While being online has made it more convenient to promote and sell across boundaries and collect payment in more ways than one, it has also increased the competition. Sure, consumers will have access to more brands and e-commerce platforms, but it will also test your e-commerce capabilities to the fullest.
The United States is the second-largest e-commerce market in the world. Now, the question is, how do you make your platform more visible to take advantage of this market?
Progressive web applications (PWAs) can be the answer to that. Read on to find out how!
Benefits of Progressive Web Apps (PWA) for e-commerce
Even though the concept of mobile user experience is not new today, when Google first introduced the term PWA in 2015, it created a stir. This was because of the extent to which a user could develop a progressive relationship with the app with this technology.
One of the key advantages of this application is that despite being a website, it still seems and feels like an app. And the best part is you do not need to download or install a separate app for this.
Moreover, you can access the PWA sites from both your mobile devices and your desktop. Starbucks, Facebook, Tinder, and Pinterest, PayTm(For Some features) are some of the most popular and successful adaptations of the PWA on the web.
Even Instagram used PWA until they decided to re-built the Instagram Lite version as an Android app. So, with the mobile use of e-commerce platforms on the rise, e-commerce businesses can make more use of its functionality without requiring any native apps.
Keeping this in mind, let’s have a look at the Top 5 advantages of PWA for e-commerce platforms.
1. Allows you to reach a wider audience
One of the primary benefits of PWA is that you get to cater to all kinds of users no matter which platform or devices they use. PWAs also respond well when it comes to different-sized screens.
All of this makes them instantly accessible to a broader audience, which is excellent news for your e-commerce. Moreover, it also makes sharing through a link more convenient which saves the time of having to download and install an app.
2. Makes your site faster and more accessible
The loading time is a vital factor for websites and mobile apps when it comes to customer retention. According to Google, the leading search engine in the world, 53% of mobile users will abandon a site if the loading time is more than three seconds.
Hence, for an e-commerce site like yours, this would mean missing out on potential sales. So, PWAs help as they are designed in such a way that they ensure a faster and smoother loading experience for the user.
Additionally, due to the modern web development technologies and frameworks, PWAs can work super-fast even when there is lower or no internet connectivity. Simultaneously, Google loves PWA sites, and it might even help your ranking on the search engine if your e-commerce store meets the PWA criteria.
3. Reduces cost and time of development
The cost of native app development around the world is relatively high, and it also requires maintenance. On top of that, you would need to have apps for both Android and Apple iOS users to reach the same customer base. That’s twice the effort with no different outcome. In addition, managing all of these apps on different platforms is a burden for many e-commerce platforms that you might want to avoid.
As such, PWAs save you the hassle of having your own native app. This means that you are spared the additional developer cost and maintenance cost and get the same result with lesser effort.
4. More engaging and better conversion
Since PWAs deliver an authentic native app experience, it includes all the web capabilities, such as push notifications and a home screen.
This results in better user adoption since it offers a highly engaging experience for the users, just like a native app. Also, thanks to the home screen, users can access the platform directly without having to download any separate app.
Lastly, better customer engagement means a higher conversion rate and higher interaction rate. Take Alibaba, one of the largest retailers and e-commerce platforms in the world, for example. It increased its conversions by 76% across different browsers with the help of PWAs.
E-commerce challenges that can be solved with PWA
A well-built PWA that is enhanced with modern APIs can reach anyone anywhere and on any device with a single codebase. As an e-commerce owner, this is a massive opportunity for you to create the best user experience ever.
Additionally, it can also solve your top e-commerce woes.
How?
Let’s find out!
- You lack the budget for building a native app
Mobile apps are an excellent tool for any business if they want to reach more consumers. But they are costly. You also need to make them for different platforms, which means having more than one app.
So, even a cross-platform app can cost you a significant amount of money. Moreover, having PWAs can get you the same results in a most-cost effective way.
- Downloading app take up storage space
Although a lot of people spend their time on mobile devices, only a select few get the most of their attention. Having to download and install an app for every store is a hassle many want to avoid.
Moreover, the apps take up an ample amount of storage space. For the new and not-so-regular users, this can be a hassle and will result in loss of business for your e-commerce.
But, having a mobile-friendly web-based PWA can be a win-win situation for both you and your customers.
- Slow-loading mobile apps can drive customers away
If you want to avoid slow-loading sites and cart abandonment, the modern PWAs offer the proper framework for that. These assure a speedier and smoother user experience even when you scale your business and add more products to your online store. You can even boost your organic traffic without needing Google Mobile Indexing.
Conclusion
PWAs are improving at a rapid rate and can eventually replace native apps since they can perform the same tasks as these apps. In addition, they offer single-page speed, a smoother experience, and offline abilities.
Additionally, once fully implemented, PWA platforms can completely alter your e-commerce store or website. This can definitely give you a competitive edge and reduce your development costs in the digital world.
So, before everyone starts taking advantage, it is wise to turn your e-commerce site into a Progressive Web App.
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