Why develop an expensive native app if a website can do the same? PWAs are installable, run offline and save massive costs.
“Digitalization is not an IT project—it is a business strategy.”
– Björn Groenewold, Managing Director, Groenewold IT Solutions
> Key Takeaway: Progressive Web Apps (PWA) combine the advantages of websites (no app store, instantly usable, SEO-friendly) with app features (offline mode, push notifications, home screen icon). PWAs are ideal for businesses seeking broad reach without the costs of native dual development.
Why develop an expensive native app if a website can do the same? PWAs are installable, run offline and save massive costs.
"Download our app!" – This set is less common. Why? Because users no longer want to install a 100MB app for each service. The solution is called PWA.
A Progressive Web App is a website that feels like an app. It is fast, reliable and installable – but it lives in the browser.
What can a PWA?
‡ **Installable:*It lands on the home screen (iOS & Android). ‡ Offline-capable: Thanks to service workers, it also works in the radio hole. ‡ Push Notifications: Send messages directly to the user. Full image: No browser bar, pure app feeling.
PWA vs. Native App
Feature PWA Native App
Development costs Low (1 codebase) High (iOS + Android separated)
Installation 1 click (Browser) App Store (Hurde!)
Updates Immediately (like website) Waiting for Review
Hardware access Good (camera, GPS, etc.) Perfect (Bluetooth, AR, etc.)
How do I build a PWA?
You essentially need three things:
HTTPS: Security is mandatory. Web App Manifest: A JSON file that defines name, icons and colors. Service Worker: A JavaScript script that runs in the background, takes over caching and allows offline functionality.
The Apple factor
Apple supports PWAs on iOS, but with restrictions (e.g. limited push notifications, no "install banner"). It gets better, but Android is clearly leading here.
Back to trends
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References and further reading
Short: The following independent references complement the topics in this article:
The following independent references complement the topics in this article:
- Bitkom – German digital industry association
- German Federal Office for Information Security (BSI)
- European Commission – Digital strategy
- MDN Web Docs (Mozilla)
- W3C – World Wide Web Consortium
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About the author
Managing Director of Groenewold IT Solutions GmbH and Hyperspace GmbH
For over 15 years Björn Groenewold has been developing software solutions for the mid-market. He is Managing Director of Groenewold IT Solutions GmbH and Hyperspace GmbH. As founder of Groenewold IT Solutions he has successfully supported more than 250 projects – from legacy modernisation to AI integration.
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