PWA, or Progressive Web Application is an application written in a web language (JavaScript + frameworks), which works as a native mobile or desktop application. Namely, it displays notifications, works offline as well as in the background, and can use native features such as a camera, geolocation or gesture navigation. At the same time, in contrast with an app, you don’t have to download it.

Yes. All modern mobile and desktop internet browsers (including Microsoft Edge) do support the technologies used to build the PWA and the standard itself. Obviously, the best support can be found at source, in Google Chrome.

Sure, if a given site meets the requirements of the PWA Checklist and passes Google Lighthouse benchmark. Of course, we aren’t taking into account devices with outdated versions of operating systems.

Definitely not! PWA will stay with us for a long time because the way people use mobile devices has changed. They tend to download less applications and use only a few regularly. At the same time, they browse a lot of online content on their smartphones and expect the experience to be convenient and frictionless – even if without a dedicated application. Interestingly, PWA has been implemented by market leaders such as Trivago, Forbes, Aliexpress, and the Polish ones cling to this as well (e.g. the NaTemat service). Actually, technologies used to create progressive applications have been around for several years and are being actively developed by technological giants: Facebook and Google.

The implementation of PWA will bring the following benefits:

• Cost optimization (one team and one technology instead of separate units for browsers and individual mobile applications)
• Better visibility in search engines (more about that below)
• Improved page performance
• Easier and more cost-effective acquisition of new users when compared to the mobile application
• Increased user engagement, which translates into an increase in conversion and decrease of the bounce rate
• No common problems related to mobile applications (long deployment and update times, necessity of downloading through a dedicated store app, Apple / Google verification)
• Integration with any existing (or new) system operating as a data source – back-end

There are a lot of inspirational examples in various industries to be mentioned, but let’s focus on three models:

• Aliexpress: due to speed and real effects: an increase in the number of new users in all browsers by 104% as well as an increase in conversion by 82% on iOS;
• Forbes: the new page loads in 0.8 seconds. Introducing PWA has triggered mobile users to browse the site for a longer time and look at more content. Thus, they watch more ads. Such a situation translates into Forbes not only providing better quality to its readers, but also offering more to advertisers;
• Trivago: up to half a million people have added PWA Trivago to their home screens. They are much more involved, and the conversion has increased by 97%.