Why Progressive Web Apps (PWAs) are Perfect for Emerging Markets in India 2024

In the quickly changing digital environment, Progressive Web Apps (PWAs) have emerged as a powerful tool for businesses to provide seamless, fast, and reliable web experiences. The surge in the use of mobile internet, propelled by more people having access to 5G and more reasonably priced smartphones, has given companies all over India plenty of new ways to interact with customers.

In this case, Progressive Web Apps (PWAs) have become an important instrument for providing customers in areas where access to high-speed internet is not always assured with a seamless, quick, and interesting online experience.

In this blog, you will explore why Progressive Web Apps (PWAs) are especially suitable for the Indian market, and we will also look into real-life cases and their impact.

What are Progressive Web Apps (PWAs)?

PWAs are web apps made with the goal of using current web features to deliver a native app-like experience. They may be loaded directly from the app store into the user’s home screen, have quick loading speeds, and work offline.

How are Progressive Web Apps different from Native Mobile Apps?

To create unique and engaging mobile apps, it’s important to know the limitations of each type of app. Many businesses are currently using native mobile apps, and this choice can affect their sales, conversion rates, and other factors.

All things considered, and taking into account different aspects, PWAs have become more popular than native mobile apps. As we move further into the digital age, native apps can still greatly affect your business performance and productivity.

So, it is time that you must start including PWA apps for better opportunities. Below is a brief table that will help you understand how PWAs are sweeping the native app market.

Get in Touch with our team if you have any queries or requirements. Our team will assess your needs as a business and as a product before presenting an elaborate cost estimate.

How Progressive Web Apps Boost Internet Access in Rural India

India is home to more than 1.4 billion people, the majority of which live in rural and semi-urban areas. As of 2024, the country has over 650 million internet users. According to a report by the The Hindu, rural India now accounts for almost half of the country’s internet users, a notable rise from previous years.

There are few alternatives for fast and dependable broadband in these places, and the internet infrastructure is frequently underdeveloped. Slow speeds and expensive data plans can reduce the usefulness of classic mobile apps, even though 5G is becoming increasingly common. Progressive web apps, can be useful in this situation.

“India’s digital revolution has been fast-tracked by mobile internet growth. With limited bandwidth in many regions, Progressive Web Apps offer a scalable solution for businesses to reach users efficiently.” — Satya Nadella, CEO of Microsoft

Key Features of Progressive Web Apps

Following are the Key Features of PWAs :

• Offline Accessibility: Users can use PWAs to access and use the app’s content even with poor internet connectivity or when offline, due to their caching ability.
• Lightweight: PWAs do not require installation from app stores and have significantly smaller file sizes, saving data and storage space instead of native apps.
• Cross-Platform: User experiences are consistently provided by PWAs as they function smoothly on various hardware and operating systems.
• Push Notifications: Companies can use PWAs to keep consumers notified and engaged, similar to native applications.
• Responsive Design: PCs, tablets, and smartphones are appropriate for using PWAs because they can adjust to any screen size or orientation, making them responsive.

Why PWAs Are Ideal for Emerging Markets in India?

Lets us discuss why the Progressive Web Apps (PWAs) are ideal for markets in India:

1. Low Data Usage and Reduced Costs

Users in India’s growing areas might find it difficult to access online content and mobile applications due to high data charges. Regular updates are typically required for native apps, which use storage and data. Progressive Web Apps (PWAs), on the other hand, are less expensive since they are lightweight and don’t require updates from app stores.

According to a report by the Medianama, over 45% of rural internet users are conscious of data consumption and avoid downloading apps that consume too much data.

Case Study

Flipkart Lite India’s largest online retailer, Flipkart, introduced Flipkart Lite, a PWA version of their platform, in 2015. Low-end device users and those with limited data access were the intended audience for this move. Consumers who accessed the site through Flipkart Lite observed a 40% higher re-engagement rate and a 70% increase in conversions. The app’s lightweight design allows users in emerging markets to purchase online with reduced data consumption.

2. Increased User Engagement with Push Notifications

Push notifications are a valuable feature of native mobile apps that help to keep consumers informed and involved. PWAs replicate similar functionality without asking users to download an application. This function has the potential to be extremely helpful for companies that cater to customers in areas where app penetration is low.

According to a report by Statista, the average open rate for push notifications in India is 7.8%, with a click-through rate of 4.6%. Businesses may keep their audience engaged even in places with weak network access by using push notifications through PWAs.

Case Study

OLX PWA Leading online listings company OLX introduced their PWA to increase user engagement in India. Push notifications and offline capability were made possible by OLX with the PWA; as a result, re-engagement increased by 250% and push notification CTR (click-through rate) increased by 146%. These findings highlight the potential of PWAs to increase user engagement and retention, especially in areas where mobile app downloads may be restricted as a consequence of privacy concerns.

3. Offline Features and Seamless Experiences

An important problem in many regions of India, particularly in rural areas, is unreliable internet access. Users may continue interacting with an app even if their internet connection is lost because to PWAs’ capacity to cache data and enable offline access to content. This function is especially helpful in areas with poor connectivity to smartphones or insufficient data access.

Case Study

Housing.com PWA. Leading Indian real estate website Housing.com implemented a PWA to serve visitors in places with inadequate internet access. Housing.com allowed consumers to peruse property listings even when they were not connected to the internet by using PWAs’ offline capabilities. This strategy greatly improved the user experience for users in emerging regions and resulted in a 38% rise in mobile traffic.

Economical Development for Businesses

Progressive Web Apps (PWAs) are a financially sensible replacement for creating and managing native apps from a business viewpoint. It can be more expensive and time-consuming to create apps traditionally since different codebases are needed for iOS and Android. PWAs are built using a single codebase that works across all platforms, allowing for reduced development and maintenance expenses ourselves.

Businesses that use Progressive Web Apps (PWAs) may improve user retention rates by up to 60% and save their mobile development expenses by 50–70%, according to a Grand View Research analysis.

“Progressive Web Apps not only offer a great user experience but also reduce the cost and complexity of app development, making them an ideal solution for businesses expanding into emerging markets.” — Sundar Pichai, CEO of Google

5G’s Effect in India: Increasing PWA Adoption

PWAs are expected to become even more important when 5G networks begin to roll out in India. With the increased internet speeds, reduced latency, and better network dependability that 5G offers, PWAs will be able to provide customers in growing countries with even more engaging experiences.

5G is anticipated to improve native app performance, but PWAs will gain from the new network infrastructure’s expanded capabilities, which include quicker load times, more responsive interfaces, and the capacity to handle more complex functions.

Case Study

Dependency on Jio Platforms At the front of the 5G revolution is Jio, a significant telecom provider in India. Jio intends to give customers all throughout the nation perfect digital experiences through the use of 5G networks. Jio is investigating the usage of Progressive Web Apps (PWAs) as part of its aim to provide consumers with quick, responsive, and interesting services, especially in areas where 5G will be a game-changer in closing the digital divide.

Real-World Success Stories of Progressive Web Apps

In order to improve user engagement, increase conversions, and maximize performance, let’s talk about actual case studies from the Indian market where companies have effectively used Progressive Web Apps (PWAs):

1. MakeMyTrip

A Progressive Web Apps (PWAs) adopted by MakeMyTrip, a prominent travel and tourism firm in India, to solve problems with high bounce rates and sluggish mobile site performance.

Impact

A more responsive user experience was achieved using the Progressive Web App (PWA), which dramatically reduced load times by 50%. There was a 20% spike in mobile traffic when the PWA went live. Users exhibited higher retention rates due to the increased app-like experience provided by the PWA.

If you want to know how much does it costs to build an app like MakeMyTrip Click Here

2. Flipkart

Flipkart, one of the biggest online retailers in India, used PWAs to improve the shopping experience for customers. Flipkart created a Progressive Web Apps in order to provide a faster, more trustworthy experience, particularly for users with unreliable internet connections.

The Economic Times claims that Flipkart increased engagement and sales with the PWA strategy, especially in places with poor network access.

Impact

Flipkart’s Progressive Web Apps have shown to be successful in improving user engagement, as seen by a 70% rise in conversion rates on mobile websites.

“Progressive Web Apps allow us to combine the reach of the web with the rich user experience of native apps. Flipkart Lite, our PWA, is a powerful tool to drive engagement and conversions, especially in areas where internet speeds are slow.”– Sameer Nigam, Former Chief Product Officer, Flipkart

3. Starbucks

Starbucks released a Progressive Web Apps (PWA) that imitated the features of their mobile app but used less bandwidth and storage. Users in areas with poor internet may now peruse the menu, modify orders, and even add things to their carts offline because of a PWA.

Impact

The performance improvement of the Progressive Web Apps (PWA) was remarkable, as it was 99.84% smaller than its native iOS app. This significant reduction in size led to faster load times and enhanced performance, particularly on low-end devices. Furthermore, Starbucks saw 2x as many orders from its PWA as from its native app, particularly in areas with poor internet service. This suggests that the PWA raised user engagement.

4. Ola

Ola, a significant participant in the ride-hailing market, used a Progressive Web Apps to increase user performance and accessibility, providing a better experience, especially for consumers with limited data plans.

Impact

The Progressive Web App (PWA) has made Ola’s services considerably more accessible, which is especially useful for those with slow internet connections. Also, the new PWA improves the user experience by speeding up the booking process by 60%. Following the release of the PWA, Ola had a 15% increase in daily active users, demonstrating the app’s positive benefits on user engagement.

“Our PWA has been instrumental in providing a faster and more reliable booking experience, which has been well received by our customers.”– Ankit Jain, Co-Founder of Ola

Wrapping Up

Progressive Web Apps (PWAs) combine native mobile and online experiences, resulting in faster maintenance, less development costs, and more user engagement. In developing nations like India, where data costs and connection are problems, integrating PWAs may revolutionize company operations.

For businesses looking to leverage the potential of PWAs, YeasiTech is here to help. Our team is ready to guide you through the process of implementing PWAs to ensure you achieve optimal performance and engagement for your target audience.

Feel free to reach out to us for a detailed consultation on how PWAs can improve your business strategy and meet your specific needs. Let’s explore the possibilities together and take your digital presence to the next level.

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