The verdict in three sentences
A PWA turns your store into an app installable from the browser, with no app-store detour. On an unstable network, the offline mode and product cache keep browsing alive when the connection drops, lifting sessions by about 40%. The development surcharge is modest and quickly pays off through gains in mobile conversion and retention.
Why a PWA in Nairobi
In Nairobi, connectivity fluctuates through the day and data plans remain costly. A light, cached PWA that loads in under two seconds radically changes the experience versus a heavy classic site.
| Metric | Classic site | Optimised PWA |
|---|---|---|
| Homepage weight | 3 – 6 MB | < 1 MB |
| 3G load time | 6 – 12 s | 1.5 – 3 s |
| Offline browsing | Impossible | Product cache |
| Installable to home screen | No | Yes |
| Sessions per user | Baseline | +40% |
| 30-day retention | Baseline | +25% |
Performance gains and costs
A PWA is not a gadget: it is a technical layer that directly touches revenue by cutting abandonment caused by slowness.
| PWA lever | Estimated gain | Extra cost FCFA |
|---|---|---|
| Service worker + cache | -60% load time | 150,000 – 300,000 |
| Offline product mode | +40% sessions | 200,000 – 400,000 |
| Home-screen install prompt | +25% retention | 80,000 – 150,000 |
| WebP/AVIF images | -50% image weight | 60,000 – 120,000 |
| Web push notifications | +15% re-engagement | 120,000 – 250,000 |
At the Premium tier the PWA is included; at Growth it is a priced option between 400,000 and 800,000 FCFA depending on the levers activated.
Mini case study
Ibrahim sells apparel in Nairobi with 3,000 mobile visits a month and 1.2% conversion, i.e. 36 orders at 22,000 FCFA. After moving to a PWA, load time drops from 9 s to 2.5 s and conversion climbs to 1.8%, i.e. 54 orders. Those 18 extra orders are about 396,000 FCFA/month, for a PWA surcharge of 600,000 FCFA recouped in under two months.
FAQ
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Does a PWA replace a mobile app?
For most stores, yes: it installs on the home screen, works offline and costs far less than a native iOS/Android app, with no store commission.
Does the PWA really work without a connection?
It caches already-visited pages and the catalogue, letting users browse and build a basket offline. Final payment needs reconnection.
What concrete speed gain?
On 3G, a well-optimised PWA loads in 1.5 to 3 seconds versus 6 to 12 for a heavy site, up to -60% load time.
How much does adding a PWA cost?
Between 400,000 and 800,000 FCFA as an option on a Growth tier, or included by default in the Premium tier.
Does a PWA help SEO?
Yes, speed and Core Web Vitals are Google ranking factors, and a fast PWA directly improves those scores.
Let's talk about your project. We'll estimate the conversion gain of a PWA on your real mobile traffic. WhatsApp +221 77 596 93 33.
Mohamed Bah
Fondateur, Kolonell
Passionate about digital and entrepreneurship in Africa, Mohamed has been helping Sénégalese businesses with their digital transformation since 2020. Founder of Kolonell, he believes every SME deserves a professional and accessible online présence.
