Will Web Apps Replace Websites and Mobile Apps? Share: Date Published 27 December 2018 Categories Blog Reading Time 3-Minute Read We’re seeing that web apps are beginning to replace standard websites: they’re easily updated and aren’t bound to a specific platform or device. We’re seeing that web apps are beginning to replace standard websites. Web applications are becoming more user-friendly because they’re easily updated and aren’t bound to a specific platform or device. Until recently, the most popular method was to offer a separate website and app for mobile devices. This is because mobile apps have unified interfaces, offline modes, faster reaction times, and push notifications, features that users and business owners want. This trend is also relevant to online shops because e-commerce supports experiences on smartphones, tablets, and desktop through native device interactions. But, according to recent studies, most people install only a few apps that they’ll actually use. There are different reasons for this, including long app loading time, the constant need for internet access, and finding and installing apps from Google Play or the App Store takes time and phone space. Sometimes the functionality of mobile apps is so similar to what you’d see on a website, that people ignore installing the mobile app altogether. It’s clear that E-commerce shop owners can’t fully rely on native mobile apps alone, in this case, consider looking into web apps. We’ll describe a couple of the most popular options below. What is a Single Page Application? An SPA is an application or website that is loaded once and doesn’t reload at any point after that, in the process. During the first load, it only requires code (HTML, JavaScript, and CSS). After this, the user can interact with the page, and any other features will be dynamically loaded and added to the page, as necessary, with user interaction. The most popular frameworks for SPA app development are: Angular React Vue.js Ember The above frameworks create SPA-class apps in several weeks or months, it depends on the complexity of the project. PWA (Progressive Web App) is a web app launched like a regular website, via any modern web browser, and after the homepage is loaded, it asks you to add the app to the home screen. After that, you’ll see the app icon on your phone home screen. The new app launches like a native mobile or desktop app and operates in an offline mode, to some extent, with main features, menu pages, and the app menu. Catalog items are not available, however, since they’re dynamic content and support push notifications, they require an internet connection. PWA standards are a good practice, a type of checklist which provides benefits of a more rich mobile experience. The Benefits for E-Commerce The use of the latest PWA standards will enable online stores to offer users a higher quality customer experience on a mobile device. What does it mean in practice? A single, unified app for all types of devices (desktop/mobile) Offline readiness – either partial or total Responsive by design (mobile-first experience) Remarkably faster reaction and page loading times Which Will Suit the Needs of Your Business, SPA or PWA? It’s quite simple, PWA is almost always an SPA but with extra features and support like responsive design resembling native apps, offline functions, faster loading time, and indexability via web browsers. As in the case of SPA, a PWA-type app can be developed within several months using front-end resources, as well as agile project development methodologies. Contact us, via our form, today and we’ll answer any questions and provide a free estimate.