Progressive Web App (PWA) Development UK

What a progressive web app is

A progressive web app is a web application that behaves like an installed app. It has a web app manifest, which tells the device its name, icon and colours, and a service worker, a script that runs in the background to cache files, handle offline requests and receive push messages. Users open it from a home screen icon, it launches full screen without browser bars, and it keeps working when the connection drops.

Because it is still a website underneath, there is one codebase for every device, no app store review, and updates reach everyone the next time they open it.

For a business, that changes the cost of change. A new field on a job form, a corrected price list or a fixed bug is live for every user the same day, with no store submission and no chasing staff to update their phones. Installation is equally simple: send a link, tap install, done. There is no device management or developer account needed for internal tools.

PWA or native app?

For internal tools, field forms, stock scanning and customer self-service, a PWA is often the better choice. When you need background location, Bluetooth hardware or a store listing, see mobile app development.

Offline done properly

Offline support is where PWAs earn their keep, and where simple builds disappoint. We separate two problems. First, the app shell (code, styles, icons) is cached by the service worker so the app opens instantly with no signal. Second, data: the records a user needs, such as today's jobs or the product list, are stored in IndexedDB in the browser. Changes made offline are saved locally as a queue of actions, each with an ID so the server can safely ignore a duplicate if the same action is sent twice.

When the connection returns, the queue syncs in order. If something changed on the server in the meantime, clear conflict rules decide what happens, and the user is told if anything needs their attention. Large files, such as photos, upload in the background with progress shown.

Browsers can clear stored data when a device runs short of space, so we request persistent storage where supported and make sure nothing unsynced is ever the only copy for long. The app shows clearly how many changes are waiting to sync.

Where PWAs work well

• Warehouse and stock apps: goods-in, picking and stock counts with camera or handheld scanners, as used in our inventory management software.
• Field service forms: job sheets, checklists, photos and signatures for engineers.
• Customer self-service: reordering, bookings and account information that customers can pin to their home screen.
• Staff portals: rotas, news and forms for shift workers on personal phones, often part of an intranet.
• MVPs: testing a product idea on mobile without app store delays.

How we build them

Our PWAs are built on the same foundations as our web applications: Laravel or Node.js back ends, with Vue or React front ends where offline logic is substantial. We use Workbox, Google's service worker library, for caching strategies, and test on real iOS and Android devices because browser support differs. Security is the same as any web app: HTTPS is mandatory for service workers, logins use secure cookies or short-lived tokens, and offline data is limited to what each user needs. When a user signs out, local data is cleared from the device.

We also plan updates carefully. A new service worker waits until the user is not mid-task before taking over, and the offline queue format is versioned, so an update never strands unsynced changes made with the old version.

Every project starts with a free chat, then scoping and a fixed-price quote. See our wider bespoke software development approach or get in touch.

What we deliver

• A responsive, installable web app with a web app manifest
• Service worker caching for fast loads and offline use
• Offline data storage and background sync of changes
• Push notifications for jobs, orders or alerts
• Camera, barcode and location features where needed
• A back end and API connected to your systems

How it works and what it costs

Every project gets a fixed-price quote after a free initial chat and a short scoping stage. You own the code and the data.

1. Free chat

   Tell us the problem in plain English: what you do now, what goes wrong and what "better" looks like. No charge, no obligation.

2. Scoping

   We map the processes, systems and data involved, agree what is in and out, and write it down so there are no surprises.

3. Fixed-price quote

   You get a fixed price for the agreed scope, or a phased plan for bigger builds, so you can start small and prove it works.

4. Build and test

   We build in short stages you can see and try, test against real data, then go live carefully with a rollback plan.

5. Hand over and look after

   You own the code and the data. We can host it, support it and keep improving it, or hand it to your own team.

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