s out-of-the-box features prevent the need to reinvent the wheel as you get the best PWA solution for your Magento store just with the help of a single dedicated developer within a few hours of time.

Mobicommerce PWA

The PWA solution of Mobicommerce for Magento merchants is everything one needs to achieve success in their business. It is highly compatible with any project of Magento 2.3 version and allows you to create a fast, reliable, and engaging mobile customer experience that dramatically boosts conversions and client retention, smoothly, quickly and cost-effectively.

Mobicommerce’s Magento PWA (Progressive Web App) solution delivers both the convenience and utility of a mobile app combined with the reach and buying experience of a website in the way that benefits both the customers as well as the store owners.

You can find related articles here:

1. PWA for Online Marketplace: A Right Technology Investment?
2. What Makes Magento’s PWA Studio Stand Out?

Its modular component & built-in theming architecture helps you customize & scale your business while its SEO friendly tools, techniques & most current best practices ensure your visibility in Google search rankings. You can sell more to your customers with its cross-browser and cross-platform compatibility and keep them engaged as well with its web push notifications.

So, who’s the winner?

ScandiPWA and Mobicommerce PWA are the best among the crowds indeed but if one wants to choose between two, Mobicommerce PWA turns out to a bit more preferable. Why? Check out the reasons for yourself why you must choose Mobicommerce for your Magento PWA or React Progressive Web App.

1. Mobicommerce’s team of experienced Magento PWA Developers understands your business requirement first and provide you with a fullfledged PWA that meets all current standards and best practices. Hence, you can stay rest assured as you PWA will be in the good and the right hands.
2. No product or solution of Mobicommerce goes out without being tested. Your Progressive Web App will be fully-tested once it gets developed so that you get an error-free functionality and your customers can shop using your PWA without facing any kind of glitches.
3. Mobicommerce will provide you with a go-to-market-solution, meaning you can get started with your PWA solution on the spot without any further wait for the sales to flow in.
4. The progressive web app ecommerce solution of yours by Mobicommerce will grow with your brand and business goals as it will be a scalable, customizable and a reliable solution that you can ever get anywhere else.
5. The dedicated support team of Mobicommerce is just within your arm’s reach whenever you need them. The pre- and post-PWA development support is something unique and impressive about Mobicommerce that makes it the most desirable progressive web app development company in the market.

Final Thoughts

PWAs are making its way and may even outnumber the websites and native apps in the time to come who knows? Hence, if you haven’t given a thought about getting a progressive web application for your business yet, then now is the time. Since reading the entire article by now you might be aware of whom to approach to make an eligible progressive web app solution for you, better get it now!

MobiCommerce always aims to upgrade its technology and products in order to meet high-end customer demand and market trends.

Three such versions have been launched so far and now MobiCommerce has come up with brand new version 4.0 with new features and functionalities on new technology stack.

The core idea behind this MobiCommerce 4.0 version is to give smooth and quick ordering experience with fast loading websites and native mobile apps to end-clients for better conversion rate and ROI for ecommerce businesses.

Are you eager to know what’s new in the new upgrade? Here you go.

Release Notes – MobiCommerce 4.0  

• Progressive Web App (PWA) website and React Native Apps, Built on latest technology stack – React, React native and Redux
• Page Builder with Advance Widget types such as Product List, Product Slider, HTML widget, Image Grid, multiple image layout/containers widgets
• Segmented Push Notifications
• Full-fledged customer panel like re-order, Order history, manage address etc…
• 350+ payment gateways which Magento supports
• Offline working capability
• Multi-Currency and Multi Language support including SEO friendly URL
• QR code based search
• Social Media Login and sharing
• Google Analytics Integration
• Manage Label & Messages including multi lingual facility
• Category widget to design/customize Category landing pages
• Advance settings to enable & disable features/modules
• Multiple product listing view Grid/List/Full view
• CMS pages support
• SEO friendly URL support
• SEO Friendly
• OTP verification on Sign up
• File Attachment while order, useful in pharmacy industry to take prescription from customer
• Advance Reward points module
• Refer & Earn module
• Admin managed & mobile friendly email templates
• Custom SMTP support for emailing
• GEO Location support
• Google Map integration on Address, so customer can PIN their exact location. Very helpful while delivery
• Delivery date and time support on order, so customer can choose their preferred delivery schedule.
• Multiple theme support
• For B2B customer enable/disable Price & Add to cart based on customer segment or group

We would like you to have live demonstration of this new MobiCommerce version 4.0; we will give you detailed walk through of PWA website, React Native Android and iOS App.  Contact MobiCommerce Team NOW.

Experimenting with new technology for an online marketplace can be scary, but should you be afraid of PWA?

Progressive Web App is the talk of the town, and the praises for its benefits have no end, yet, when it comes to investing in it, the cloud of suspicion forms in our head and gets stuck at one and the same point, “whether to invest or not?”

Google first introduced Progressive Web Apps (PWAs) in 2015 with an aim to reduce app fatigue and poor app discovery rates by creating an enhanced website that could function just like a native mobile app.

In the last two years, PWAs have proven to achieve 50% higher conversion rates for eCommerce companies along with a better customer experience and higher searchability on the web app.

No wonder popular eCommerce brands like Alibaba, MakeMyTrip, Jumia, and George.com launched their PWA-enabled websites!

Did you know Alibaba achieved 76% higher conversions across the web and mobile browsers and increased its interaction rate from Add to Home screen by four times – all because of its web app!

But what’s so great about a PWA?

Unlike native apps, PWAs are written in standard web languages, don’t require any installation and run on web browsers.

Image Source

The fact that they have an advanced loading experience and better internet discoverability cost a fraction of what it takes to build a native mobile app and can be accessed offline makes them all the more appealing!

Soon, PWAs are expected to replace many Android and iOS apps and currently have enough strength to improve the mobile platform. The development and maintenance costs alone are supposed to be higher than 33% if a PWA can serve all mobile web needs.

The PWA community expands and how!

In 2018, Magento rolled out the PWA Studio – a suite of tools for developers and merchants to use to build and maintain eCommerce storefronts, with an app-like functionality, on top of Magento 2.

The Studio enables a framework which adheres to the Magento “principle of extensibility.”

That means the framework allows easy addition of new functionalities and capabilities as and when it grows – which is ideal in the case of eCommerce sites that are continually adding new product pages or upgrading user-interface.

There are three primary tools that Magento’s PWA Studio includes:

1. A PWA-buildpack that comprises development tools for a Magento PWA storefront.
2. Peregrine which contains UI components for a Magento PWA.
3. Venia, a proof of concept of Magento 2 that is built using the PWA Studio tools.

On further research, we found that the Studio boasts of the following four core features:

• Flexibility to personalize content and add local preferences
• Deployment of innovative commerce and CMS theming
• Purpose-built developer tools for fast prototyping, helpful debugging, productive feedback, and increased productivity
• Modularized component architecture to help drive opportunities for extension resellers

Adding to that, here are five basic concepts of the Magento PWA Studio make it a favorable choice when it comes developing PWAs:

Image source

1) Application Shell

What is that, you ask? It is a simple PHTML file that is curated at the beginning of a project and is rarely edited as the project progresses and evolves.

The Application Shells forms the basis for the HTML response and holds responsibility for:

• Indexable and socially linkable metadata for the webpages
• Minimal branded UI during the page loading time
• In-lined critical CSS and global data
• Seed JavaScript file to shorten the PWA runtime and the time it takes to load the entire page data

2) Application framework

Once the PWA is up and running on the Magento platform, it only interacts with the data via API calls. That is because it runs on a new core JavaScript framework which ensures a unidirectional data flow pattern.

3) API layer

The functionality enables the developer to work on a new style of API and on new methods that can provider lighter and more customized responses, unlike the REST designs. Such a feature enables the PWA to provide a web experience to its users that is similar to native mobile apps.

4) React

If your goal is to create an interactive UI, then you must deploy React which is a JavaScript library for user interfaces. It expedites the PWA development by:

• Ensuring an appropriate solution is chosen for the project
• Creating complex interfaces for any application state
• By rendering the UI correctly when the state changes
• By instigating developers to build modular and UI components for coding easily

5) GraphQL

If you are looking for an alternative to REST endpoints, then GraphQL is ideal. It’s mainly a service layer of the service and data query language of the client.

A single GraphQL can comprise requests for combinations of multiple data sets. PWAs decrease the server call numbers and data returned amount, and thus enhance the performance.

Over to you

The world of PWA is transforming rapidly, and Magento PWA Studio is expected to be the next big thing for the mobile web. With so many attractive features in the kitty, that isn’t surprising at all!

However, if the Magento PWA Studio is not your cup of tea, other options in the market can build your eCommerce storefront PWA for even a better deal.

Now that we have rung in the New Year, one thing is for sure – “mobile” is still very important for consumers and businesses alike! Let us tell you why:

• Google drives 90% of mobile search traffic.
• Users spend 86% of their time on mobile sites on an average with a majority of the time spent on gaming and social media.
• Google mobile app payments amounted to $700mn in just four years where its Pay service also paid a crucial role.

Mobile is now seen as the first digital touch with consumers. It is undoubtedly the new battleground for businesses, and eCommerce brands specifically are leveraging that in a significant way. They are continually looking for new ways to target and engage their customers.

That’s where Progressive Web Applications (PWAs) enter the picture.

Defining PWAs in an age of mobile commerce

(Source – https://www.applozic.com/blog/wp-content/uploads/2018/09/PWA.png)

Google introduced the PWA technology in 2015 with an aim to create an enhanced website with an app-like functionality, and thus combat the constant problem of app fatigue and poor app discover rates.

The technology is known for a gamut of benefits, including:

1) Improved loading experience

Mobile websites that take more than three seconds to load have already lost 53% of their traffic. To add to it, a 100-millisecond delay can cost 7% of the conversion rate on the website, and that is a number that businesses can’t ignore.

2) Active push notifications

The user gets notified on his or her device even when the progressive web application is not open in any browser. 2.7x more people are likely to open and click a push notification as compared to an email. The feature helps eCommerce brands lock in more conversions. Retail chains like Lancome and Starbucks are known for their excellent PWA-enabled sites. Ever browsed through them?

3) Better internet discoverability

The end goal for any business is to get discovered by their customers. A progressive web app is easily discoverable by search engines because it’s full of content and if appropriately optimized, a web app can fetch good search results.

4) Offline usage

(source – https://brooklynseo.nyc/wp-content/uploads/2019/01/web-design-brooklyn-cg-media-692×576.jpg

Whatever content is downloaded on the web app works even when the device is not connected to any Wi-Fi with the support of a Service Worker which is a script that the browser runs separately in the background. This means your customers can even access your PWA-enabled site in locations with spotty internet connectivity.

5) App-like navigation

The UX and UI of a PWA are similar to a mobile app, but here, you don’t need to search for it in the app store and download it to use it. It’s fully responsive and eliminates any lags or jerky transitions to ensure a smooth user interaction.

A PWA is served via HTTPS to ensure the web content isn’t tampered with and to prevent snooping.

How PWAs can help improve eCommerce SEO

(source – https://cdn-images-1.medium.com/max/1600/0*6lsqh6xg_UzpRs9A.png

PWAs leverage technologies like Service Workers, Cache API, Web App Manifests to provide a web experience similar to native mobile apps.

In the last two years, they have proven to get 50% higher conversions for eCommerce brands and helped to improve the customer experience on the web app.

Recommended blog: Why Progressive Web Apps Are Important for Businesses?

George.com, Alibaba, Jumia, eXtra, MakeMyTrip and Flipkart are some of the most popular global brands in the eCommerce industry to have launched a PWA-enabled website. Social sharing platform Pinterest observed an increase in engagement by 60% and a rise in user-generated revenue by 40%.

So how does a PWA affect SEO? In more ways than you can imagine.

1) If an eCommerce PWA, serving contents from multiple resources, uses rel=canonical tags, it avoids any content violations.

2) If a web app page is available through a specific URL that does not make use of any fragment identifiers (#), Google crawls that page often which further helps in search rankings.

3) To ensure that the content of each page on the web app is indexable, it is necessary to use the feature of server-side rendering (SSR). Google’s master tool called Fetch and Render tool tests how Google Bots see and index a page.

4) Since PWAS are identifiable as “apps” thanks to Service Workers and W3C Manifests, it helps search engines to find the progressive web applications better and faster.

5) The number of embedded resources on the pages of a web app is considerably less as compared to a desktop site. This helps in faster loading of the pages. No wonder PWAs load better and quicker!

What’s new in store for PWAs in 2019?

1) Apple has always remained fresh and at the top of their game. However, the tech giant chose to ignore PWAs, when they first came into the picture. However, things have changed and how. Now even iOS devices support the technology as Apple feels PWAs have stood the test of time.

2) Google states PWA compliance standards have secured a perfect score of 100%. According to Mobile Marketer, the mobile conversions of online retailer Luxmart doubled and reached 1.24% since the launch of their PWA-enabled website.

3) Now that major tech companies like Apple and Google are wholeheartedly adopting the technology, it has convinced web developers around the world to write the coding of web apps just once and then deploy to different sites.

Wrapping up

Progressive web apps for Android and iOS are in the making on a massive scale in 2019 – for various industries, and eCommerce is no exception.

MobiCommerce, a progressive web app builder, completely understands if your customers don’t find it easy to purchase your products, you are losing sales to competitors. You need to be where your customers are! We will build a responsive, SEO-optimized PWA for your eCommerce business that enables more consumers to find you easily.

Looking for a one-stop-solution commerce solution? Contact us today, and a member of our staff will reach out to you at the earliest to learn about your requirements.