A practical explanation of PWA benefits for classifieds sites, focused on UX, speed perception, and retention.
You might be wondering what is so cool about PWA and what it actually is. We can say that PWA is set of different technologies those when combined together, empower your website and improve user experience. I strongly recommend to read some articles about Progressive Web Apps and how big companies use them to engage their customers and bring more revenues. In order to keep this article short and clean, I will be talking just about benefits, not too much about technical details.
PWA concept is based on 2 files:
You may be wondering what was technology of previous decade? It is definitely native apps. Everyone was looking to have at least android and iOS app for its website, because it looked to be cool, was showing success of website (if you can invest such amount to app development) and provided better user experience comparing to website browsing.
Especially when responsive design started to be standard, many websites did not provided user friendly design on mobile devices and app was only way to go.
PWA is more-less response for following problems you might encounter when having native apps (or looking for them):
All these are key points for PWA to be invented.
As you might notice, PWA wants to provide better experience and partially replace need of native apps.
PWA ready website can use latest browser technologies and use navigator preload (faster site loading) as well as caching. When you have cache strategy in service worker enabled, content of resources will be stored into browser cache and is used to enhance offline user experience
When service workers are set to store cache, it can be reused when user is offline, so basically it allows user to browse all pages accessed without need to be online. PWA also allows to set custom offline page so when you access particular URL that is not in cache and connection is not active (it can be also that server is down, not just network issue), custom offline page is shown instead of browser error page.
Offline page is by default cached so it is available.
Considering above mentioned, via PWA you are getting native apps experience directly in browser (of course browser must support PWA technology). Without need to install anything, you can access website when you are offline, use cached data (incl. css, js, images), enhance content loading using navigator preload.
Website that meets different criteria (manifest, service worker, https, ...) is eligible to have "Add to home" installation button that is generated by browser. This installs Web Application as a great replacement for native application that is light-weight app that does everything that your website does and has just few kilo/mega bytes.
Using pwabuilder.com you can generate files for native application that can be used to upload your app into Google Play Store, iOS Apps Store or Microsoft store. If you are looking for native apps, PWA helps you to generate them for free!
Don't miss PWA technology wave, make your classifieds PWA ready today and provide better user experience to your customers using PWA Plugin for Osclass.
Hope this article helps you to create picture why PWA is important nowadays and how it can help you your business.
Question: What files make an Osclass site a PWA with PWA plugin?
Answer: A PWA needs a web app manifest and a service worker. The manifest holds name, colors, and install data. The worker caches pages and can show an offline page. OsclassPoint PWA plugin can ship those files. HTTPS is required for the worker to register. Confirm both files load on the live host.
Question: Do I need Android and iOS native apps first for Osclass classifieds?
Answer: A native store app is not required to launch Osclass classifieds. A PWA reuses the website, installs from the browser, and avoids a second codebase per store. Empty catalogs also get few native installs. OsclassPoint themes already work on phones. Add PWA plugin when HTTPS and a manifest are ready.
Question: Can Osclass PWA plugin users browse cached listings offline?
Answer: PWA plugin can cache resources and pages configured by its service worker. Pages that were not cached may show the offline fallback. Do not assume every previously viewed listing is fully available offline. This is not OsclassPoint Cache plugin HTML on the server. Test airplane mode after a few page visits.
Question: What does Add to home need on an Osclass PWA?
Answer: HTTPS, a valid manifest, and a registered service worker are the core prerequisites for install. Browser UI still varies: some browsers show an Add to home prompt and others hide it in a menu. If nothing appears, check HTTPS and manifest icons first. A missing prompt is not always a plugin failure.
Question: How do I generate Play Store files for an Osclass PWA with PWABuilder?
Answer: Use PWABuilder with the live Osclass HTTPS URL to wrap the PWA for store packages. That is optional. The site can stay a browser PWA without store files. OsclassPoint PWA plugin still provides the manifest and worker on the website itself. Test the browser install before you build store packages.
Question: What is the difference between Osclass PWA plugin and a hand-rolled service worker?
Answer: OsclassPoint PWA plugin installs the manifest and worker for classifieds without writing those files by hand. A custom worker can conflict with Cache plugin HTML or CDN hosts if you cache the wrong URLs. Start with the plugin. HTTPS is still required. Check Application in browser tools after install.
