Does your E-commerce business really need a mobile app?

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If you have an online business and have ever thought “is it worth spending the money to develop a mobile app?”, then you are at the right address. Investing in mobile app development for your business undoubtedly is not a one-day decision, so you need to weigh the pros and cons and possible outcomes of having one within your company. 

This article will highlight some reasons why web versions might be not enough nowadays, and provide a list of the key benefits of mobile apps for eCommerce business.

What is going on in the eCommerce market?

When the COVID-19 pandemic broke supply chains around the world, internet users were forced to look for online shopping opportunities. This contributed to the growth of eCommerce. Recent trends have created the following insights for online businesses:

• The supply chain is overloaded and desperately in need of innovation. 
• For small enterprises, it is becoming increasingly difficult to scale quickly and to find competitive advantages in a market where large players are already present.
• Cybersecurity raises the most concerns that affect the privacy and security of electronic commerce.

https://twitter.com/StatistaCharts/status/1513485085160448006?s=20&t=M0MRwwAJR9tRMQGDm6dDvQ

Statista shows incredible data: an average mobile phone user in the U.S. spends nearly 4.5 hours on their device engaged in activities other than talking. This directly affects online sales. The e-commerce mobile app’s revenue is expected to rise above $400 billion by 2024. With that in mind, the competitiveness of mobile software development for online business seems to be indisputable.

What types of mobile apps are used in eCommerce?

Mobile app development has significantly changed the eCommerce market and taken it to a whole new level. Enterprises in different industries are using this advanced technology to maximize benefits and users. With the increasing enlargement and growth of powerful mobile applications, there are lots of companies that are trying to boost the originality proportion of mobile development.

• Online shopping;
• eCommerce aggregators;
• B2B sales;
• B2C sales;
• Ticketing and booking;
• Auction and bidding.

Benefits of mobile apps for eCommerce business

Mobile apps may be an incentive to reach for a product or use a service. Loyalty programs in the e-commerce industry are a good example. They engage customers to use the company’s products or services in exchange for attractive discounts. 

The top benefits of mobile apps in online business can be the following:

1. Better customer experience
2. Increased loyalty
3. Fast and highly secure checkout
4. Better brand identity
5. Outstanding competitive advantages

The most significant benefit is that brand awareness is built. A well-developed system of product recommendations may translate into sales. Due to the availability, mobile apps encourage the customer to spend more money. There are specific mobile app features that might affect a customer’s decision.

Also Read: Essentials of Setting Up a B2b E-Commerce Business

What mobile app features can boost sales?

Here are some of the key features to keep in mind when choosing a mobile app for the eCommerce business.

Social sign-up or login. The linkages between social accounts or emails are essential for instant signup and logins on your platform. They facilitate registration and may provide you with an additional sales channel.

Online support. Chatbots are a proven tool in increasing customer engagement as they retain users’ attention within the first seconds. Moreover, they provide 24/7 support, which is directly related to how fast the customer gets a response. The faster he gets it, the higher the likelihood of the purchase.

Push notifications. With push notifications, the store owner can stay in constant touch with the end-user and inform them of the latest promotions and offers. 

Smart search. With smart search, users can categorize their search for products. Search results can be filtered according to the price, type, brand, and other major categories to select the appropriate product.

Customer support. Even though chatbots are on duty round-the-clock, some customers still prefer to communicate with a real person behind the screen. For common support queries, a backend customer support system can be created that can act as a first-line for initial and simple queries. Voice-enabled AI and chatbots can be used here.

Multiple payment options. When your client has the ability to pay for a purchase in various ways, it builds trust simultaneously with speed and comfort.

Loyalty programs. Mobile versions of the store can serve as an additional platform for special offerings, where store owners can organize ad campaigns. It can help to attract particular customer groups and clarify past stocks faster if needed.

Real-time analytics. Mobile apps provide the owner with a real-time dashboard so he can see what’s happening in the store and can keep track of all the previous sales and customer queries.

AR and VR showcases. Virtual and augmented reality show a virtual tryout of the product in question such as glasses, pieces of clothing, household items, and other goods. 

Let’s talk more about augmented reality technology as it is one of the most perspective directions of development.

Also Read: Why Mobile App Development is Good for Career?

How do AR/VR eCommerce apps change the shopping experience?

AR apps are becoming more and more of an important e-Commerce component. With the speed of technological innovations, your average consumer is getting increasingly tech-savvy. People shopping online tend to make purchases mostly from a PC or on a mobile device. Augmented reality options help business owners to create more meaningful, memorable shopping experiences for customers.

AR creates a sense of presence for objects that aren’t really there. As a result, products combined with augmented reality can influence potential customers a lot more than pictures or videos. With the in-app camera, customers can upload an image to find products, scan codes, and combine them to generate a virtual overview using AR technology.

As compared to a normal e-Commerce experience, the experience delivered by an AR app shows increased customer engagement. Moreover, it provides the ability to modify and customize the purchases selection thus decreasing the number of unsatisfied customers.

Customers can buy products online after analyzing the product through written content and reviews and photos and videos posted by the seller. There is a large scope for a technology that can provide a life-like experience to the end-users.

Here are the exclusive benefits that AR/VR applications can offer:

• Virtual guided tours to remote locations;
• Virtual trials of glasses, sneakers, and other clothing items;
• Customized recommendations based on previous shopping experience;
• Virtual showcase of furniture and household items;
• Trying on new makeup items such as lip products or getting the right foundation shade.

Also Read: How To Boost Your Business With App Development ?

Final thoughts

As the eCommerce industry becomes more competitive, more enterprises are seeking ways of developing as well as new ways to attract users. ECommerce is the future of retail, and moving a traditional business online can be the best business decision an entrepreneur can take in times such as these. 

Mobile applications can become a lifeline to survive in the eCommerce market. There are many mobile app options with the latest features that allow to scale up business and increase sales. Being one of the leading trends in online shopping, AR technology enhances reality and creates a strong bond between the company and the customer. This feature, among others, can help to achieve a competitive advantage.

Authors bio:  

Timothy Partasevitch, Chief Growth Officer at Smart IT

Tim is a sales and marketing specialist, who solves business challenges like an engineer by focusing on data insights, analyzing what works, what doesn’t, and what can be improved from a technical and financial perspective. Over the years he has supported the transformation of new clients into long-term partners and expanded services provided in the work space, ultimately facilitating revenue generation and business success. Tim strongly believes that you can’t be in charge of the outcome and results. However, you are 100% in charge of the input.