Thirdbridge began its journey in mobile application development at a time when the iPhone 4 was making its debut and apps were experiencing a surge in popularity. A restaurant menu, a tourist guide, a small puzzle game... any excuse was good to have a presence on the famous "App Store."

As of today, the numbers don't lie: mobile applications are still as popular as ever!

• In 2022, there was a 46% increase in time spent on mobile applications worldwide. (Statista)

• In 2023, the number of app downloads reached 257 billion. (Statista)

Offering a mobile experience is therefore more essential than ever. That said, developing a native mobile application can be an ambitious and costly project. Fortunately, there is an ingenious compromise that allows you to bring a web application to mobile devices without all the efforts related to native development: the Progressive Web App (PWA).

Transforming the Web Experience into a Progressive Web App:

PWAs offer a user experience similar to that of native applications while being accessible via a browser, without requiring a download from an App Store. They work offline, load quickly, and can be added to the home screen of a mobile device, making them an ideal solution for offering an optimal mobile experience—for a web application.

Adapting the web experience to mobile via a Progressive Web App (PWA) represents an attractive scenario for companies, allowing them to test concepts, personalize, and develop digital products intended for mobile use while adapting to user expectations.

In a context where companies use the web and mobile as tools to enhance customer experience, generate traffic, or even increase sales, the mobile application allows them to broaden their target audience and create a more intimate connection with their users.

The Advantages of a Progressive Web App:

PWAs are a unique combination of web and mobile technologies, offering several advantages to different stakeholders:

• Cost-Effective Development:

A Progressive Web App (PWA) is much less expensive to develop than a native application. With a PWA, only one codebase is needed to cover your web application, mobile application, and desktop application, regardless of the operating system. This approach allows you to validate (or invalidate) your hypotheses at a low cost to demonstrate the value of your concepts and strategically reinvest in your digital product. This economical approach meets user needs while allowing companies to reduce costs.

• Quick Installation:

Installing a PWA is simple and fast, requiring only a click without interrupting the user's conversion journey. Just visit the PWA's website using a browser or from the app store. The PWA can then be added as a shortcut to the home screen or desktop by following the options available in the browser menu. Being accessible from familiar discovery and launch points on their device, a PWA offers an experience similar to that of a native application.

• Better Accessibility:

Network reliability is a major opportunity for the adoption of PWAs, especially in markets where connections are unreliable or mobile data is expensive. Users expect these applications to work even without an Internet connection. To meet this expectation, it's essential to develop robust features that allow continuous offline use.

At Thirdbridge, we have developed hundreds of applications for various industries with very different business objectives. We have witnessed the impact of introducing mobile into a digital strategy—not only on the appeal of the brand and the proposed product but also on user loyalty and satisfaction.

Developing a native mobile application may not be a financially realistic solution in all cases at the moment, but a PWA is a viable alternative to test the impact of such a tool without involving the developments and costs that may be associated with it.