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Considerations Before Developing A Mobile App For E-Commerce
The e-Commerce sector is one of the largest digital spaces, both in size and scope.
The complexity of the process is a result of this vastness. Before hiring a mobile app developer, you must make certain decisions to simplify the process of building ecommerce apps.
1. App Development Types For E-Commerce
First, you need to choose the type of application. As the mobile commerce sector expanded, many applications have emerged.
Ecommerce Aggregator Apps
The applications allow service providers to connect with end-users seamlessly. These websites are used by users to find manufacturers, then to contact them and purchase goods.
Apps For B2b Commerce
They connect businesses that operate in the same domains to buy and sell products. Alibaba and Boodmo are two examples of eCommerce applications.
B2C Apps
The applications listed above are the ones that you will find in this sector. Amazon and Zara apps are examples of how they help users buy online.
C2C Apps
These applications are designed to facilitate the buying and selling of products between users. These apps are mainly used by entrepreneurs who work from home.
They make it simple for them to sell customized goods.
Apps for C2B Commerce
This application allows end-users to provide their services directly to companies. This model is 100% services-based, as opposed to the product-based ones.
Upwork and Freelancer are examples of mobile ecommerce applications.
2. Mobile Ecommerce Development Platforms
A wrong choice can impact the future of your business. It is a relatively easy decision, but it has long-lasting effects.
The platform you choose will depend on the audience that your business is aiming to reach and whether or not both Android and iOS have their benefits. Android accounts for 87% of all app sales, but iOS users tend to spend the most.
3. Integration Of Technology
Your choice of technology will affect the length, cost and complexity of your e-commerce application. The top technologies typically included in an e-commerce app development are listed below.
IoT is the Internet of Things
IoT is most commonly used in product manufacturing to develop mobile ecommerce. This helps to improve tracking, automate shipping, and maximize income through an omnichannel experience.
Blockchain
Blockchain in mobile application development for ecommerce is a great way to improve security, as distributed ledgers provide better visibility of the supply chain through smart contracts.
It also speeds up the transactions and eliminates the middleman.
Artificial Intelligence
AI is usually used to improve the customer experience and data use in ecommerce apps. AI helps to create an intuitive and personalized search engine, lead generation process, and fully customizable chat support in the app, among other things.
Augmented Reality (VR) and Virtual Reality
With the help of real-world simulations, AR/VR helps ecommerce customers view the products from their homes before purchasing them.
The customer experience is greatly improved. After we've looked at the things you must decide before developing a custom ecommerce website, let's look into what features will make up your project.
E-Commerce App Features Your Business Needs In 2023
You must adopt features and functionality of eCommerce to highlight the business processes.
Over 48% of digital shoppers evaluate the credibility of an eCommerce site based on its features and responsive mobile designs.
This directly affects the conversion rate from lead to customer. Some eCommerce features can make your application user-friendly, improve the buyer's journey, and provide a better experience for users.
To create a strong business pillar in the eCommerce market, mobile app development with advanced features is required.
This article will help you decide which eCommerce features to include on your mobile app. If your eCommerce app includes the option to offer payment terms, you'll need to ensure that it has a feature to set a credit limit for your customer.
We have narrowed down our eCommerce feature list based on the most important industry trends for the next few years. The following is a list of the best eCommerce features that every enterprise and startup should consider:
Audio Experience
In recent years, many established apps have integrated audio features as an enhancement. Hinge, a popular dating app, recently introduced an audio option that allows users to add a 30-second clip of audio to their profile.
Spotify, a popular music application, allows users to create podcasts in the app. This feature is available in different packages. Retail apps will benefit from audio features that provide eCommerce.
Shop Livestream
Live streaming is a feature that has revolutionized online shopping since the pandemic. Instagram and YouTube were the first social media platforms to introduce live streaming.
On live streaming, the brands usually showcase their products through various profiles. They also pin the link directly to the product on the screen.
This is an example of Dribble's live streaming of its illustrations and designs and offering resource links so that the users can interact with the inspired designers.
Live streams will have a conversion rate ten times greater than eCommerce websites by 2023. This feature, also known as Live Commerce, is predicted to triple and hit $35 billion by 2024.
Also Read: Ultimate Guide to Create a Successful eCommerce Mobile App
Buy-Now-Pay-Later
As an alternative purchase method, consumers are increasingly expecting a feature called buy-now-pay-later. Users can make an initial purchase and then pay in installments later.
BNPL is expected to grow by more than $450 billion until 2026. According to reports, consumers prefer to make large payments using BNPL rather than credit cards.
Apple Pay Later, a feature of BNPL eCommerce that Apple introduced with great success, is also available from other tech giants.
Users can divide their total cost of purchase into four equal payments with or without any interest. Pay Later functionality has been added to the advanced eCommerce features of some eCommerce apps.
CTV Advertising
CTV, or Connected Television Advertising, is one of the new trends in the eCommerce sector that will change the marketing landscape for brands.
After Google deprecated third-party cookies and Apple iOS 14.5, eCommerce platforms have sought ways to reach their audience without compromising privacy standards. CTV is the new performance channel.
According to a study conducted in recent years, US television households of 82% have at least one connected device.
Here's how to turn CTV into a new performance channel for your eCommerce platform.
Headless Commerce
Digital agility is the key for eCommerce apps to stay competitive today. The features of eCommerce apps must adapt to the constantly changing consumer behavior.
This is why businesses have implemented headless features that provide a seamless experience.
Forbes reports that a staggering $1.65 billion has been raised in funding for headless technology, which is indicative of the demand over the last two years.
Headless architecture in eCommerce uses APIs for real-time information exchange between the frontend, backend, system, tool, and consumer. It allows for easy management and integration of multiple channels without using separate tools and systems.
Augmented Reality Assistance
Shopping with AR is not a new concept. AR is the most popular feature in eCommerce and mCommerce applications. A recent study of retail trends predicted that one-third of US consumers use AR when purchasing products online.
Popular eCommerce apps, like Amazon, use AR to allow users to try out products in the app.
Amazon Fashion has also recently released a virtual room to try shoes and other items within its app. Sephora's app also uses an AR assistant feature called Virtual Artist, which is based on facial detection and lets users test makeup in real time.
Integration of Social Media
The biggest and most powerful eCommerce feature is social media integration. Integrating social media into your app can help with registration, login and product sharing.
Another great feature of mobile ecommerce is the ability to share discount codes and promotional campaigns. They can also post achievements they have unlocked in the app. It will increase your brand's visibility and help to generate more sales.
Great User Experience
The market is flooded with intuitive, user-friendly apps. Users will not hesitate to leave an app that doesn't meet their expectations.
Imagine how crucial UI UX is for the success of your app. Users should be able to tell that your app is different and superior to others. Anyone who spends their money and time on your app will find it worth it.
Google Analytics
Now that your app is running, you can see users using it to buy products. Do you know what product sells the most? Know which period of time attracts the most users to your application.
Google Analytics will help you measure the full potential of your app if you do not know. Google Analytics appears in nearly every list of features for mobile apps.
Google Analytics allows you to find out which products sell more, what users do with your app and patterns of user behavior.
You can use this information to plan strategies for acquiring new users.
Rate and Comment
The rating and feedback features are common in eCommerce applications. It is a common misconception that feedback and reporting features are only for users.
You can use any feedback that you receive on your app to help improve it. Remember that your app should satisfy users and be as good as possible.
Features of Advanced Ecommerce Application Development
Voice search is a great feature for ecommerce applications, particularly those that are concerned with the delivery of groceries and medicines.
One feature that could increase the cost of developing an ecommerce application is the inclusion of AR/VR to allow users to test the products before purchasing them.
Cloud computing allows e-commerce business models to add and remove resources easily as required to meet changes in business requirements or traffic.
The ecommerce app helps to build a fan base in a specific region. After you've identified the audience for your app, you can include multilingual features in your app to allow users the option of searching and buying products in their preferred language.
After we've looked at the different features of an ecommerce application, it is important to know the technologies behind it.
Technology Stack Behind Powerful Mobile Apps Development For Ecommerce
Every ecommerce app developer will have their preference when choosing the tech stack they use. This is based on expertise, cost and availability.
You will still need to have a team that can deliver the results you want. You will require the following individuals in your team, whether you are planning to work with an offshore company that develops ecommerce apps or you build one from scratch.
Costs are the biggest factor in deciding whether to build this team internally or outsource. You can manage all app development costs with the money you spend on hiring and retaining employees.
This article has a detailed analysis of whether you should choose to do your own development in-house or outsource. You can read on to find out what will work for you.
Costs and the Development of an ECommerce Application
Ecommerce application development has a huge impact on project success and cost. We will examine the process in more detail.
App Conceptualization
The most important part of ecommerce app development is where you lay the foundations for the success of your application.
You will need to conduct a comprehensive market, customer and competitor analysis that helps you understand the demographics of your users, their interaction with features, and what USPs are needed to differentiate you from the competition. Costs for app development can vary from $7,500 to $10 500.
UI/UX Design
Wireframing is the next step after you've finalized your concept. It would be best to design a minimalist UI/UX to give users plenty of white space and not a crowded user experience.
It would be best to strive for a design with clear videos, images, buttons and a natural checkout flow. An app's average price can range from $2000 to $25,000.
App Development
The cost of an ecommerce application can vary depending on the number of features, technology stacks and development effort.
We will need to examine the project's details in order to determine the cost of development. However, a basic ecommerce application costs about $10,000. A complex app with many features and many techs can range from $80,000 up to $100,000.
The cost range includes time spent by developers, costs associated with the use of technology and cloud deployment.
Testing and Deployment of Mobile Applications
The ecommerce application development process includes a check for quality. We ensure the application's safety at all stages of its development.
It is crucial to understand how to maintain and develop e-commerce app security, especially with the rise in breaches and hacking incidents. App testing costs usually range from $1,000 to $20,000 and account for 12-13%.
In addition to development efforts, the success of developing ecommerce applications depends on adopting market trends.
This infographic highlights a glimpse into the future of ecommerce.
The Personal Assistant: Chatbots
Chatbots have been around for some time. AI-powered bots are on the rise again, thanks to neural networks. AI-powered Chatbots increase engagement with users by offering them relevant options.
By 2025, their growth will be $ 1.25 billion. Chatbots will become cheaper, more intelligent, and widely available this year.
Top ECommerce App Development Trends
Video
Video is a fantastic feature that can be added to an eCommerce app to increase sales. Videos of people using the product or wearing it themselves will be more effective than a nice grid of pictures, particularly when talking about clothes or gadgets.
Video content is often relied upon by users to help them make their final purchasing decision. Shoppable videos are another video trend that is a part of the eCommerce trend in app development.
They are videos companies promote on their social media sites where the users point at items, click links to get them there and can also be directed to specific products.
Also, see How Mobile Apps are Transforming the Healthcare Industry. This is an entirely new type of online shopping, which is direct, practical and visual.
Augmented Reality
We cannot overlook a new exciting feature when we discuss eCommerce mobile app trends. The augmented reality feature has revolutionized the online shopping experience.
The new 3D technology allows users to see their image in any element without leaving their comfortable surroundings. It is an incredible game changer for e-commerce applications.
VR and AR can provide a realistic experience that allows users to see products from all angles. This will improve the sales presentation.
Researchers like Google, Sony and Samsung have already begun to work on making these technologies accessible to the public and useful in real-life scenarios.
There are also only a handful of phones that support these features. With the pace at which technology is developing, we hope that soon mobile ecommerce apps will have VR and AR capabilities.
Shortly, more customers are expected to have VR/AR-compatible devices.
Lenskart has implemented a lighter concept of AR into its mobile app. The user only needs to place their face in the designated area on the screen using the front-facing camera.
The application will show users how they'll look in the frame based on virtual measurements.
Also Read: Why Digital Businesses Need E-Commerce Mobile Applications
Voice Search
Typing on a tiny mobile screen is something that most users dislike. Voice search is a great way to save time. Voice search in apps allows users to browse your shop and quickly find the products they want.
It is for this reason that we have included it in our top 10 eCommerce mobile app trends. When potential customers are able to talk instead of typing on their phones, shopping becomes much easier.
In the near future, this m-commerce phenomenon is likely to be integrated into all types of ecommerce applications.
The voice search feature is a new favorite for lazy users when it comes to development team eCommerce applications. By integrating voice searches into mobile apps, users are able to place orders and buy products on the move easily.
This allows them to offer users a fast, mobile way of making purchases online via mobile applications.
Chatbots
We couldn't ignore the importance of Chatbots since customer service is essential in developing e-commerce applications.
Online shopping apps are a risky retail business growth. It can be difficult to navigate the confusing refund policies and FAQ sections. Active Users need to feel safe when using M-commerce apps.
It would help if you also had a presence online for your customer base. They may feel as if they're shopping in an entirely deserted area if you don't have a presence online.
They can direct your customers to certain places by using keywords or asking questions. Adapting the eCommerce trend to mobile app development company makes your customers feel more welcome and safe.
According to eMarketer's research, most social media users choose the Messenger application (54.4%) over email, phone calls or online chat.
Customers can chat with you without installing any software since the bots are integrated with Messenger, Skype and Telegram. Amazon Echo, a personal assistant that can be controlled by voice commands and uses artificial intelligence technology, is proving to be very popular among consumers.
Cloud Integration In Ecommerce Mobile Applications
Cloud integration is now more crucial than ever before because the lack of space is a problem that is affecting all countries.
It is used in many applications, not just mobile ecommerce apps. The performance of your application will improve dramatically while hosting costs are reduced. It will provide a great customer experience and encourage your users to be loyal customers.
Mobile Wallet Integration
Every day, e-commerce apps become easier to use. Apps try to speed up the process of payment and processing to provide the best experience to customers.
Mobile wallets allow users to pay without entering card information or other personal details.
The mobile wallet is the best solution to shorten the payment process. The user only needs to select their wallet and then provide authentication when asked.
Users do not need to authenticate in the majority of native mobile wallets that are integrated with mobile apps.
Marketing and Sales Automation Solutions
E-commerce and marketing automation have been closely linked for many years. It is, therefore, not surprising to see automation as one of the eCommerce app user development trends for 2023.
There are many tools available today that have been designed specifically for ecommerce. They can handle the most important aspects of sales and marketing in an automated way. Social media and email marketing are excellent opportunities for Mcommerce.
Marketers must take full advantage of the fact that people spend an average of 5 hours per day using their smartphones, and email is becoming a mobile medium.
Conclusion
The eCommerce domain is still a good place for investors and entrepreneurs, despite its meteoric growth. It is the perfect time for entrepreneurs to venture into the space industry, thanks in part to the huge user base and constant technological advances.
This guide is intended to give you a basic understanding of what ecommerce apps are and how they work. Contact us if you want to learn more about the e-commerce app development strategy or if you are looking for ways to improve your competitiveness.
