The verdict in three sentences
For 70 pharma reps who often work without signal inside clinics and pharmacies, a PWA covers most of the need for roughly USD 45,000 to 90,000 in Dubai or GBP 40,000 to 80,000 in London, against USD 70,000 to 140,000 or GBP 60,000 to 120,000 for a React Native app, as 2026 orders of magnitude. React Native earns its premium when you need reliable background sync on iPhone, deep hardware access or MDM-managed distribution. Either way, plan 3 to 5 months, and settle the choice with a two-week field test rather than team preference.
What a field visit app must do
A pharmaceutical company equipping its sales force usually wants a stable scope: visit planning, doctor and pharmacy records, visit reports, sample tracking, purchase orders signed by the pharmacist, and a dashboard for regional managers. The defining constraint is offline mode: a rep doing eight calls a day across Dubai, Sharjah and Abu Dhabi, or between NHS sites and community pharmacies in the UK, cannot wait for 5G to save an order.
On compliance, a handwritten signature captured on screen is commercial evidence between the parties, but it is not a qualified electronic signature. In the UAE, the 2021 electronic transactions law recognises trusted and qualified signatures; in the UK, the Electronic Communications Act and eIDAS-derived rules apply. If your orders need stronger evidential weight, you need a certificate-based signature, which affects the technical choice.
| Need | PWA | React Native |
|---|---|---|
| Offline operation | Good, via service worker and local database | Very good, native local database |
| Background sync on iPhone | Limited, runs when the app opens | Possible within OS constraints |
| On-screen signature | Simple, canvas-based | Simple, native component |
| Push notifications | Yes on Android, yes on iOS 16.4+ when installed | Yes on both platforms |
| Barcode scanning of samples | Fine on Android, variable on iOS | Reliable on both |
| Distribution | Web link, no store review | Stores or MDM, Apple review |
| Updates | Instant for everyone | Via store, or OTA updates of the JavaScript layer |
Costs and timelines in Dubai and London
The ranges below reflect agency and consultancy quotes for 70 users, with a back office and ERP or CRM integration. They are 2026 orders of magnitude.
| Item | PWA | React Native |
|---|---|---|
| Initial build, Dubai | USD 45,000 to 90,000 | USD 70,000 to 140,000 |
| Initial build, London | GBP 40,000 to 80,000 | GBP 60,000 to 120,000 |
| Developer accounts | None | USD 99 a year at Apple, USD 25 once at Google |
| Store review | None | 1 to 3 weeks in total |
| Project length | 3 to 4 months | 4 to 5 months |
| Annual maintenance | 12 to 18 % of build cost | 15 to 22 % of build cost |
| Device testing | 10 to 15 models | 20 to 30 models recommended |
The cost gap comes mainly from two items: double QA on iOS and Android, and the release cycle. A team shipping an urgent fix to a PWA puts it live within an hour, while a native app may wait 24 to 72 hours for Apple review.
How to decide without regret
Three questions settle most cases. Do reps carry personal iPhones or a company-managed Android fleet? On a managed Android fleet, a PWA behaves almost like a native app. Does data need to sync while the app is closed? If so, React Native wins. Does IT mandate MDM with remote wipe? A native app fits more cleanly.
At Kolonell, a sales force app with offline mode, signature and back office sits in our mid-complexity application tier, 4,000,000 to 7,000,000 FCFA (EUR 6,100 to 10,670), or in the complex tier, 7,000,000 to 15,000,000+ FCFA (EUR 10,670 to 22,870+), with ERP integration and dual native platforms. Maintenance runs at 35,000, 75,000 or 120,000 FCFA per month. Details on our custom web applications page.
Mini case study
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Rania, commercial director of a pharma distributor in Dubai, manages 70 reps who fill in visit reports every evening in Excel. Quotes received: PWA at USD 65,000, React Native at USD 100,000, a USD 35,000 gap.
Expected gain: 30 minutes of data entry saved per rep per working day. 70 x 0.5 h x 230 days = 8,050 hours a year. At a loaded cost of USD 25 an hour, that is USD 201,250 a year. The PWA pays back in about 4 months, the native app in about 6. Because half the reps use personal iPhones and managers want orders synced even when the app is closed, Rania picks React Native after a two-week field test showed sync gaps on iOS.
FAQ
Does a PWA really work without signal?
Yes, if it is designed for it: the service worker caches the app and a local database stores visits and orders. A rep can work a full day offline and sync in under a minute in the evening.
Must an internal app be published on the App Store?
Not necessarily: Apple offers private distribution and an enterprise programme, and an MDM can push the app. The developer account costs USD 99 a year.
Is the pharmacist's on-screen signature legally valid?
It is commercial evidence between partners and is enough for most orders. For stronger evidential weight, a certificate-based signature is needed, adding 2 to 4 weeks to the project.
How long does it take to train 70 reps?
Half a day per region is usually enough, so 3 to 4 sessions. Plan one champion per team of 10 to 15 reps during the first month.
Can we move from a PWA to React Native later?
Yes, the back office and API stay the same, only the mobile interface is rebuilt. That typically costs 40 to 60 % of a native app built from scratch.
Let's scope your project. We define with you the scope of your sales force app, the PWA or React Native choice and a 3 to 5 month plan following a field test. Detailed quote within 48 h. 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.
