Does your business have a website?

Does your business make money on your website through advertising, e-commerce, etc?

If yes, you definitely need a Progressive Web Application. It has a significant effect on functionality and revenue.

According to the recent report, after using AliExpress has 104% increase in conversion rates for new users and Twitter has increase of 75% in tweets, 65% in pages per session, and a decrease of 20% in bounce rate.

What is a Progressive Web Application?

In simple words, Progressive Web Application looks like a web app but delivers the experience of a native app.

Before taking a closer look into the significance and functions of Progressive Web Application, let’s be clear on what a native app and web app is.

Native app – It is distributable and downloadable from the mobile app store respective to OS.

Web app – It is accessible from within a web browser by simple entering their address or URL.

So, Progressive Web Application is designed in a way to exceed the expectations of a mobile web app and native web app by delivering the best customized features of each to mobile users. It does not require you to write the code again and again for various platforms. It is more secure as they have HTTPS to provide transaction security. In addition to that, you don’t have to install any apps instead it can be accessed in a browser by simply placing it on the home screen.

Here are a few key statistics of Progressive Web Application found by the AppInstitute.Bounce rate is decreased by a phenomenal 42.86% compared to mobile websites

15 x times faster to load and install

25 x times less device storage required 

133.67% increase in page views

78% increase in average session

52% increase in average conversion

68% increase of mobile traffic

However, a few businesses are unlikely to create Progressive Web Apps due to the business limitations. To identify if your business needs it or not, this is all what you need. By the end of this article, you can make a clear decision in hold of enriched information.

Functions of a Progressive Web Application:

• It enables the app to load instantly on repeat visits by displaying the cached content immediately. Followed by that, the rest of the page will be delivered progressively. 
• It can be added to home screen offering the visibility and accessibility as same as a native app. 
• It provides offline functionality to achieve a great level of performance irrespective of the network condition. 
• It enables push notifications to communicate with the site visitors in personalized way.
• It offers secure online payment. Customers need not fill in the checkout forms as the payment details will be automatically restored.

Advantages of a Progressive Web Application:

• Developers need not build the app for multiple platforms as a progressive web app will work perfectly on both android and iOS. 
• Customers need not visit an app store, install, and accept several permissions. Rather they can merely click on the site, add the app to a home screen, and start using it. How simple is that! 
• Whenever a developer releases new versions, customers can avoid themselves from updating. They can maintain the old app version until they update. 
• Researchers found that about 80% of the smartphone users move apps to the home screen intentionally. This ability makes it more competitive with web apps. 
• It is HTTPS enabled and so it ensures that all users information are protected including customer information, payment transactions, and their browsing history. 
• It offers universal access, that is, customers can simply navigate to any browser and access the app instantly.

Disadvantages of a Progressive Web Application:

• Few devices cannot support the entire software functionality. It has some support issues in Android devices whereas iOS devices does not support notifications and shortcut prompting on the home screen.
• Hardware components like GPS, fingerprint scanners, bluetooth, camera, etc is not supported on all devices. 
• It does not support all browsers especially newer and custom browser versions. 
• Since the app is not available in app stores, it might reduce the search traffic.

To summarize, Progressive Web App is a go-to option for different businesses. It not only based on customer loyalty and satisfaction, but also on low development costs, enhanced security, seamless operations, and so on.

Before getting down to the details, I’ve mentioned a few things below to help you better visualise about what SaaS is and what it does.

What is SaaS?

Short answer: SaaS is an optimised model to deliver core business applications instantly and effectively. No need to install on each and every computer!

Long answer: SaaS (Software as a Service) is a software delivery and licensing method and so the data can be accessed from any device using an internet connection and a web browser. These products are maintained and updated automatically by a provider.

Reports from FinancesOnline conveys that 51% of companies perform their operations using SaaS products. 

Previously, companies were overwhelmed to develop a new application. Processes like custom development, testing, training, sales, installation, etc could usually take a few weeks. But with the help of SaaS, all these can be done in a few days or less. Besides that, companies can be provided with instant access to an unrestricted, global market, and market a product without raising the delivering cost proportionally. By this time, you might have understood why everyone rush towards SaaS platform!

How do you build a successful SaaS product?

Here is a checklist of things to be addressed to make a product launch perfect and extraordinary.

• Refine your SaaS product idea

Identify some audiences who are genuine and glad to give unbiased feedback. Once found, share your SaaS product idea and hear from them. The idea might seem entirely flawless for you but minor issues can be seen only by outside people. Also, it’s a great idea to improve and optimise the present plan, new ideas might arise, may be!

• Find who needs your product

The real quest is to identify who your audiences are. Create a list of users who can benefit from your product. From that list, you can start spreading awareness and sending messages not to miss out any users at the end. Now, you would have gathered enough information after research.

• Engage them with your product

It is too clear that people make decisions only when they believe in a product. In order to gain trust, we will have to let them experience and engage with your SaaS product. Though your product does not completely exist, you can create a demo or a minimum viable product. It is a smaller version of your product to deliver your prospects a basic service your product offers.

• Find investors for your product

Set a campaign and find new audiences who are willing to invest in your product. Get their contact information immediately and improve relationship with them apart from texting and mailing. Try offering freebies in your campaign to attract wider audiences. Who doesn’t like a gift?

•   Connect with other SaaS products

Weird but smart! Build relationships with other SaaS product companies to get support and guidance from them. You can connect via social media, attend SaaS events and conferences, or write guest blogs on other company sites. Writing guest blogs will get you build valuable back-links to your website.

• Schedule a launch date

While you have developed an entire first version of your SaaS product, set a launch date. Meanwhile continue building investors.

• Spread words about your launch

Use both inbound and outbound marketing strategies to ensure you are getting the word out about your launch in every nook and corner. Few of the effective marketing efforts are running ads on Facebook and other marketing ads, making press releases, attending SaaS conferences, and many more.

• Time to launch your product

Before launching your product, make sure that all your product’s features and functionalities are working for different users and on different devices. Ensure your team test every detail of it. Here you go, launch!

• Improve features and functionality consistently

In order to keep your SaaS product evolving constantly, get feedback from your attendees when you push your product live. Note it down the requested features and functionalities and use those as a guide to develop version 2 of your SaaS product.

The above-mentioned checklists are to be followed mandatory to build a successful SaaS product.

As we all know, SaaS is the most thriving service in the IT industry. If used efficiently, its benefits are countless. Build your own SaaS product today!