Why Your E-Commerce Business Needs a Mobile App?

Mobile commerce is growing at an exponential rate. We are living in the age of smartphones. A report by Statista estimated the global number of smartphone users to be close to 6.6 billion. Hence, inarguably, smartphones have become the preferred medium for most consumers to access the internet and its services.

Today, every business that sells online is in direct or indirect competition with Amazon, the biggest global online marketplace by size and revenue. A mobile application is arguably the best way to give teeth to your eCommerce venture and stay competitive. It allows you to reach out to your target customers better than any other way. However, ensure the mobile app delivers superior user experience and make inroads into the mindspace of the users.

Hence, if you want to build a unique identity for your brand through an attractive and functional mobile app, then engage the services of an experienced mobile app development company. The e-commerce sector is a crowded space. Brands need to position themselves firmly in the minds of their customers.

The Importance of an E-commerce Mobile App

As stated above, an eCommerce mobile app can go a long way in complementing your online store and reaching out to your target users. The key reasons for your online business to have an eCommerce app are:

1. Mobile commerce seeing a rising trajectory

Mobile phones have taken over the e-commerce industry in a huge way. In 2021, 72.9 percent of all retail e-commerce sales came from mobile devices. For the average customer, mobile shopping means easy and convenient access to an e-commerce store. For example, being able to buy a desk chair while waiting in line for your morning coffee.

People are comfortable shopping from their mobile devices. They can be at home, travelling in a train, or taking an Uber. Their phone is always within their reach, unlike a desktop or laptop. If your e-commerce business has a mobile-friendly site, then it is more likely to get repeat visitors. Potential customers can spend their time browsing through the site, which increases the chances of impulse buying.

So, why do you need a mobile app if you already have a mobile-friendly site?

Answer: Speed and convenience. No matter how good your mobile site is, a mobile app is always more efficient and faster. Apps also give instant accessibility to the customers unlike websites, where they have to go through several hoops before opening a site. We suggest hiring reputable custom mobile app development services to build an e-commerce app for your business and remain competitive.

2. Give your business a competitive advantage

We have already established that mobile commerce is on the rise. Consumers prefer doing their shopping via mobile apps. So, not having an app can put your e-commerce business at a disadvantage. There may be potential customers who are interested in your brand, but the absence of a mobile app can stop them from becoming a consumer.

Mobile apps are also a great tool for brand recognition. They can be used for advertising in the app stores for iOS and Android. This can help increase brand awareness and also get you more downloads. Once your app has been downloaded on the users’ phones, you reach one step closer to converting them.

For example, imagine you have to buy a hair shampoo. Thanks to the hundreds of options available in the market, you may feel confused about the brand to pick. But if you have the app of a haircare brand on your phone already, then you are more likely to buy that particular brand’s product. Thus, mobile apps give you a strategic advantage over your competitors.

3. Apps bring higher conversion rates

At the end of the day, your e-commerce business must make a profit. Without making successful conversions, neither a website nor an app can save you. Research has shown that Americans devote 88 percent of their smartphone usage to mobile apps.
When you compare the conversions on mobile apps vis-à-vis mobile websites, apps have a significantly higher conversion rate. The foremost reason being a smoother user experience. Apps can save information like the shipping address and credit card details. This shortens the checkout process and saves time for the buyers.

Additionally, apps also provide a personalised shopping experience. Customers are specifically shown products that match their preferences. This increases the chances of them making a purchase. App users also receive push notifications, which has proven to be a successful tactic in increasing conversion rates.

So, the bottom line is, hire a professional mobile app development company if you want your business to generate higher conversion rates.

4. Give the user a personalised shopping experience

As stated above, mobile apps can help deliver a personalised shopping experience for the customer. When you download and register an app, the user is asked to fill in a plethora of details. Some of the common things asked are age, gender, location, and nationality. Such pieces of information can help marketers to box a customer into a particular demographic.
For example, let’s assume you have a make-up brand. And one of your products is a dark circle concealer that’s especially suitable for the South Asian skin. Now, if a South Asian customer is using your mobile app, you can show him or her this specific line of products at the top of his or her search results.

This kind of personalised shopping experience can help a business get more conversions. When the customers see products that are tailor-made to their likes and interests, the chances of them actually buying the products go higher.

Personalisation is also effective in optimising your mobile app push notifications. For example, if you know your customer is a female, then you don’t need to send her notifications for shaving and beard creams.

5. Increase your customer loyalty

One effective strategy to persuade your reluctant customers into making more purchases is by using a customer loyalty rewards program. And having a mobile app increases the chances of a customer participating in a loyalty program.
A common tactic used in loyalty programs is enticing a customer to make more purchases by promising him or her attractive rewards. For example, a brand may offer a $ 100 gift voucher to a customer after he/she completes 100 online transactions with them.

This strategy can also be used to increase mobile app downloads among users. For example, a brand may offer an additional 5% discount to a customer for his/her first five purchases made through the mobile app.

It has been proven that such loyalty schemes encourage buying behaviour among many customers. It increases their order frequency as well as the average order value. So, mobile apps can definitely help you convert these customers into brand loyalists.

Closing Thoughts

Mobile apps are the need of the hour for every e-commerce business. To get the maximum value out of mobile commerce, hire a trusted and reputable mobile app development company. At Logo Design India, we provide smart and strategic solutions for all types of mobile app development.