Build your progressive web app for eCommerce business 2022 – everything you need to know.

07 Mar 2022

Progressive Web App for eCommerce

It’s universally known that eCommerce businesses are dominating the industry today. And, why not? How feasible and convenient is buying products and services on eCommerce stores? If you are a tech enthusiast or entrepreneur who wants to start your own eCommerce business, you can consider building a progressive web app.

If you are familiar with progressive web apps, you have to hire dedicated app developers to develop them for you. However, if you are not much aware of progressive web apps but want to know what it’s all about, this blog might be of your help. 

So, let’s know a little about progressive web apps, to begin with. 

What are Progressive Web Apps? 

The progressive web apps is a type of application software delivered through the web. Web apps are built using standard web technologies like HTML, CSS, JavaScript, and Web Assembly. Web apps are intended to work on any platform that uses a standards-compliant browser. Web apps seamlessly run on both mobile devices and desktops. 

Progressive web apps are capable, reliable, and provide many advantages to users, such as installable, enhanced, responsively designed, linkable, discoverable, and secure. 

PWA provides the users the experience of a native app through these key features- 

  • Access to the app through the home screen
  • Offline access to the app
  • Push notifications 

Recently, PWAs are gaining momentum as a popular choice for eCommerce businesses. Using a PWA for building an eCommerce business allows the brand to get a fast, responsive, and app-like experience that can drive the customers to the eCommerce business. 

Now, as we have discussed enough PWAs, let’s see why eCommerce business needs progressive web apps. 

Why Need PWAs for eCommerce Business? 

Today, mobile traffic is surpassing desktop traffic, as 60% of the traffic is coming from mobile devices. Many merchants develop PWAs for their eCommerce business to provide the best shopping experience and engage the audience. 

PWAs are still a new technology, but many new businesses gradually focus on PWA development. So, let us see why there is a need for PWAs for eCommerce businesses. 

  • Better user adoption by installing the home screen

PWAs provide a highly engaging user experience similar to native apps. Progressive web apps can be installed on the home screen, which again improves the overall user experience. Installing PWAs on the home screen also makes them directly accessible to users. 

  • Boosting user engagement 

PWAs, just like native apps, send push notifications to mobile devices. This way, businesses can reach their audience directly on their mobile devices. This again creates a highly engaging user experience. 

  • Reduced development costs 

A progressive web apps eliminates the need for the development, maintenance, and marketing of any platform other than PWAs. Hence, PWA development provides an opportunity to serve all the channels from just one platform, which ultimately reduces development costs. 

  • PWAs improve SEO 

SEO does wonders for a business, and since PWA is SEO-based, it is easily discoverable by search engines. Any content in PWA can be shared and ranked on search engines like Google and Bing. Thus, your eCommerce business will get more audience from the web. 

  • Increased conversion 

It’s crystal clear that a better user experience results in increased conversion. As discussed above, progressive web apps deliver a better user experience, the conversion rate of the businesses will also increase significantly. 

What are the Key Components of Magento PWA studio? 

Magento PWA Studio is a set of tools and libraries that let businesses and developers develop progressive web apps. 

Here are some tools and libraries of Magento PWA studio- 

Build tools

this package contains the build and development tools for the Magento PWA studio project. It has several features such as project setup tools, configuration management, etc. 

Custom react hook and component

this package consists of custom hooks and components for the PWA studio project. 

Demo storefront and backend

this package provides a template for the PWA studio project. Whenever you set up a new storefront project, you get a copy of the content in this package. 

Some other notable packages are- 

  • Pwastudio.io
  • UPWARD
  • PageBuilder 
Build Progressive Web App 
for eCommerce Business For Your Ecommerce Store

What is Headless Commerce?

Headless Commerce provides more eCommerce platform options than traditional Commerce. It is an eCommerce solution that stores manage and delivers content without any requirement of a frontend delivery layer. With a headless eCommerce, the frontend of a website or an app is removed, leaving behind only the backend. 

If you are scratching your head thinking how headless eCommerce is different, don’t worry. We will take you through a quick comparison between headless eCommerce and traditional eCommerce to help you understand. So, let’s begin! 

  • Flexible front-end development 

Front-end development in traditional Commerce goes through many constraints in terms of Website design and development. 

On the contrary, in headless Commerce, the predefined front-end platform is removed and thus enables the front-end developers to create a user experience from scratch. 

Thus, they don’t have to go through any shackles associated with traditional Commerce. 

  • Customization 

Traditional Commerce generally has little room for customization or personalization, and therefore, some businesses might not get what they had expected. 

Headless Commerce, however, doesn’t have any front end, so the developers can provide more customized solutions to the businesses. 

Thus, it will give more control over the look and feel of a Commerce platform. 

  • Flexibility

In traditional Commerce, there are little to no possibilities for customization when required. The developers need to edit the coding only to make single customization. 

However, in headless Commerce, the developers can make any change, either big or small, from implementing a custom checkout flow to adding a new field to the customer account. 

Thus, headless Commerce is more flexible and has plenty of possibilities for customization. 

What Are Some of the Key Features of PWA? 

Features are the backbone of any platform, and framework and PWAs are no exception. PWAs have several features that make them stand out from traditional Commerce and native apps. So, let’s see what these features are- 

  • Add to the home screen 

With this feature of Progressive web apps, the users can add the brand icon on the home screen with just a few clicks. 

  • Push notifications

With PWA development, eCommerce businesses can send private messages to the customers and engage with them for increased conversion. 

  • Self-updates 

Progressive web applications have the superpower to update themselves automatically. As a result, PWAs are continually updated and run smoothly.   

  • Offline mode 

This is probably the best feature of PWA. Unlike other websites that go blank when the internet connection is interrupted, PWA allows the users to revisit all the pages they have loaded before. 

  • Instant loading 

Unlike some traditional commerce and native apps, PWAs load instantly and provide a great user experience. Users don’t like to wait for more than 4 to 5 seconds for a website to load. 

What are the Well-Known Benefits of PWA for an Online Business?

Businesses are not leaving any stone unturned and trying their best to get their share in the mobile eCommerce market. Some businesses might be using a native app for their business, but the benefits of PWA are creating quite a buzz among businesses these days. 

So, let’s discuss some of the benefits of PWA for online business in brief- 

  • Smooth installation

There’s no complicated procedure for PWA development. The users can download PWAs directly from a website. Furthermore, eCommerce businesses can place the apps in the Google play store for greater exposure. 

  • Mobile-like behavior 

PWAs are designed like mobile apps but offer website functionalities like dynamic data and database access. PWAs benefit from the existing frameworks and UI/UX that provide superior user experiences as compared to a website. 

  • No app store submission 

There is no need to publish PWAs on app stores. As a result, eCommerce businesses don’t have to go through the complicated app store submission process.

  • Wider reach 

PWAs are available to use for every user irrespective of the platform. Moreover, PWAs can be easily shared through a link, making it easier for businesses to reach a wider audience. Overall, PWAs are instantly accessible to a wider audience. 

Progressive Web Apps vs. Native Apps 

You might wonder how progressive web apps are different from native apps. Well. It’s a long-going debate now, and we will try to draw a comparison between the two. 

So, let’s throw a little light upon Progressive web apps vs. native apps.  

Factor of comparison PWAsNative apps 
Cost of development Cheaper than native apps Requires more time and money 
Installation No installation required Installation from app store/google play
Time to market Faster to develop Takes longer to develop than PWAs
Updates Instant and automated updates Updates carried out by businesses and users 
Security HTTPS encryption Additional security based on built-in device compliant 
Offline Operation Offline mode is available Offline mode depends on the app type 
Push notifications Not available for iOS devices Available for all 
Difference Between Progressive web apps vs. native apps.  

What are some of the Successful Top Brands Using PWAs for their eCommerce Businesses? 

Many brands trust and develop PWAs for their eCommerce business. If you are still wondering if PWA development is the right decision, have a look at how some top brands are successfully using PWAs for their businesses. 

Here are some of those brands- 

  • Aliexpress
  • George.com
  • UK meds
  • Eleganza
  • Lancome
  • 5miles
  • Flipkart
  • Starbucks coffee
  • Konga 

These are some of the top brands using PWAs for their eCommerce business and have been running successfully for years now. So, what more proof do you want to believe that PWAs are here to stay. Don’t wait anymore if you want to develop PWAs for your own business. Hire a PWA development company today and run your eCommerce business like a pro! 

What Advantages Do PWA have over Native Apps? 

Although we have already compared PWAs and Native apps, if you still want to know more, let us help you with that. Next, let’s dig into the advantages of PWAs over Native apps to see why PWA development is a good deal. 

  • Cost-effective development

Developing PWAs is cost-effective and easier than developing native apps. PWAs also use the same build across different platforms, and thus the developers only have to develop a single code base for developing PWAs. 

  • Offline access- 

While talking about the advantages of PWAs over native apps, it would be a mistake to leave out offline access. Offline access is an important feature that makes PWAs the right choice for eCommerce businesses. Native apps also offer offline accessibility, but it’s not as reliable as PWAs. 

  • Quick loading time 

Native apps are substantial, and therefore, the users have to spend a lot of time downloading and installing such apps on their devices. On the contrary, PWAs are small in size and quick to load and download. This feature makes it popular among eCommerce businesses. 

  • Multi-platform support 

Progressive web applications are designed to run seamlessly on multiple web platforms, and therefore, both Android and iOS users can use PWAs without any errors. However, native apps either support iOS or Android and thus, support either one of the platforms specifically. 

  • Better conversion rate 

PWAs have better conversion rates as the developers have to follow only a few simple steps to access progressive web apps. PWAs can be effortlessly added to the home screen and accessed by anyone easily. Native apps, on the other hand, need to be developed and installed, which becomes a lengthy and time-consuming task for users. 

PWA- The Future of eCommerce 

Do you think PWAs are the future of eCommerce? In this guide, you must have noticed how PWAs are making their way into the eCommerce industry and are here to stay for years. Many eCommerce businesses have already started using progressive web applications over native apps for their amazing features, benefits, and powerful functionality. 

Enough of thinking, hire a PWA development company today and begin with PWA development today. 

Looking for a PWA development company for your project? 

If you have been planning to take your business online and start your own eCommerce business, PWAs might be the right choice for you. If the PWA development seems overwhelming to you, you can hire dedicated developers from an experienced eCommerce development company. 

We are an experienced eCommerce development agency from India having significant experience in PWA development services. You can consider hiring us for your developing PWA for your eCommerce business. Trust us for your PWA development, and we will not disappoint you. 

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