If you need an app that’s cheaper to build, easier to update, and delivers a fantastic user experience, look no further than Progressive Web Apps (PWAs).
PWAs are essentially apps without the downloading hassle. They’re compatible across multiple systems and devices, and importantly – they’re much more cost effective to build and maintain.
In this article, you’ll learn:
PWAs are created using web frameworks and delivered via URLs – same as any web app or webpage. The difference is that once they are accessed via the mobile app, the user can pin the app to their phone home screen. Once that is done, the app work and behaves exactly like a native mobile app.
Why? Because you don’t have to deal with Native Code for iOS and Android or plugins as in the case of Hybrid app development — you build the PWA once and run anywhere. You can even customize the app for the desktop use. This increase your delivery channels and make it easy for your users to do work in-field or in the office using a single codebase.
Distribution is via URL so all you need to do is to send your users the URL or promote it via various other channels. Once the user pins the app to the home screen it will become a normal app.
Any app updates are distributed to the users automatically. This greatly reduces the release time and urgent and critical fixes can get to the users as soon as they are available.
PWAs allow for all the features you might need in your app, including:
Most of the native mobile functionality such as Camera, GPS are now available via a PWA. It works offline so you can create an app that is capable of working in the areas where the connectivity is an issue.
As a web app it can integrate with any cloud service for additional features such as payments. This allows to provide a payment facility without having to pay the transaction fee to Apple and Android stores. The PWA can integrate with any enterprise wide systems such as Single Sign on, HR, Finance etc. This creates a seamless experience to carry out enterprise level tasks with advanced capability.
PWAs provide an answer to typical challenges with enterprise and business apps that needs to be available via mobile.
For example, the app store’s release process includes a review each time you need to release the app. This process can take hours and sometimes days. The review process can raise objections that must be fixed and the app needs to go through the process again. This can delay your release, which is not ideal when you need it out quickly.
PWAs provide an answer to typical challenges with enterprise and business apps that need to be available via mobile.
App updates also rely on user settings for upgrades. If the user does not have automatic updates for the apps, this will mean that the app will only be updated if the user does it manually. This can cause issues with critical bug fixes and features availability.
And of course, app stores have strict policies around financial transactions within the app. Both Apple and Google do not allow third-party payments via their platform. You must use an Apple or Android in-app purchase platform which can extract up to 30% of the transaction as a fee. This can be avoided with your own PWA.
PWAs are great for enterprise companies who need business apps with full native mobile experience without the cost associated with the development for two platforms and the hassle of managing app stores.
Take this example for instance – a state fishing authority were looking to digitise paper-based supply chain processes with an electronic reporting system for commercial fishing. A PWA app was the perfect solution because it provided an integrated functionality of the native mobile apps with easy distribution of the app to the commercial fishers with full enterprise wide integration.
PWAs can help your workforce do work anywhere, anytime, and streamline business processes in a cost-effective way. If you’re looking to increase business efficiencies and provide a fantastic employee or client experience, PWAs are definitely worth the (affordable) investment. 
Resources referenced:
Imran Qazi General Manager
Imran Qazi is a General Manager at Lapis, with over 15 years’ experience in enterprise app and custom software development. Imran is passionate about helping organisations achieve their strategic objectives with seamless digital ecosystems, apps, custom software and process improvement. Connect with him on LinkedIn.
If you need an app that’s cheaper to build, easier to update, and delivers a fantastic user experience, look no further than Progressive Web Apps (PWAs).
PWAs are essentially apps without the downloading hassle. They’re compatible across multiple systems and devices, and importantly – they’re much more cost effective to build and maintain.
In this article, you’ll learn:
PWA’s are created using web frameworks and delivered via URLs – same as any web app or webpage. The difference is that once they are accessed via the mobile app, the user can pin the app to their phone home screen. Once that is done, the app work and behaves exactly like a native mobile app.
Why? becuase you don’t have to deal with Native Code for iOS and Android or plugins as in the case of Hybrid app development — you build the PWA once and run anywhere. You can even customize the app for the desktop use. This increase your delivery channels and make it easy for your users to do work in-field or in the office using a single codebase.
Distribution is via URL so all you need to do is to send your users the URL or promote it via various other channels. Once the user pins the app to the home screen it will become a normal app.
Any app updates are distributed to the users automatically. This greatly reduces the release time and urgent and critical fixes can get to the users as soon as they are available.
PWAs allow for all the features you might need in your app, including:
Most of the native mobile functionality such as Camera, GPS are now available via a PWA. It works offline so you can create an app that is capable of working in the areas where the connectivity is an issue.
As a web app it can integrate with any cloud service for additional features such as payments. This allows to provide a payment facility without having to pay the transaction fee to Apple and Android stores. The PWA can integrate with any enterprise wide systems such as Single Sign on, HR, Finance etc. This creates a seamless experience to carry out enterprise level tasks with advanced capability.
PWAs provide an answer to typical challenges with enterprise and business apps that need to be available via mobile.
For example, the app store’s release process includes a review each time you need to release the app. This process can take hours and sometimes days. The review process can raise objections that must be fixed and the app needs to go through the process again. This can delay your release, which is not ideal when you need it out quickly.
PWAs provide an answer to typical challenges with enterprise and business apps that need to be available via mobile.
App updates also rely on user settings for upgrades. If the user does not have automatic updates for the apps, this will mean that the app will only be updated if the user does it manually. This can cause issues with critical bug fixes and features availability.
And of course, app stores have strict policies around financial transactions within the app. Both Apple and Google do not allow third-party payments via their platform. You must use an Apple or Android in-app purchase platform which can extract up to 30% of the transaction as a fee. This can be avoided with your own PWA.
PWAs are great for enterprise companies who need business apps with full native mobile experience without the cost associated with the development for two platforms and the hassle of managing app stores.
Take this example for instance – a state fishing authority were looking to digitise paper-based supply chain processes with an electronic reporting system for commercial fishing. A PWA app was the perfect solution because it provided an integrated functionality of the native mobile apps with easy distribution of the app to the commercial fishers with full enterprise wide integration.
PWAs can help your workforce do work anywhere, anytime, and streamline business processes in a cost-effective way. If you’re looking to increase business efficiencies and provide a fantastic employee or client experience, PWAs are definitely worth the (affordable) investment.
Resources referenced:
Imran Qazi General Manager
Imran Qazi is a General Manager at Lapis, with over 15 years’ experience in enterprise app and custom software development. Imran is passionate about helping organisations achieve their strategic objectives with seamless digital ecosystems, apps, custom software and process improvement. Connect with him on LinkedIn.
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