Digitalizing industrial machinery does not end when the equipment is connected to the cloud. From that moment on, manufacturers must decide how they want their customers to access and interact with the information generated by their machines.
Equipment status, alarms, real-time KPIs, historical data, or multi-site management: all this information must be presented in a simple, secure, and accessible way from any device.
This leads to a common question:
How should users access an IoT Platform?Is it better to develop a native application for Android and iOS, or choose a Progressive Web App (PWA)?
The answer depends on the requirements of each project, but for many industrial IoT solutions, a PWA provides an excellent balance of functionality, fast development, and ease of maintenance.
What Is a Progressive Web App (PWA)?
A Progressive Web App (PWA) is an application built using web technologies that combines the accessibility of a website with most of the capabilities of a native mobile application.
Users can access it directly through any web browser and add it to their device’s home screen, allowing them to use it just like an installed application—without downloading it from the App Store or Google Play. Since it does not rely on app stores, publication and review processes are eliminated, along with the associated fees.
In practice, the user experience is very similar to that of a native application. Users can access the platform from a smartphone, tablet, or computer, log in securely, and navigate quickly and intuitively.
In addition, thanks to Service Workers, the application can store certain resources locally and continue providing some functionality even when the internet connection is limited or temporarily unavailable.
Security is also a key advantage. PWAs run over HTTPS, encrypting communications between the user’s device and the server. This helps protect credentials, exchanged data, and sensitive information from unauthorized access or tampering.
Regarding push notifications, their behavior may vary slightly depending on the browser and operating system. For this reason, at Awayter we prioritize communication channels that are independent of the user’s device and complement push notifications with email or SMS alerts, depending on each customer’s preferences and operational requirements.
As a result, users enjoy an experience that is virtually identical to a native application, while benefiting from lower development and maintenance costs, access from any device, secure HTTPS communications, and the assurance that critical alerts will always be delivered through a reliable channel.
What Is a Native Application?
A native application is software developed specifically for a particular operating system, such as Android or iOS.
This requires creating and maintaining separate versions for each platform using different development technologies.
In return, native applications provide full access to device capabilities and deeper integration with the operating system. This level of integration is especially useful for applications that rely heavily on hardware features such as the camera, Bluetooth, GPS, NFC, or local storage, or that require high graphical performance.
However, these requirements are generally uncommon in an industrial IoT Platform, where the main objective is to provide secure and efficient access to connected machinery data.
PWA vs. Native App
When developing an IoT solution for machinery manufacturers, it is important to evaluate the strengths of each approach.
Why a PWA Is the Most Efficient Choice for an IoT Platform
Users of an IoT Platform typically need to:
- Monitor machine status.
- View real-time data.
- Manage multiple facilities.
- Access historical records and reports.
- Configure users and permissions.
- Supervise equipment remotely.
For these use cases, a Progressive Web App is often the most efficient solution, delivering a smooth and accessible user experience without the complexity of developing and maintaining separate applications for each operating system.
Key Benefits of a Progressive Web App
One Development for Every Device
A single application works across desktops, tablets, and smartphones regardless of the operating system, significantly reducing development time and simplifying maintenance.
Faster Time to Market
Using a single codebase accelerates development, testing, and deployment, allowing manufacturers to launch their IoT Platform and new digital services more quickly.
Enhanced Security
PWAs run over HTTPS, encrypting communications between users and the server. They can also incorporate secure authentication, role-based access control, permissions management, and centralized updates to improve data protection and deploy security improvements instantly.
Instant Updates
Every enhancement or new feature becomes immediately available to all users without requiring app store approval or manual updates.
Easy Access
Users simply access the application through a URL and can add it to their home screen within seconds, using it just like any other application.
Lower Maintenance Costs
A single codebase means less effort is required to evolve the application, making it easier to continuously introduce new features.
Accessible from Any Device
A PWA works on desktops, smartphones, and tablets, making it ideal for organizations where technicians, maintenance teams, distributors, and end customers all need access to the same platform.
An IoT Platform That Is Flexible, Agile, and Easy to Maintain
At Awayter, we develop end-to-end IoT solutions for industrial machinery manufacturers by integrating the IoT Gateway, the IoT Platform, and the applications that provide secure access to connected equipment data.
Every project has different requirements. That’s why we analyze each use case and define the most suitable solution. Our goal is not to promote a specific technology, but to deliver the best possible user experience through a solution that evolves alongside both the machinery and our customers’ business.
For this reason, many of our IoT projects are built using Progressive Web Apps. They provide flexibility, rapid deployment, simplified maintenance, and secure access to the IoT Platform from virtually any device.
Ultimately, the key is not to develop the most complex application, but to choose the technology that best meets the needs of the manufacturer and its users.
