Retailers that haven’t begun creating an eCommerce mobile application could be left behind by consumers. Business Insider forecasts that, in 2025, mobile eCommerce app shopping will nearly double its current revenue to $728.28 billion, which means that it will be responsible for 44.2 percent of eCommerce retail revenues across the US.
Mobile eCommerce has become so widespread that it’s now got its own brand name: mCommerce. Yes, it’s as Brangelina or Bennifer. If you’re a retailer brand, even a tiny one, it’s time to begin designing your mCommerce app development. Yesterday.
But don’t panic. Making a shopping application is a fantastic possibility for your business, and you’ll need to get it right. There’s only one chance to create a first impression on your customers, so prior to you start developing, you should consider these suggestions to ensure that your app’s development is smooth.
Take into consideration whether you would like Native vs. Web App Development
The shopping apps are built in a native application or a web-based application, or a mix of both. The cost and the functionality will decide the best option for your company However, here’s a quick review of the three different types of apps that use mCommerce.
Native Apps
“Native” signifies that the app has been designed and developed natively for Android as well as iOS software. It can then be installed via the App Store and installed to your mobile device. It’s a benefit that they’re easier to use, update faster, and provide better performance for the consumer. However, they’re expensive to build and require you to create two apps, one for iOS users, and another for Android users. You’re effectively doubling your budget.
Web Apps
Web-based apps are created on desktops with programming languages such as HTML, CSS, and JS that are less expensive to use. It’s a web page which appears as an app that can be accessed through the mobile device. In addition, web-based apps are more affordable to create; they only require you to develop one app instead of two (one designed for iOS and another for Android) like you would for native apps. You can’t upload your web-based app for the App Store. Users use their browsers to access the app as a web page.
Hybrid Apps
It’s not difficult to imagine that hybrid apps are a combination of the advantages of both native and web applications. They’re built using HTML/CSS/JS which means they’re less expensive than native apps but users can still download them via the App Store. They’re slower than native applications and cost more than web-based apps
Meet Shoppers with a Clean Simple-to-Us Interface
The convenience of shopping on mobile devices is a matter of looking at smaller displays, so it’s even more essential that your landing page for mCommerce is simple and clear. If your user interface is cluttered or confusing with a lot of graphic elements shouting at you customers will leave quickly. Using soft backgrounds and plenty of whitespace can help make your UI appear clean and uncluttered. This encourages users to keep exploring, clicking and browsing.
When customers arrive on the mCommerce landing page it should be clear how they can find the items they are looking for. It’s important to offer specific links to your product categories on the landing page. For instance, if you’re a clothing store customers will be able to see MEN women, CHILDREN, MATERNITY, SHOES, etc. When they arrive. The main menu navigation must be simple to locate regardless of where they’re within the application.
Make it simple to find the items customers are looking for with powerful search filters as well as sorting. Customers will be in your mCommerce app for longer and will add more items to their carts when it’s easy for them to find items. Sort each product according to size, price as well as colour. further add additional information using categorisations such as (for clothing retailers) event, usage length, neckline and style.
Showcase Your Product Professionally
Do not cut costs by cutting out on product images. If your product photos are not professional the same will be true of your mCommerce website and, in turn, with your brand. Find a professional product photographer and make use of all the options including lighting, sets, models, and even mannequins If you are able to afford them. Photographs should be beautiful and professionally captured, of high-quality, in high resolution.
Find the three to four angles you need for every item, and ensure they’re exactly the SAME angles of each product, to ensure that your appearance is uniform. If you have the money Include a video that showcases every product.
Label each video or image properly (with the name of the product) as well, following an established naming convention. Save them in the correct format and in the appropriate size to allow for faster loading.
Keep your product descriptions to around 300 words. Make sure they have a consistent tone of sound that resonates with your ideal client. If your brand is hip and fun and fun, let your image shine through with exciting and hip descriptions of your products. If you’re looking to draw an elite, formal buyer, you should write your product specifications to be reflective of their preferences.
Check that your app shows your inventory and notes that items are in short supply. This is a great way to provide a sense of urgency for the customer and increase conversions.
If a buyer isn’t in a position to purchase or purchase, they can include items in an “Love” or “Wish List” section so they can save items they’re thinking of buying in the future.
Prioritise Shopping Cart Transparency & Simple Purchases
Let shoppers see the exact contents of their shopping cart by showing realistic pictures, images, quantity as well as all costs (including taxes). Customers are more likely to buy by being able to change dimensions and quantities quickly on the cart screen.
In the screen for shipping, you should display the various options and prices. The same goes for shoppers and so offer it to them as often as you can.
Automate filling in as much billing information and shipping details as you can using information from their account. The shoppers can be intimidated by rows of empty boxes to fill out, particularly on mobile screens and you can help them glide across the stumbling block to click to purchase.
A lot of customers prefer not to go through that “Create Account” step completely. However, you would like to collect all that sweet delicious customer information. Therefore, make the creation of accounts as easy as you can ideally, two steps.
There’s some debate about the best time to ask shoppers to create accounts. A lot of retailers advise that you request registration immediately after shoppers launch the mCommerce application. There is a chance of turning many customers on the fence, but when allowing them to sign up for an account – using Gmail, Facebook, etc. You can customise the user experience from the moment they sign up for the application.
Because the customer has established an account, the checkout process will be focused on the process of checking out. Make sure the interface is clean and make autofill as efficient as is possible to increase the likelihood of impulse purchasing.
Refunds are easy to make and make Customer Services accessible
Returns can be a major source of irritation for retailers however, there’s no way to avoid them. Customers have an advantage in return issues because eCommerce has been promoting the ease of returning.
However, lenient return policies will be around for the near future and people appreciate them and you might consider embracing. Facilitate the return process for your customers and help them by offering helpful services such as automating the creation of shipping labels.
In the screen for returns Make it simple to identify where an item is within the returns process. If they have to reach assistance from a customer service representative, invest in a chatbot that is reliable and real-time, relevant FAQs that are able to answer the majority of customers’ queries.
There will be a need for human assistance with certain returns and customer concerns. If you’ve integrated solid returns and chatbot capabilities within your mCommerce software You will be able to reduce the cost of human reps to the minimal amount.
Design around Re-engagement
As with any customer touchpoint, a thoughtfully-designed mobile Commerce app yields great loyalty-building potential.
Customers are awestruck by personalised service, even the simplest things like displaying an “Hello NAME” message whenever they launch the application. A display with “Recommended For You” products on the lower right of the screen could increase the size of carts and give customers the delicious sensation of personalised, individual care.
Your current customer interaction should be based on a loyalty program and your mCommerce application is no different. You should divide your customers in loyalty programs into tiers, such as VIP, returning or loyal customers. You can then notify them of their status. them.
One great method of increasing the interest of customers is to offer personalised discounts based on previous purchases. It is important to think about how you’d like to sort your shoppers prior to you incorporating it into the app’s features. If you design your mCommerce app using brilliant UX, UI, and customer engagement as top goals, you’ll create customers with an app they will love and a product they’ll want to return to.