Why your ecommerce business should have an app

The shopping habits of consumers change all the time but, in recent years, we have seen a major shift of using our smartphones for shopping. Even the more “serious” purchases, like paying your electricity bills or buying a flight for your holiday, can now easily be completed on your phone. Therefore, as an ecommerce business, offering mobile shopping opportunities is no longer just an advantage – it is a necessity. In this article, we will explore the key reasons to invest in an app, as well as how to go about developing one.

The benefits of having an ecommerce app

Many ecommerce businesses do not prioritise developing an app because their customers can access their products on their phone, simply using a browser. However, there are significant advantages of offering an app as well.

Improved customer experience

Mobile apps are developed specifically for use on mobile devices, meaning that they typically provide a smoother and nicer shopping experience. They tend to work faster, too, as you can make use of things like fingerprint authentication to log the customer in and check out their purchases. Apps can also be designed with an intuitive interface, allowing customers to browse products easier.

Increased customer loyalty

When a customer downloads your app, your brand gains valuable real estate on their device’s home screen. This means that your business has higher visibility, with constant reminders of the brand to your customers, every time they see the app. Even more importantly, you can send them direct push notifications with personalised offers and updates, which can significantly increase repeat purchases. All of this can result in a much more loyal and returning customer base.

Higher conversion rates

Mobile apps typically have a higher conversion rate than mobile websites, meaning your customers are less likely to leave or abandon their shopping cart before checking out. This is because apps can reduce friction through easier checkout process, pre-saved information, etc. To boost this even further, businesses can use latest technology like AR (Augmented Reality) within the apps, to help customers visualise the products (e.g. how a certain sofa will look in the living room).

Offline access

Unlike websites, mobile apps can offer some functionality even when a user is offline. Customers can often still browse products, add items to their wish list, or view their order history without any internet connection. When they are back to connection, the app can automatically sync all of their activities to save it. For example, a customer may browse your app when they are stuck on a flight with no internet, which can increase your sales and engagement.

Seamless omnichannel experience

Apps are a great way to close the gaps between different sales channels, including online and offline. You can introduce features that may enhance the customers’ shopping experience in-store too, such as scanning a QR code on a beauty product to get recommendations about the shades. You may also integrate your apps with your social media, allowing your customers to seamlessly engage with your brand wherever they are.

Valuable customer data

Customer data is one of the most valuable assets in any business, and mobile apps can provide high quality insights. For instance, you can track which products certain users view the most (is it a specific category or style of products), how and when they tend to browse your app (is it on the way to work or before sleep), what triggers them to make a purchase (perhaps a discount code), and so on. This data will help you personalise your marketing efforts even further, while improving their shopping experience.

Developing an ecommerce mobile app

Developing a new app can be a time-consuming process that also requires an investment. This is also something that should be done properly, without cutting any corners, in order to create a high-quality end product. Unless you have enough resources and an in-house team of developers, you will be looking for a third-party solution. Here are some of the best app development companies that can help you:

Somnio Software: Specialising in ecommerce app development specifically, Somnio Software are all about crafting solutions that work for your audience. They use technology like Flutter to offer cross-platform compatibility and have a team of experts that will seamlessly integrate within your own team for this project.

MobiLoud: MobiLoud is a plugin that can be used to convert an existing WordPress website into a native app for iOS or Android. This can be a very cost-effective option for businesses with limited budgets, although it is important to consider the limitations of this approach.

Apptunix: Providing end-to-end ecommerce app development services, Apptunix works with both start-up business and enterprises. They also specialise in features like AR and VR for product visualisation within the apps.

Designli: This company works with the development of both mobile and web applications. They assign you an on-demand team of developers, who take care of everything: design, engineering, and business side of the apps.

Choosing the best developer will depend on your needs and expectations for your mobile app, including the complexity of your business and the must-have features for you. However, you should also pick a team that best aligns with your company’s unique workflow – are you happy to receive help on-demand or do you want a dedicated team to work closely with your team?

Conclusion

All in all, mobile apps can provide amazing benefits for your ecommerce businesses, not only improving the shopping experience for your customers, but potentially increasing your revenue too. As ecommerce apps become more popular, now is the time to get one.