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Journal - App Development

Top Guide On eCommerce Mobile App Development [2024]

Written By Aisha Ahmed – Last Modified On March 21, 2024

The world is increasingly moving towards eCommerce. The eCommerce mobile app development is a way to bring your online store to life on a mobile phone or tablet. It’s the perfect solution for businesses that want to sell their products or services in the real world, but don’t have the time or resources to build a brick-and-mortar space.

It’s also an amazing way for businesses with physical stores to expand their reach beyond their local area. If you have customers in other cities or countries, you can use an eCommerce app to create an online experience that lets them shop from afar just as easily as if they were shopping in person at your store.

Your customers will love being able to browse your products from their phones, and being able to buy with one tap!

What Is eCommerce Mobile Application Development?

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Ecommerce mobile app development is the process of developing an application for mobile devices that allows customers to purchase products and services from your company. The app can be used on iOS or Android operating systems, as well as other operating systems in the future.

The process of developing an eCommerce mobile app begins with:

  1. Defining the purpose of the app and identifying its audience.
  2. Determining how to make use of existing technology and how to integrate it into your idea.
  3. You must also consider how much money you can spend on your project.

The goal of eCommerce mobile app development is to drive revenue for your business by allowing customers to easily access your products and services through their mobile devices. Once you have defined your goals, you can begin building your eCommerce mobile app. This will involve creating wireframes and prototypes that demonstrate what your final product will look like. Then, you will need to test these prototypes with potential customers before releasing them onto the marketplace.

When customers are able to browse through your inventory on the go, they’re more likely to make purchases right away instead of waiting until they get back home or in front of their computers. This is especially important when you consider that 93% of smartphone users use their devices while shopping in stores.

Why Should You Develop an Ecommerce App?

The world is changing rapidly, and one of the most important ways to keep up with the changes is by developing an eCommerce mobile app.

Ecommerce mobile app development has become an essential part of the modern retail experience. Customers expect a seamless, easy-to-use experience that’s accessible from anywhere and on any device. Ecommerce mobile apps provide a powerful way to reach customers who are shopping on their phones, which is why it’s important to have an eCommerce app for your business.

There are several reasons why you should develop an eCommerce mobile app.

1) Broader Audience

First of all, it can help you reach a broader audience. People are spending more time on their mobile devices than ever before, and they are also using them to make purchases more often than ever before. By developing an eCommerce app, you can reach a broader audience that may not have been interested in purchasing from your company before. It’s also easier for people to find these types of apps because they’re usually included in search results for their favorite brands or products.

2) Allows the Expansion of Brand Identity

Another reason why you should develop an eCommerce mobile app is that it allows you to expand your brand identity into new markets and industries without having to build out physical locations or hire more employees in those areas where demand is high but supply is low (or vice versa). For example: if there’s high demand for your product among college students at nearby universities but limited space available on campus where retailers can sell merchandise directly to them (such as dorm rooms).

3) Customers Want It

The best thing about developing an eCommerce mobile app is that it’s a win-win situation for both you and your customers. Customers want to shop from their phones, so providing this option makes it easier for them to buy from you. It also means they’ll be more likely to make repeat purchases from your store because they won’t have to go through the hassle of entering their information every time they want something from you.

4) It’s Easy and Cost-Effective

In addition to being a win-win situation for your customers, developing an eCommerce mobile app is also cost-effective for you as well. It can take just a few days or weeks depending on how complex your website is and whether or not there are any bugs in its code that need correcting before launching the new version online.

Read More About: Benefits of Using and Making a Dating App

Types of eCommerce Applications

eCommerce applications are used to sell products, services, and information over the internet. The main purpose of an eCommerce application is to generate revenue by increasing sales and improving customer satisfaction.

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E-commerce applications are classified into these types:

1) B2B (Business to Business):

B2B eCommerce mobile app development allows businesses to sell their products or services directly to other businesses. For example, a wholesaler sells its inventory via an e-commerce app to retailers who then sell those products to consumers at retail stores.

2) B2C (Business to Consumer):

These are the applications that allow businesses to sell their products or services directly to consumers. For example, a car manufacturer sells cars directly through an e-commerce app to consumers who can place orders and pay for them online too.

3) C2C (Consumer to Consumer):

These are the applications that enable consumers to buy and sell their own stuff in a marketplace format with fixed price tags on each item listed for sale by other users on their platform who have already verified their identities through some kind of authorization process before listing anything for sale on these platforms

4) C2B (Consumer-to-business):

C2B apps are often used for customer relationship management (CRM), sales and marketing, and supply chain management. For example, a C2B app might enable a business to keep track of its customers’ purchases, gather feedback on their experience, or manage inventory.

Because of the high level of engagement required from users in C2B apps, they are usually designed to be intuitive and easy to use. They also tend to have features that make it easy for users to interact with the company through the app, such as integrated payment systems or chat functionality.

Read More About: A Successful Guide On Outsourcing Software Development

5) B2A (Business-to-Administration):

B2A is a term used to describe the relationship between an eCommerce business and its partners, suppliers, customers, and employees.

This relationship can be one of two types:

  1. Vertical B2A: In this case, the eCommerce business has a direct relationship with its partners, suppliers, customers, and employees.
  2. Horizontal B2A: In this case, there are multiple eCommerce businesses that each have a direct relationship with their own partners or suppliers.

When you create an eCommerce app for your business, you need to decide which type of B2A model is right for your company.

6) C2A (Consumer-to-Administration):

This type of eCommerce mobile app development is often used for companies who have an existing website with an online store but would like to add mobile capabilities for their customers so that they can easily make purchases from anywhere at any time. Even if you don’t have a website yet, it’s still a good idea to consider this kind of app because it will allow you to enter the market with a unique offering while leaving room for future growth as well.

Read More About: Offshore Software Development: Things You Need to Know

How to Build an eCommerce App?

We’ll walk you through the steps for eCommerce mobile app development. Even though this process may appear challenging, it is not unattainable.

Step 1: Focus On Your Idea

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You may think that the first step in creating an eCommerce application is writing code, but it’s actually coming up with an idea. Because coding is so expensive when developing, it is always preferable to write down your ideas in advance.

Coming up with an idea for the application before the development process is:

  • Cost-efficient
  • Promising
  • Less time taking and
  • Requires less effort

Step 2: Have Knowledge of Essential App Features

Listing the necessary features for an eCommerce application is the next step in the development process. Customers prefer an easy and speedy buying experience, thus this may be the most crucial phase in the process.

You can refer to the list of requirements we are giving you as part of the eCommerce app development phase:

  • Easy Navigation
  • User Experience (UX)
  • A Secure Payment System
  • High-Quality Mobile Design
  • Online Feedback
  • Effortless and Quick Check-out
  • Alternate Payment Methods

Step 3: Work on the Design Process

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Without a question, the design step of the eCommerce mobile app development process is crucial. The design of your app is decided during this stage. Focusing on design can result in a better user experience, financial savings, and the acquisition of insightful design knowledge. If you pay attention to the design of the software, users may validate it more.

Here are some explanations for why you ought to concentrate on the design procedure:

  1. Typically, designers charge less per hour than coders do.
  2. Designing your app is quite fast compared to code editing
  3. The design process is exciting and fun
  4. You have the option to design the app yourself.

Although, if you don’t wish to design your app yourself, you can get in touch with agencies that can do it for you. ENOU is the best choice for the UX/UI designs of your application.

Step 4: Incorporate App Templates for Faster Development

You may have seen companies attempting to produce applications that are exact replicas of well-known apps. Many clone apps are available as a result. Even the ones that aren’t clones of other apps can have many of the same components.

According to the experiences of several agencies developing apps, a significant portion of the procedure can be repeated. Flexibility in the app development process is appropriate in this circumstance. App starters, commonly referred to as app templates, are readily available source codes. Developers can use them to speed up and streamline procedures.

The benefits of using application templates are:

  • They support a more minor team
  • They accelerate the development process
  • They have a consistent app design and no bugs.
  • They are more affordable.

Step 5: Compose Backend Code

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The majority of business rules are carried out, data is stored and retrieved, and APIs are created on the backend of a program. It takes time and completes focus to code the backend of an application. It must be carried out with absolute accuracy.

Using a BaaS platform is considered one of the finest strategies to expedite backend development. With BaaS you can:

  • Skip having to handle cloud resources
  • Have faster development which might lead to less time to market
  • Save more money for engineering hours

You might wish to start from scratch when creating the backend code. No one would suggest it, and neither do we. Backend code creation from scratch is expensive and time-consuming. Although, it is flexible. But if you really want to develop a backend code from the ground up then we suggest using Node.Js and Python.

Step 6: Compose Frontend Code

One of the most essential aspects of developing an e-commerce application is writing front-end code. Customers are drawn to the front-end code, thus it must be clear, intelligible, and have a user-friendly interface.

Choose whether the app will be Native, Web, or Hybrid type once you begin frontend coding.

Step 7: Get User Feedback

Attempt to gather early user input. Feedback aids in developing strategies that can boost app usage. They offer the greatest means of selecting the appropriate course for your app. Owners of businesses should develop a strategy to help them collect customer feedback. Making an eCommerce app that truly works requires this step. It may be sufficient to dedicate just one day to gathering customer input.

Step 8: Implement an SEO Plan

Use SEO if you want your app to rank higher than those of your competitors. People will find your app more quickly if it has higher app rankings. In order to have an optimized app, it is always preferable to have a strong SEO ranking.

The following elements have an impact on mobile eCommerce apps’ SEO rankings:

  • Keywords
  • Title
  • Links

Step 9: Execute eCommerce App Promotion

Hear us out: in order for your app to get noticed, proper promotion is crucial.

Here’s how you can achieve that:

  • Begin blogging
  • Posting positions on Indeed
  • Creating Slideshare demonstrations
  • Making content online for apps
  • Utilizing social networking sites such as LinkedIn, Twitter, and Facebook
  • Addressing queries on Quora

Step 10: Release Your Ecommerce App

Finally, distribute your e-commerce mobile app to various mobile app marketplaces. Additionally, creating an app for the Google Play Store is far simpler than creating one for the Apple Store.

Read About: Top 8 Android Programming Languages for App Development

Essential Features for eCommerce App Development

The need for eCommerce mobile app development is not just a trend, but a necessity. If you’re looking to take your business online and want it to be successful, you need to have an effective e-commerce mobile app. Here are some of the essential features that make an e-commerce app successful:

1) Easy Navigation

The first thing people look for in an e-commerce app is easy navigation. If they can’t find what they’re looking for, they will leave your app and never come back. So, always keep this in mind while designing your app.

Make sure your app is:

  • Quick
  • Convenient, and
  • Easy to use

2) User Experience (UX)

The second most important feature of an eCommerce app is user experience (UX). Your customers must be able to navigate through your app without any trouble whatsoever. They should be able to find what they want with minimum effort and maximum satisfaction on your part as well as their end. This can be achieved by having a clean layout with a user-friendly interface so that users can easily find what they want and buy it quickly without having any issues or difficulties along the way!

3) A Secure Payment System

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Users should always feel safe when using online services like shopping apps because these days there are many cyber security threats. Users provide you their personal information, including name, email, phone number, address, and occasionally bank information, as soon as they sign in to your e-commerce app. They rely on your app for their security to be taken care of. And you have to give them a sense of protection.

Hence, the importance of focusing on data security for any e-commerce platform cannot be overstated.

  • Using a private cloud will help you protect your client’s personal information.
  • If you install an alarm system, you may protect the private data of your clients by being alerted of potential threats during emergencies so that you can strive to mitigate their effects.
  • By establishing access restrictions, such as limiting access to particular services to only premium customers, you may protect the personal information of your clients.

4) Online Feedback

As an e-commerce mobile app, you should let users rank and comment on the aspects of your application. In addition to this, eCommerce business owners need not be worried about bad results. Always bear in mind that these evaluations will help you identify your weaknesses and suggest improvements.

in fact, never remove unfavorable reviews. These testimonials should be utilized as a shield to show your clients what actions you have taken to ensure their satisfaction with the outcomes.

5) Effortless and Quick Check-Out

Customers undoubtedly prefer to spend the majority of their time shopping and choosing desirable goods to add to their cart. Therefore, when it comes time to check out, customers want a simple and quick process. Beware that if the checkout process is inconvenient, customers may decide not to make any purchases at all!

Consequently, aim to make your checkout simple to use. Allow clients to save their information so they won’t have to type it in again when they need it.

6) Different Payment Choices

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Imagine that you have successfully persuaded a customer to visit your eCommerce marketplace. The buyer added items to their cart because they liked what you were selling. Just as they are about to complete their payment, they realize they do not have their preferred billing choice. There! You just lost a paying client.

Therefore, it is always preferable to offer a variety of billing choices. such as net banking, e-wallets, and credit and debit cards

Core Benefits of eCommerce App Development for Your Business

eCommerce mobile app development is one of the best ways to boost your business. This process can help your business grow and flourish. You can increase your sales, drive engagement with customers and make it easier for them to purchase from you.

Here are some of the benefits of eCommerce mobile app development:

1) Increases Revenue Generation

A well-executed eCommerce app can increase your sales by 30% or more. This is because an eCommerce app allows you to reach a wider audience, as it can be made available across multiple platforms, including smartphones, tablets, and desktop computers.

2) Improves Customer Service

An eCommerce app enables you to offer better customer service by allowing customers to purchase products in real-time using their mobile devices. This allows them to shop from anywhere and anytime, which means that they are less likely to abandon their carts due to inconvenient shopping hours or other issues.

3) Reduces Costs

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An eCommerce app allows you to reduce costs associated with staffing, marketing, and other expenses related to running an online store. It also helps companies save money on infrastructure costs since they do not need physical locations for their stores anymore (such as warehouses).

4) More Convenient

Mobile apps make it easy for customers to buy products at any time and place they want. Customers can easily browse through different products and make a purchase without having to physically visit a store or website

5) Better Customer Engagement

Mobile apps allow you to engage with your customers on a more personal level by providing them with product information, discounts, and loyalty programs. You can also send push notifications about new products that are available or promotions that are going on in the store.

6) Increases Conversion Rates

A mobile app makes it easy for your customers to complete their transactions quickly and efficiently, which improves the conversion rate of your business overall.

Other Advanced Features of eCommerce Applications

In this section, we will discuss some of the advanced features supported by eCommerce mobile applications.

1) In-App Chat Support

This feature allows users to chat with one another through their mobile devices. The chat can be enabled with a single tap and can be used to communicate with other users on the same platform or even shop owners.

2) Multi-Player Gaming

Most eCommerce apps have games that users can play while they are browsing for products or shopping for them. These games come in various genres and are available on various platforms like Android, iOS, Windows Phone, and Blackberry.

3) One-Touch Checkout

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Users should not have to enter their shipping details every time they want to make an order from your store; instead, you can use one-touch checkout so that they only need to enter their email address once to save all their information for future purchases from your site (or from any other site).

Bottom Line

eCommerce mobile application development is a complicated process, and it’s important to remember that your business requirements are unique. You’ve got to consider the needs of your customers, as well as their preferences for how they want to interact with your brand.

You’ll also need to ensure you’re using the right tools for the job. That means taking advantage of all the latest technologies but also keeping an eye on what’s coming down the pike. As new technologies become available, you’ll be able to use them in your eCommerce mobile application development process.

Mobile app development is an ever-growing field, and there are many different ways to go about it. You can choose to create your own custom app or use an existing app as a starting point. Either way, you’ll be able to reach your customers in a way that they will love!

If you’ve got a great idea for an eCommerce app and want to launch it quickly, contact ENOU Labs today! We’ll help you get started on the right track by providing expert advice about the most important aspects of your app: design, user experience, and functionality.

FAQs

How Much Does It Cost to Create an eCommerce App?

A lot of elements, like platform cost, wireframe cost, size and design cost, etc., affect the price of developing an e-commerce app. However, if we were to guess, the price would be anywhere from $30,000 to $700,000, with $171,450 as the median.

How Much Time Is Required to Develop an eCommerce App?

It can take three to four months to create the initial version of the minimum viable eCommerce app. It typically takes an additional 7 months to develop it into a moderate complexity app.  Numerous elements, including the company’s objectives and requirements, affect time as well.

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