Progressive Web App for Intranet

PROGRESSIVE WEB APP FOR INTRANET

Mobile Apps have taken the world by storm over the last decade and have drastically changed the way we live our lives. We can order cabs, food, groceries, control our household appliances, monitor the whereabouts of our loved ones, All at the push of a button

Over the course of the last few years, Mobile Apps have proved themselves indispensable. However, there are certain scenarios and situations in which their use is overkill. Even the smallest of apps consumes storage space and data, irrespective of its functionality. For many users, and in turn, businesses, this is not an acceptable option. Be it privacy concerns, lack of storage space on smartphones, or something else, Many users tend to opt out of installing apps they do not want or require. Or, they find ways around installing the application, thus defeating the purpose of the app altogether. Enterprises, in particular, have a need for PWA’s that can help alleviate their day-to-day issues, such as the requirement for dedicated login portals or apps for guests or employees to accomplish certain tasks. In many cases employees can be reluctant to install company mandated applications or keep them up to date. Guests visiting the premises of an enterprise can also be reluctant to install an application to achieve simplistic tasks.

What are Progressive Web Applications and are they key to a larger user base?

So how does one offer the functionalities of an app, namely its more effective use of smartphone hardware than websites, as well as the benefits of a traditional mobile web experience?

The answer lies in a seamless combination of both Apps and Mobile Websites, i.e,

Progressive Web Applications (PWA’s).

PWA’s are simply web pages that reside on your phone, having greater functionality than simple web pages but also being less resource hungry than applications.

For an App or Site to be considered a PWA, they need to fit these requirements:

A valid HTTPS connection
A valid JSON web app manifest, which would control the app’s functionality and appearance.
Ability to be easily accessed via one’s smartphone without going to the app creators website every time.

They can allow enterprises the opportunity to save money without compromising the quality of their services, and allow a greater focus on business goals rather than development for in-house tools.

PWA’s : The advantages are clear

There are many positives to incorporating PWA’s in one’s organization, be it for B2C or B2B or even for launch and usage within one’s organization. As a technology PWA’s are light, load extremely quickly and provide a good user experience, greatly reducing the barriers to usage.

PWA’s chief advantages are

1) Speed

PWA’s are famed for loading their content instantly. Even offline PWA’s are fully capable and can render pages without additional loading. Many sites have reported over a 2x increase in speed after switching to PWA’s

2) Simplified Updates

With Mobile Apps it has been reported that users are generally reluctant to perform updates in a timely manner, thereby hampering the apps ability to perform up to the developer’s standards. This has been virtually nullified with PWA’s as they are a container for the features and functionality a developer wants to offer and can be updated server side. To the user, it appears to a be a seamless, constantly up-to-date experience.

3) Lightweight

Not only do PWA’s drastically reduce internet bandwidth consumption, but they are also extremely light on the smartphone’s resources they are installed on as they consume next to no storage space and only use the phone’s resources when required.

4) Easily Accessible

PWA’s are extremely easy to access and to share. One can send simply by sending it’s URL across. There is also no requirement to install it via an App store which greatly enhances its accessibility.

5) Easily Indexable

PWA’s can be easily seen by search engines which makes them easily indexed and even display varying layers of content as separate applications.

That leads to the question: Why should Enterprises be looking at getting a PWA Developed?

There are several reasons why an enterprise should be looking to hire PWA Developers India.

Aside from the aforementioned general benefits of a PWA, it has several attributes which make it exceptionally useful for Enterprises.

1) No App Store Necessary

PWA’s can be downloaded via a simple URL and do not need to be downloaded via an App Store. This greatly reduces the time required to get a PWA up and running on a company-wide Intranet.

2) Security

Although PWA’s already utilize HTTPS for authentication and secrecy, Enterprises can make custom additions to enhance security until it meets their requirements. Security can be enhanced with background synchronization of data as well as the implementation of Content Security policies to prevent the PWA from attacks.

3) Server Side Updates

A major attribute of PWA’s which can be of immense use to Enterprises is that all updates are server-side only as PWA’s are basically enhanced web pages. This offers a great deal of convenience as that translates into independence from App Store policies. It also ensures that the user always has an updated PWA with relevant content.

4) Versatility

An Enterprise Intranet can be set up to direct the user automatically to a PWA as soon as they connect to a local network. Different users can be directed to different PWA’s as per their access level and requirement. This allows a great deal of flexibility when it comes to deploying PWA’s and enables an Enterprise push only relevant content to their employees or guests.