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Les web applications today must combine speed, search engine visibility, and business robustness. Yet, classic SPAs (Single Page Applications) often struggle to deliver a fast first render and optimally indexable content. Next.js, a React-based framework, provides server-side rendering and code-splitting capabilities that address these challenges. With a hybrid approach combining SSR, static generation, and conditional loading, Swiss companies can deliver bespoke interfaces while preserving performance, scalability, and SEO. This article explores Next.js’s strengths and limitations, as well as the criteria for determining whether it fits into a large-scale project.
Limitations of Traditional Single Page Applications
SPAs often load a bulky JavaScript bundle before displaying content, prolonging the time to first render. They also have shortcomings in indexing and SEO because crawlers struggle to execute complex JavaScript.
SEO and Indexing
Search engines traditionally discover static HTML to index content. Yet, a SPA relies on JavaScript to build the DOM, which can delay or even prevent page crawling.
In demanding business contexts, the lack of well-structured initial content harms search rankings. Potential visibility gains are thus compromised.
Without SSR or pre-rendering, indexing may be partial and some dynamic content remains inaccessible to bots. On-page SEO must be rethought to avoid penalizing the company on key queries.
Perceived Performance and Load Times
The SPA often loads a single bundle of several hundred kilobytes that blocks the main thread. The browser cannot display any content until the entire script is downloaded and executed.
On a mobile network or in low-bandwidth areas, the user experience degrades: the load time measured by First Contentful Paint suffers significantly.
Core Web Vitals (LCP, FID, CLS) struggle to meet the thresholds required for professional use, impacting both user satisfaction and SEO.
User Experience and Accessibility
A SPA without SSR can produce an initial blank screen, rendering the application unusable if a script is blocked or a JavaScript error occurs. The user then perceives the application as unstable.
The lack of static content also affects accessibility for screen readers and outdated browsers that do not execute modern JavaScript correctly.
Companies committed to delivering an inclusive interface must ensure progressive and accessible rendering, which often requires server-side pre-rendering.
Concrete Example of Next.js Benefit in the Banking Sector
A bank had developed an SPA for its client portal. Load times exceeded 3 seconds on 4G, and offer pages were not properly indexed by Google, penalizing organic traffic by 18% on strategic keywords. The team then explored Next.js to leverage SSR and optimized loading.
Key Next.js Features for SSR and Code Splitting
Next.js offers server-side rendering by default and automatic code splitting, reducing bundle sizes and improving performance. It also provides pre-generation modes and incremental updates to optimize SEO and scalability.
Server-Side Rendering (SSR)
SSR enables HTML content to be generated on the server for each request, ensuring a fast first render and data-rich HTML. Crawlers receive a document ready for indexing.
This approach results in a reduced First Contentful Paint and improved initial accessibility. Critical data is embedded in the HTML response, avoiding client-side API call delays.
Next.js automatically handles synchronization between the initial HTML and React components, providing a seamless and smooth user experience.
Code Splitting and On-Demand Loading
Next.js segments the code into multiple chunks corresponding to each page or dynamic component. The browser only downloads what is needed for the current page.
The module next/dynamic allows certain components to be loaded on the fly, limiting the main bundle and improving render time.
This granularity reduces initial download sizes and speeds up the user journey, especially on mobile and under poor network conditions.
Static Pre-rendering and ISR
Next.js supports static generation (SSG), which creates HTML at build time. For high-traffic pages, ISR (Incremental Static Regeneration) allows pages to be regenerated in the background without a full rebuild.
The static approach suits landing pages, product sheets, or content with infrequent updates, while ISR combines speed with data freshness.
The choice between SSR, SSG, and ISR depends on business requirements, data freshness needs, and the end users’ profiles.
Concrete Example in the Swiss Logistics Sector
A Swiss logistics company adopted Next.js in ISR mode for its catalog of over 2,000 items. Static pages regenerate every 15 minutes, delivering always up-to-date content without impacting build time. SEO improved by 25% in three months.
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Criteria for Choosing: Next.js vs Alternatives
The choice of Next.js or another framework depends on the functional scope, expected volume, and internal expertise. Needs in scalability, real-time capabilities, and maintenance heavily influence the decision.
Functional Complexity and Business Needs
For complex platforms (client portals, business dashboards), Next.js simplifies modular structuring and dynamic route management. The framework integrates natively with headless CMS and GraphQL APIs.
If the application requires ultra-dynamic rendering (real-time collaboration, streaming), a solution like React with a dedicated WebSocket backend may be considered.
The business profile and functional stability dictate the choice: Next.js for standard SSR/SSG interfaces, alternatives for highly interactive use cases.
Volume and Scalability Requirements
Next.js optimizes scalability by leveraging CDNs to serve static pages and enabling load handling through SSR caching. Infrastructure costs remain controlled.
For thousands of simultaneous real-time requests, microservices architectures combined with lighter frameworks (Express.js, Fastify) may be preferable.
Traffic analysis, user profiles, and infrastructure budget guide the technology choice to balance performance and costs.
Internal Expertise and Long-term Maintenance
Next.js benefits from a large community and regular updates, ensuring a mature ecosystem. Using TypeScript strengthens code maintainability.
If the internal team already masters React and Node.js, adopting Next.js happens naturally. Conversely, a lack of expertise may justify engaging a specialized provider.
Edana’s contextual approach emphasizes ethical support: training and skills transfer are integrated into the project to ensure progressive autonomy.
Use Case Next.js and Nuxt.js for a Client Portal
A Geneva-based insurer compared Next.js and Nuxt.js for its client portal. Internal teams were proficient in JavaScript and React, which steered the choice toward Next.js. The project was delivered in three months, with a 30% reduction in bugs thanks to TypeScript usage and testing best practices.
Implementation and Best Practices for Using Next.js in an Enterprise Context
To fully leverage Next.js, it’s crucial to adopt a modular open source architecture, secure dependencies, and establish a CI/CD pipeline with automated tests. Continuous monitoring ensures optimal performance.
Modular and Open Source Architecture
Next.js easily interfaces with microservices and REST or GraphQL APIs. The application can be segmented into independent modules, deployable separately.
Relying on reputable open source libraries avoids vendor lock-in and promotes scalability. The React ecosystem offers a wealth of reusable components.
This modularity accelerates time-to-market and enables clear decoupling between front and back ends, essential for large enterprises.
Security and Dependency Management
Next.js includes protection mechanisms against XSS and CSRF attacks. Configuring HTTP headers (CSP, HSTS) strengthens exchange security.
Regular npm package updates and using vulnerability scanning tools (npm audit, Snyk) mitigate software supply chain risks.
Static code analysis and dependency reviews are part of Edana’s best practices to ensure long-term robustness.
Testing, Monitoring, and Continuous Optimization
Unit and integration tests for each React component are automated using Jest and React Testing Library. End-to-end tests with Cypress validate key user flows.
CI/CD pipelines (GitHub Actions, GitLab CI) automatically deploy changes to staging and production environments, with validations and rollback options.
Performance monitoring (Lighthouse CI, Datadog) and runtime error tracking (Sentry) help quickly identify and correct regressions.
CI/CD Deployment Example for an Industrial Sector Next.js Application
A Lausanne-based industrial group implemented a complete CI/CD process for its internal Next.js application. Tests cover 85% of the code, and each build triggers a series of performance benchmarks. Sentry alerts allowed them to fix a critical regression related to an API change within 48 hours.
Make Next.js a Performance and SEO Lever for Your React Applications
By combining SSR, code splitting, and pre-generation, Next.js addresses traditional SPAs’ limitations in terms of SEO, speed, and user experience. Its mature ecosystem and open source approach ensure sustainable and modular evolution.
Evaluating functional scope, volume, and internal skills is crucial to validate this technology choice. Architecture, security, and CI/CD best practices ensure a reliable and high-performance deployment.
At Edana, our experts support Swiss companies in implementing Next.js, from strategic planning to technical execution, ensuring skills transfer and ethical guidance tailored to each business context.
