Inapp Inbox Notifications

In-App Notification VS Push Notifications - Which Notification Channel is Better For Product Communication in 2024?

Nikita Navral
November 23, 2023
Learn about the difference between push notifications and in-app inbox notifications based on parameters such as appearance process, subscription and Un-subscription, compatibility, user interaction, storage, use-cases and more. Analyse your user engagement for push vs inapp messages.
TABLE OF CONTENTS

With a rise in the need for an effective business communication channel, in-app Inbox notification emerges as a transformative solution, seamlessly integrating the strengths of mobile and web push notifications. The need for such innovation is evident in the statistics from hbr.org, revealing that 73% of consumers engage with a single retailer through multiple communication channels.

In-app inbox messaging allows users to revisit messages at their convenience, reducing the urgency associated with traditional push notifications. The notification center becomes a repository, ensuring messages are accessible until they lose relevance. Check out the 5 Mobile Inbox Transactional Use-Cases That Businesses Are Using To Improve Customer Engagement.

Understanding Push Notifications:

Push notifications, a widely adopted communication tool, face challenges such as high dismiss rates and oversaturation. Smartphone users receive an average of 46 push notifications per day, making it essential to explore alternatives.

Comparative Analysis: App Inbox vs Push Notifications:

Let's delve into a detailed comparison, exploring the technical nuances of App Inbox messaging and push notifications.

1. Subscription Process:

Feature App Inbox Push Notifications
Setup Process Utilizes an authentication token and a single script. Users must subscribe on the web/app.
User Opt-in Not explicitly required. Necessary for message delivery.

2. Appearance and Disappearance:

Feature App Inbox Push Notifications
Message Storage Saved in the notification center. Displayed within a specified period.
Message Persistence Allows users to return at their convenience. Message is not persistent; user can dismiss, and the notification will be lost.

3. Tech Implementation & Compatibility:

Feature App Inbox Push Notifications
Platform Compatibility Universal on both iOS, web, and Android. Differences in compatibility between iOS, web, and Android. Even different for different web browsers.

4. User Interaction:

Feature App Inbox Push Notifications
User Control Allows users to return at their convenience. Interaction opens a page; notification disappears post-interaction.

5. Storage and Accessibility:

Feature App Inbox Push Notifications
Message Location All notifications are located in the user's account. Shown along with other push notifications.

Use Cases: When to Choose App Inbox or Push Notifications:

Check out when should you use push notifications and when to use in-app inbox notifications in your product along with some sample examples. Apart from these, you would also need to figure out your queuing system to incorporate the flow of these events here Choosing The Right Message Queue Technology For Your Notification System.

Feature App Inbox Push Notifications
Ideal For Time-sensitive promotions, discounts, and immediate attention Long-term notifications, continuous communication, and accessibility
Example Use Case Delivering personalized product recommendations for users where users need to revisit Sending a flash sale alert, OTP

Technical Insights - In-App Inbox Setup:

Incorporating App Inbox messaging into your communication strategy involves a straightforward process with key technical insights. Natively, it requires a backend infrastructure, a front-end notification inbox, and a connection between the two using socket.io, making it a complex task. However, this process is significantly simplified with SuprSend, making implementing an in-app inbox much more accessible.

In two steps, you can get started with SuprSend.

Script Installation:

Use a single script for App Inbox setup, providing access to advanced features.

Example Code:

Do you know How Mobile Inbox Increases User Engagement? (including a case study with inapp-inbox)?

User Authentication:

Messages are accessible to authorized users without the need for a separate subscription process.

Example Code:

Check out the documentation: Overview (suprsend.com) 

Explore InApp Inbox Before Use!

Technical Insights - Push Notification Setup:

For businesses considering push notifications, here are some technical aspects to keep in mind:

Firebase Integration:

Push notifications require the creation of a project in Firebase and association with the ESP for functionality.

Example Code:

Token Usage:

Push notifications use push tokens for sending messages, necessitating users to subscribe on the website.

Example Code:

All these are quite complex to maintain in code, and even more difficult if you have multi-tenancy use-cases. That’s where SuprSend simplifies it by having a single dashboard for you to add your preferred push notification vendor, create templates and codes via API or frontend editor, manage workflows via API, manage multi-tenants and have complete observability on the dashboard. 

Conclusion:

In conclusion, the choice between App Inbox and push notifications depends on the specific communication needs of a business. While push notifications excel in immediate and attention-grabbing scenarios, App Inbox offers a user-centric approach, making it ideal for long-term promotions and continuous engagement. Check more: Mobile In-App Inboxes Have 17% Higher Click Rates Than Push Notifications. Why It Should Bother Product Teams?

Written by:
Nikita Navral
Co-Founder, SuprSend
ABOUT THE AUTHOR

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