Progressive Web Apps: Enhancing the Value of In-Venue Digital Content
Progressive Web Apps - or PWAs – are a popular alternative to traditional applications or websites. The latest trend is to use them on mobile devices as a complement to in-house digital content, like digital signage. This article reviews that novel use by exploring what PWAs are and then how businesses can leverage them to increase the value and effectiveness of existing in-house digital deployments.
What is a Progressive Web App
A progressive web app (PWA) is an application built using modern web technologies. It combines the functionality of a platform-specific app with the versatility of a website. PWAs can be run on various platforms and devices using a single codebase. They offer the convenience of being installed on devices, can operate offline and in the background, and seamlessly integrate with the device and other installed apps.
PWA Benefits Over Traditional Apps
Progressive Web Apps provide various advantages compared to conventional applications. Here are some of them:
No installation from any app store is needed
Because PWAs are web-based, they can be accessed from any device with an internet connection and a web browser. There is no need to download and install an app from an app store. This means there are no limitations in distributing your product to users.
Lower development costs
With PWAs, teams can save time and money by creating just one version of their app or website. They won't have to worry about creating separate versions for different devices and operating systems, resulting in less development time. Not only does this reduce costs, but it also makes it easier to roll out updates quickly and efficiently across all platforms.
Lighter and faster loading times
With tiny file sizes, progressive Web Apps (PWAs) can be significantly lighter than traditional apps. For example, Starbucks' PWA is only 233KB, which is 99.84% smaller than the iOS mobile app version (source). PWAs use web technologies and can function like native mobile apps, but operate within the browser environment.
Consistent experience across devices
Because PWAs use web technologies, they offer a consistent experience across devices regardless of operating system or platform. End users won't have trouble transitioning from one device to another when using a PWA.
PWA Benefits Over Websites
Progressive Web Apps (PWAs) offer several advantages over traditional websites as well. Here are some:
Offline Functionality
Unlike websites, PWAs can run offline, enabling users to access content and features even when they don't have an internet connection. This makes them ideal for apps where users may need access to content while in transit or when they're out of range of a Wi-Fi network.
App-like experience
PWAs offer an app-like experience, with features like push notifications, home screen icons, and full-screen modes for immersive experiences. This can make PWAs more engaging and interactive compared to traditional websites.
Improved Performance
PWAs are designed to be exceptionally fast and responsive. They leverage various optimization strategies, such as resource pre-caching, which can help content load instantly and proactively. This can result in a smoother user experience, particularly for media-heavy deployments.
Progressive Web App Use Cases In Support of In-Venue Digital Content
So how can Progressive Web Apps be used to complement the digital content you’re using in-venue? The key is to reproduce the amazing creative you have in-house and make it available to your target audience. That creative typically exceeds simple mouse-click interaction, making traditional websites insufficient. With PWAs, you can recreate that in-house content and make it available even to those not onsite
Drive Attendance
Use a PWA to post a portion of your in-venue digital content to the web to raise interest and drive attendance to your venue.
Run Hybrid Events
Give visitors access to mobile-based content that complements the in-venue experience. This enhances visitor engagement and increases the appeal of in-person visits.
Create Take-Aways
Give visitors digital content they can take with them, including information, videos, and documents related to their onsite experience.
Building Progressive Web Apps with Intuiface
Intuiface is a no-code platform that makes it easy to create interactive digital experiences. Thanks to Player Next Gen, those experiences can be deployed both in-browser and as Progressive Web Apps.
With Intuiface, your team does not need any coding skills to create complex, deeply interactive PWAs to thrill audiences and drive engagement.
Intuiface can be used by teams of any skill set to create touch-first PWAs, build integrations with cloud-hosted services, and collect & visualize data for analytics - for all of the platforms that find their way on the phones, tablets, and PCs of target audiences. It also makes it easier for users to share their ideas with a broader audience.
Examples of Intuiface-based PWA projects:
- Interactive quizzes for briefing center visitors
- Take-home educational modules provided by guest instructors
- Mobile “data sheets” for visitors to trade show booths
Conclusion
Progressive Web Apps are a powerful tool for businesses who want to provide customers with uniquely engaging and robust experiences. With Intuiface’s intuitive drag-and-drop interface making it easy to create media-rich applications that can be deployed as Progressive Web Apps (PWAs), there is no excuse not to give your business the advantage of this innovative technology!
