How to plan your PWA development?

Although slightly less popular than a few years ago, progressive web apps are still common, with many tech giants across industries choosing them over native apps. If you’re also interested in implementing a PWA or switching to this development model, our article will help you prepare!

Native development is timely and costly, and PWA can save you all that headache. Nevertheless, just as in the case of any other project, it requires thorough planning and thoughtful decisions that correspond with the requirements of your product and the market you are targeting. But worry not! We have prepared a universal, detailed checklist that will pave your path to success.

What is a progressive web app?

If you are considering adopting PWA, you likely know more or less how it differs from regular applications. However, let’s sum up how the progressive web apps function before breaking down the planning of their development.

In a nutshell, a progressive Web Application is a website that closely resembles a native application. Built with JavaScript, it provides users with a native-like experience within the browser without running a separate application. All that comes with a broad range of native functions like push notifications or online browsing.

Why should you invest in a progressive web app?

Firstly, the PWAs increase the accessibility of your product. Users can access them via a web browser without downloading the application. Not only does it remove the entry barrier related to data storage, but also enables users in the areas where the low-bandwidth problem is still present to access your product without any issues. If you want to remain fully accessible and inclusive, progressive web app development might be a good idea. 

PWAs are lightweight and stand out with their performance, which could also contribute to a high retention rate. With the optimized asset delivery PWA offers, you can count on fast loading times which is a decisive factor in terms of churn. They also can be cheaper to build and maintain, as you can run them across different environments and devices without developing separate native apps. Note, however, that these benefits on the project’s scale.

Contrary to the native apps, they are also SEO-indexed, which facilitates reaching different target groups and acquiring organic movement. At the same, contrary to responsive websites that do not include native-like features, PWAs enable GPS localization and push notifications, which are essential to user engagement.

Although some tech giants, like Instagram, moved on from PWAs, a number of world-renowned companies, including Twitter, Pinterest, and Uber, have chosen PWAs as their perfect development model.

Progressive web app development – how to plan it?

PWA development life cycle is less complex than native apps’ and the process itself – is shorter and cheaper. Nevertheless, you should plan it in detail to avoid surprises! Note that the final shape of the PWA development process may differ depending on project requirements and methodology. However, this framework may help you establish your individual plan.

• Define your project goals and related measurable KPIs.

• Carry out market research. Understand your competition (do they have PWAs? Why/why not?) and the target audience of your PWA (Why do they prefer it? What are their priorities – fast loading times, no download?)

• Identify the key user needs and define requirements on that basis.

• Create a detailed project plan and establish the project scope, timeline, and budget.

• Create a project roadmap and define its milestones.

• Choose the right tech stack for progressive web app development.

• Plan the API integrations with third-party services.

If you work with a progressive web app development company, these first phases may be carried out together – for instance, during a discovery workshop. It’s crucial to cooperate closely until this point in order to keep everyone on the same page and avoid further misunderstandings.

Then it’s time to bring the plan to life! From wireframes and user flows to a complete MVP, you can pass this path alone or with the support of experienced, progressive web app developers.