Progressive Web App is praised as one of the top solutions to improve the performance of Magento sites. This emergent technology lets business owners deliver a more pleasant experience to their customers, consequently increasing their sales and revenues. Of course, like any other method, there are pros and cons of using PWA for Magento stores. This article will go point out the benefits and drawbacks of Magento 2 PWA integration so that you can decide if it’s worth it.
6 Benefits Of Magento 2 PWA Integration
1. Low development prices
Magento 2 PWA’s development fee is much less than that of a native app. The cost to create an app (both iOS and Android versions) typically starts from $10,000 for simple ones and the complex ones will of course cost more than this figure. On the other hand, the cost to develop a Magento 2 PWA may range from $300 to over $5,000 (depending on your PWA solution and requirements).
2. Convenience and time-saving
Convenience and time saving are some of the top concerns and expectations when using Magento PWA. Magento 2 PWA integration can solve time problems or complicated update issues.
When integrating the Magento website to PWA, you have many choices, such as using Magento PWA extensions, Magento PWA studio, or using Magento PWA themes.
Or merchants can find a reputable web development service provider to build a Magento PWA from scratch. The completion of creating a Magento PWA will take about 2-3 months, depending on the requirements and complexity of the website and the service you choose.
You can update the Magento PWA code when you need to upgrade and release the latest version at any time. And then customers can just accept the update request in the popup or refresh the page to use the latest version.
3. App-like experience
Magento PWA provides a “look and feel” similar to using a native app. PWA requires minimal page refresh and offers smooth scrolling, navigation, animation, etc.
The progressive principle used to create PWAs allows it to work on different browsers and screen sizes. Although not all devices currently support full PWA functionality, they can still perform quite well to some extent.
Magento PWA can be well adapted to various devices, including smartphones, tablets, and laptops with multiple operating systems.
4. Instant loading
Your PWA will run smoothly, and users won’t have to wait for the page to load. This allows customers to visit your website, and shop around with ease, thereby increasing the likelihood of returning.
5. Greater security
PWA provides services over HTTPS, which ensures maximum security and privacy of user and site data. HTTPS is designed to defend against man-in-the-middle attacks.
Plus, PWA has a secure connection that guarantees the protection of sensitive information. This way, users are less exposed to attacks and other vulnerabilities.
6. Marketing enhancement
By integrating PWA, your website can communicate better with customers and keep them interacting more with it.
For updates or promotions, you can send out push notifications and customers can receive them on their devices – maximizing your marketing effort. This makes visitors feel more connected to your shop, and they are more likely to visit your site after receiving news about updates/promotions. Hence, PWA’s push notifications are a great utility to increase user engagement for merchants.
Moreover, PWA is crawlable by search engines and can be discovered through search tools – like any other site. Accordingly, a PWA is better for SEO, resulting in more website visitors and sales.
3 Ways To Integrate PWA to Magento 2
When it comes to converting a Magento 2 website to a PWA, there are a few different methods that you can use. In this article, we will take a look at four of the most popular methods.
1. Install Magento 2 PWA Extensions
One way to convert your Magento 2 website to a PWA is by installing PWA extensions. There are a number of different extensions available, and most of them are free.
However, keep in mind that not all extensions are created equal, so be sure to do your research before you choose one.
2. Utilize Magento 2 PWA Studio
Another way to create a PWA using Magento 2 is by using the PWA Studio tool. This tool is available as part of the Magento Developer Toolkit and allows you to create PWAs without having any coding experience.
PWA Studio provides you with a set of tools that make it easy to develop, build, and deploy your PWA. It also includes a number of sample applications that you can use to learn how to build PWAs using the toolkit.
If you want to create a PWA using Magento 2 and don’t have any coding experience, then PWA Studio is the best option for you. However, if you’re looking for more control over your PWA and want to be able to customize it more, then building a PWA from scratch may be a better option for you.
3. Convert Your Site To PWA Using Magento 2 PWA Theme
The final method for converting your site to a PWA is by using the Magento 2 PWA theme. This theme is available for free on the Magento Marketplace and makes it easy to convert your website into a functioning PWA.
The Magento 2 PWA theme is based on the ReactJS library, which is a popular JavaScript framework. The Magento 2 PWA theme uses this library to create fast and responsive user interfaces.
If you want to take advantage of the Magento 2 PWA theme, then you should consider building your site using the ReactJS framework. This will allow you to create a fast and responsive user interface for your website. In addition, the Magento 2 PWA theme includes a number of features that make it easy to convert your website into a functioning PWA.
These features include:
- A manifest file that defines the start_url, name, icons, display, and background_color for your PWA
- A service worker that provides caching and offline support for your website
- A web app manifest that allows your website to be added to the home screen of a user’s device
If you want to build a PWA, then you should consider using the Magento 2 PWA theme. This theme makes it easy to convert your website into a functioning PWA. In addition, the Magento 2 PWA theme includes a number of features that make it easy to build a fast and responsive user interface for your website.
If you want to see what a Magento 2 PWA looks like, you can check out the Magento 2 PWA theme demo first. This demo showcases some of the features that are available with PWAs and gives you a good idea of what to expect from a converted website.
Drawbacks Of Using Magento 2 PWA
1. Limited support from several browsers and devices
Magento PWA has not been supported fully by Safari. For instance, there is no “add to home screen” popup, and users must manually add the app to their mobile. Hence, for iPhone users, they may feel disappointed as some features are not available in Safari. So if a store’s main customer group is iPhone users, they need careful consideration about PWA.
2. Relatively new – still in the development phase
PWA is still being developed and improved, so many functions are not yet optimized or available. Compared to a native app, PWA currently can’t access a phone’s Bluetooth or Siri, Face ID, or Touch. But PWA is still promising as it may acquire these capabilities in the future.
3. May lack core Magento features
If you choose to transform your web with a Magento PWA, make sure to do thorough research first. Many PWA themes on the market don’t support core Magento features, and you may only realize this after the integration. The lack of Magento features may harm your business operation/management.
Dealing With Cons Of Magento 2 PWA Integration
It is not possible to overstate the benefits of Magento PWA and the limitations that users face. Here are some suggestions for you.
1. Choosing PWA themes that support Magento features
When it comes to choosing a PWA theme for your Magento store, it’s important to make sure that the theme you choose supports all of Magento’s features. Unfortunately, not all themes are built using Magento PWA Studio, and this can lead to conflicts between the theme and Magento.
To avoid these conflicts, it’s important to seek out themes that are specifically built using Magento PWA Studio. This will ensure that the theme is fully compatible with Magento and that you won’t run into any problems when updating the theme in the future.
If you’re not sure whether a particular theme is built using Magento PWA Studio or not, you can always check the theme’s description to see if this is mentioned. If it’s not mentioned, then you can assume that the theme isn’t compatible with Magento.
2. Check carefully and frequently
PWA is a new technology, so it may have minor errors after being integrated into your Magento site. You’ll need to check carefully and frequently to detect any issues and fix them immediately to reduce the effect on customers’ experience.
Here are some tips on how to do that:
- Use a monitoring tool. There are many tools out there that can help you track the performance of your PWA. This will help you identify any potential problems early on.
- Test often. It’s important to test your PWA regularly to make sure everything is running smoothly. This includes checking for errors, incorrect pages, and broken links.
- Use different devices and browsers. Make sure you test your PWA on different devices and browsers, as they may behave differently in each one.
- Check for compatibility issues. There may be some compatibility issues with older browsers or devices. Make sure you check for these and address them as needed.
- Use analytics to track progress. Analytics can provide valuable insight into how your PWA is performing. Use this information to fine-tune your site and improve the customer experience
3. Choose a legit provider
When it comes to selecting a legit provider, there are a few key factors you need to take into account.
First, be sure to ask the provider about their PWA theme. A reputable company will have a high-quality theme that is compliant with Google’s recommendations. This will ensure a smooth and efficient integration process.
Second, check the service package offered by the provider. It’s important that they have a specific warranty policy and support period so that you can rest assured that any problems you encounter will be addressed in a timely manner.
Finally, always do your research before making a decision. Read reviews and compare prices to make sure you’re getting the best possible deal.
Brands Succeeded With Progressive Web Apps To Inspire You
If you are still not sure about PWA, look at the following companies that have successfully applied this technology and achieved remarkable results.
Twitter Lite
Twitter Lite sees a 75% increase in Tweets sent, a 65% increase in pages per session, and a 20% decrease in bounce rate (according to Google Developer Profile). The number of daily users accessing Twitter Lite reaches 250,000 from the home screen four times a day on average.
Starbucks
Progressive Web Apps has helped Starbucks improve its conversion rate by 2%. The PWA version of the website uses fewer data, loads faster, and is more reliable. These advantages contribute to a better user experience, which leads to more customers.
Alibaba
The Alibaba Group is one of the world’s largest online and mobile commerce companies. They own AliExpress – an online marketplace with more than 150 million active users. The company decided to invest in a PWA version of the AliExpress website. After the upgrade, they saw a 104% increase in conversion rates on iOS and 82% on Android. In addition, page loading time was reduced by 39%.
Forbes
Forbes is one of the most popular news sites with more than 60 million monthly visits. They saw a 43% increase in sessions, a 100% increase in session per user, and a 39% decrease in bounce rates after launching their PWA version.
Tinder
PWA has helped Tinder achieve amazing results as well. The app now loads faster, works offline, and is more reliable. As a result, the number of matches made on the platform has increased by 12%. In addition, PWA has helped Tinder improve its conversion rate. The app now converts 30% more visitors into paying users.
Lancome
After rebuilding their mobile website to PWA, there is an increase of 17% in conversions, 53% in mobile sessions on iOS, and 8% in conversion rates on recovered carts via Push Notifications. Using push notifications to reconnect with shoppers who’ve abandoned their carts makes a great success for Lancome.
The Bottom Line
Considering the pros and cons of integrating Magento PWA into your website, it’s clear that the benefits outtake the drawbacks. PWA technology promises an outstanding performance of your website and an excellent experience for customers.
Regarding the drawbacks, this article has provided practical tips so you can reduce their effect and make the best out of Magento PWA. Among these tips, partnering with a professional PWA service provider is probably the most important.
Tigren – A Professional Magento 2 PWA Integration Service Provider
We have provided Magento 2 PWA integration services since 2017 for companies from all over the world, and they’re beyond satisfied with their new Magento PWA sites.
To meet the demands of e-commerce businesses, we offer two types of services – the ready-made TigrenPWA Magento theme (free to $799) and custom PWA development. Whether you opt for our premium theme or custom service, you’re guaranteed a Magento PWA site with optimized performance and powerful features.
In addition, we offer an extended free support period of 3 months, depending on the type of service you choose. During the support period, your website will be fully checked, ensuring the requirements you set out.
