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The mobile era has begun and smartphone users dictate the conditions. In this reality, high quality UX (User Experience) is no longer a nod to the customer or a feature worth having. E-commerce companies are happy to adapt any technologies that will help them reach their mobile clients, and there is no better solution than Progressive Web Apps. The brave ones who implemented the PWA in the early stages of development are celebrating enormous progress today.

PWA is an ideal solution for companies thinking about the future. Mobile-friendly no longer means expressing good will and manifesting modernity, but it is a Google-enforced obligation. This was indicated quite clearly by updating the algorithm for users of mobile devices. Still, 5 billion mobile phone users are not a number that salespeople can simply ignore.

Imagine that you quickly need to check the train timetable. You do it with your smartphone. You go to a website and it won't load. How soon will you lose patience and close your browser window? This is a situation that affects many websites. It annoys all users, but annoys those using mobile devices the most. In particular, they expect quick site operation and immediate access to information. If they are forced to overcome any obstacles, they usually give up action. However, it is mobile users that have been growing in strength in recent years. Therefore, companies must adapt to their expectations and needs. So how do you do that?

PWA is certainly the answer, i.e. progressive Internet applications. They are a combination of the functions of a classic website and a mobile application. Thanks to this combination they are able to offer users speed of operation, the ability to work offline and access directly from the browser. You can add them as a shortcut on your smartphone's home screen exactly as you would with a typical native application. However, you do not need to download them from the application store, which saves space in the device's memory. This is very important especially for people who collect photos, notes, messages and other files on their phones. So if they are to download another application that will occupy their valuable place, they will think about it and most likely give up its choice.

What benefits does the user get by using PWA?

First of all, progressive Internet applications do not force users to make difficult choices between space on the phone and the possibility of using their options. Although they take up a little memory of the device, they are not strongly felt. Secondly, they are less complicated to use because they do not require installation. So just click the appropriate button and a shortcut will appear on the main screen of your smartphone or tablet. So what do they offer their users in a nutshell?

• Short page loading time, and quick access to information.

• Good performance despite poor network conditions (e.g. poor coverage or lack of network access).

• Small size, and therefore a small amount of memory used.

• Functions analogous to functions in native applications (shortcut on the main screen, operation in offline mode, push notifications).

• No need to download applications from the application store, e.g. from Google Play or the App Store.

• Instant updates without having to download a new version.

In a word, PWA is a solution for today's time, where mobile users lead the way among people using the internet and when their expectations become more and more demanding.

What are the benefits of PWA for companies?

If you run your own business, especially in the e-commerce industry, Progressive Web App is the solution that you should focus on first. With this type of application, you can communicate with your clients, and by avoiding third parties (e.g., a mobile operator to send clients SMS or a chatbot company), reduce your financial outlays. Notification functions are also a great form of communication with clients, thanks to which you can be sure that your recipient has received the right message. What's more, by using PWA, you also protect your users' data against cybercrime. A progressive web application is also easier to update than traditional applications that usually take much longer to process. It also provides excellent UX (User Experience), increasing audience engagement and thus increasing conversion rate. A huge plus is also that thanks to the PWA solution, faster page loading time is gained. This reduces server load and minimizes the risk of failure or slowdown even during heavy traffic on the site, e.g. during sales.

What else does PWA gain a greater advantage over native applications? It turns out that often despite downloading the application, users do not use it at the frequency assumed by the creator and after some time it is removed anyway. According to Loyalitics (2016-2018), almost 21% of customers give up newly downloaded applications after their first use. Therefore, it proves that one in five users never starts the application again just after one session. Is it worth investing in them at all?

Why is it still worth companies using PWA?

We all like it when someone gives us ready solutions. So it is similar with Progressive Web Apps. Convincing customers to install them directly from the browser is much simpler than sending them to the app store for that purpose. This reduces the need to go through installation processes and the cyclical need for updates. And what's more, you don't have to pay intermediaries for distribution, thereby reducing your acquisition costs (CAC). An investment in PWA also pays back in a different way. The costs are reduced because you don't have to invest in a separate website, in a mobile application for two operating systems (Android and iOS), and in implementing and testing website responsiveness (RWD). Thanks to PWA you get all these functions in the package.

The progressive web application also creates an excellent opportunity to use the customer's shopping impulse. At the moment of his digital journey through the store, delighted with the attractive offer, he will also be more likely to attach PWA to his home screen to have faster access to his favorite store. It works in exactly the same way as sweets placed at the checkout in the supermarket - they are tempting effectively and after a while they go to the customer's basket.

In the case of conducting e-commerce activities in the multi-channel approach (omnichannel), PWA also plays a significant role. Thanks to this type of technology, you are able to unify all customer experiences and improve their service, regardless of their point of contact with your brand. All this at a lower cost than separate websites and applications. Thanks to PWA you can also analyze the needs and preferences of your recipients. In the same way as with other technologies. Also remember that customers become loyal faster if they receive something more than just the product they purchased. So you can add options that will help recipients while increasing their engagement. Use push notifications and other options that are usually provided with native applications, so that the client has the feeling and confidence that he is getting a completely complete and helpful tool.

In summary, the benefits that companies receive by choosing PWA are:

• No intermediaries needed to download and install the application.

• Independence in the application update process.

• Customers can continue their digital journey through the site without interference due to lack of internet connectivity.

• Fast page loading time even during hours of increased website traffic, e.g. during sales.

• High user engagement and increased conversion rate.

• Quick possibility to reach the client's information when using mobile devices.

• Seamless connection with social media and increased return on marketing activities.

• Reducing the cost of acquiring a user (CAC).

• Increased conversion between different platforms.

• The ability to comprehensively compile data, introduce updates and new product information.

Programming work and the benefits of PWA

The main benefits of PWA for programmers are that they are based on popular web standards such as JavaScript, CSS and HTML. Compared to native applications, they are quite easy to build. Especially with some projects created from the very beginning by an internal team of front-end programmers.

However, the situation is not always so easy. For more complex websites or specific industries, building a PWA-based system can be difficult. For example, if your company has many different systems that work closely together, all changes should be made very carefully. This is the effort that rests on the shoulders of programmers. After all, as a team they must find a solution tailored to the concept of the originator. Also meet customer expectations, ensuring a positive User Experience and trouble-free operation of the web application. This is especially important for e-commerce platforms that are based on outdated technology.

Fortunately, it turns out that thanks to the possibilities of PWA, nothing is impossible. The latest PWA frameworks and other ready-to-use solutions allow developers to transform an old site into a progressive web application, without interfering with the entire e-commerce platform engine. You can separate the interface from the backend of the platform, also supporting sales and marketing teams with a new way of working. By working with, for example, Vue Storefront, developers build strong frontend and JavaScript competences, and gain valuable experience in e-commerce projects, which also results in other areas. What's more, they quickly gain satisfaction from the work done. They can see their effects fairly quickly, because it takes several months to introduce PWA-based platforms. On the other hand, testing the fully functional proof of the Vue Storefront concept for PWA e-commerce takes only 160 hours.

In short, the benefits of PWA for programmers are:

• A modern approach to work and the opportunity to gain valuable development experience.

• Ability to work with headless architecture.

• No need to create separate applications for Android and iOS.

• No need to have paid development accounts in Google Play or the App Store.

• Quick implementation time - possibility of starting PWA within 160 hours.

• Backend resolution with PWA-independent solutions.

Do you want to develop your business without increasing the amount of work and financial expenses? Do you want to satisfy your customers and offer them pleasant experiences in contact with your brand? If so, then you know that it is worth to bet on PWA!

React Native is a JavaScript based framework. It differs from the competition by the fact that it combines the best features of hybrid and native frameworks. On the one hand, although the iOS and Android app will look different, about 70 percent of the code can be reused. React Native does not rely entirely on HTML or CSS, but allows you to write in JavaScript. Later, when compiled, it adapts to the native platform language over the React Native bridge.

Apart from PWA, React Native has revolutionized cross-platform code writing. Many well-known applications were created on this framework, such as Facebook Ads Manager, AirBnB, UberEats or even Instagram. But what influenced success?

React Native has the ability to share code in repositories and reuse multiple components. This framework is famous for the fact that once familiar with it, the developer is able to write anything, regardless of the platform. A JavaScript expert can instantly build applications in React Native.

You think about your work and you still have a question - how to increase sales? Unfortunately, like many others, there is not one correct answer. There are as many theories, as many sellers exist on the market. That is why in the jungle of information one has to find the most useful ones.

We have prepared for you a list of the 10 most effective ways on how to increase B2B sales. We hope that the advice will prove helpful and that after applying your profit will increase. However, remember that everything takes time and changes, they will not appear immediately. There is no method that will increase your company's efficiency in one day. Nevertheless, we invite you to read and draw conclusions that are right for you!

Developers do not have an easy task. A whole team of people must work when creating a normal, seemingly uncomplicated application. The creation of the final product can be delayed by several months, mainly due to constant testing and debugging. Are there tools to facilitate this process?

When arranging a company, personalizing a car or arranging an apartment, we usually look for things tailored to our individual needs. So it happens that we choose size of the furniture, or choose a special upholstery. Why are we doing this? Because we believe that tailor-made products will better meet our expectations than ready-made products that are available to everyone. So why not do the same with software in our business? Check what dedicated software is and when it is worth investing in it.

SOA architecture is a concept according to which IT systems are built for the user and the services he needs. This issue includes guidelines that define the business and IT relationship of the enterprise. Anything that can be considered a piece of software created for a functional purpose can be incorporated into the SOA architecture.

When doing business on the internet, it's important to familiarize yourself with important terms that describe phenomena and methods that enable or improve your work. These include the concept of e-procurement, which applies to electronic purchases. So it is a part of the e-business field. It is characterized by a number of solutions that are worth implementing in your business. See what exactly e-procurement is and how to use it.

The B2B market is growing at an extremely fast pace. It is expected to reach USD 6.7 trillion globally by 2020. China comes first, with a market of $ 2.1 trillion. For 2020, the European B2B industry turnover is also estimated to increase by 32%, which will give a value of EUR 2.16 billion.

In Poland, B2C is still the leader. However, entrepreneurs spend ten times more than individual customers. In the years 2011-2014, the B2B market grew at a rate of 21.5% per year. In 2014, B2B online transactions covered 10% of the total, while in 2020 it is estimated to increase to 60%. What does this mean for us?

What is Symfony? It is a programming platform in PHP maintained in the open software movement. It means access to the source code and the ability to interfere with the shape of the platform. Symfony is very popular among developers due to the possibility of creating large projects. It also allows the use of PHP 5, which is followed by a wide configuration option. Symfony lets you create multiple lines of code at a low cost.

Other PHP-based frameworks include Codeigniter, Zend and Cake PHP. However, Symfony is the first choice of many development companies. It's faster than the others and uses twice as much memory.

Technological development around the world forces producers and service companies to constantly innovate on their production lines. The work performed on them must be fast and efficient. Employee and production potential must be fully utilized to meet demand and stay on the market with strong competition.

The CRM system is an irreplaceable tool in the functioning of an online store. It enables a number of functions thanks to which it improves the work of the whole team. But above all, it allows you to understand your client, establish relationships with him and manage them effectively. What exactly is it, what does it offer and why should you use CRM? Advise.

Have you heard about the Sales Force Automation (SFA) system? It turns out that, unlike the Customer Relationship Management (CRM) system, it is not often used in our country. Many people are not even aware of its existence, which in some cases can be a big loss. The use of SFA is most often found among some producers of solutions for the sales industry. It is then used as an alternative to CRM systems. How are the two tools different and when is it better to implement SFA solutions? Advise.

Running a company without its presence on Facebook is a huge difficulty for an entrepreneur. Experience shows that many users seek information about the company from social networking sites. Therefore, having a Facebook profile is extremely important for building your online visibility and creating the image of an expert in a given industry. What's more, a Facebook account allows you to contact your customers, interact, get feedback and opinions on products or services offered. Thanks to this action, you can get valuable information relevant to running and necessary to grow your business without much effort.

If you already have your company profile on Facebook, it's worth taking a look at the Open Graph issue. It is a protocol that allows integration of other websites with Facebook. It guarantees control over the presentation of your content on a social network, ensuring better interaction with users. See how to use Open Graph tags.

The company, regardless of size, should generate profit. It is calculated to take into account many different factors, which in turn are determined by a given industry. The best indicator of a company's success is financial profit, most often calculated at the end of the month.

However, there are indicators that help to determine a company's performance in a situation where we do not know whether specific results are good or better than the competition. Similarly, when a company is just starting its business and there is still no experience in assessing the success of an investment.

Are you interested in working in the IT industry, and programming is the field you want to deal with? Fortunately, this market is very absorbent and even people without experience can find a satisfying job. But how do you get on with it and create the first application for the selected position? Presenting your skills and qualifications is very important. You must also make the right impression during the interview. Check how to prepare for taking up your first job in IT. Even if you don't have much experience or what's more, you are still in college and want to start your professional career.

The decision to open the online store has been made. Action plan for the next period prepared. In that case, it's time to choose an e-commerce agency that will create your shopping platform. Contrary to appearances, this is not such a simple task. There are more and more companies offering the services of placing and operating platforms on the market. How to choose the one that will best meet your expectations? It all depends on several factors. First of all, from your strategy, specifying plans, your business style of work and your budget. Knowing the right indicators will make it easier for you to make the right decision. See what to look for before working with an e-commerce software house.

Do you run a commercial activity and want to start it also on the Internet? The interest in launching B2B platforms is increasing. Why is this happening? It turns out that communication via B2B system is becoming the standard in cooperation between companies. It is much faster and more convenient for both sides. What's more, customers also benefit from this solution. Thanks to the B2B platform you can also maximize the efficiency of your business processes. How to do it? Discover an effective way to implement a B2B system and apply it in your company.

If you are starting an e-commerce business, you know that the first step you need to do is to choose a sales platform. Similarly, if you want to migrate an existing store. In both situations, you need to decide on a specific type of platform. Which one to bet on? Each e-commerce solution has its pros and cons. However, if you want to make an informed decision, learn about the most popular types of online trading platforms.