Is Building E-Commerce Mobile Applications Really Worth It?

As a business owner, you already know that every investment you make should offer a good return. When it comes to e-Commerce mobile applications, many find it challenging to decide whether to build an eCommerce app and write them off as a needless expense. 

After all, creating a mobile commerce app requires a great deal of technical expertise and work. Not to mention the financial demands. However, with mobile devices forming an integral part of our daily lives, the time to tap into this lucrative market is now. 

In this article, we’ll look at some of the reasons why building your very own e-Commerce mobile app is worth every cent and discuss some of the key factors to consider when determining whether a mobile eCommerce app is what your business really needs.

First, Let’s Look at the Stats

To help you make the right decision, it’s important to look at the facts. The ultimate goal is to reach as many people as possible and make it easier for your customers to make a purchase. 

Take a look around next time you’re in a public place, and you’ll see that most people are looking down at a mobile phone. The global pandemic has only increased mobile usage.

Number of mobile app downloads worldwide from 2016 to 2022 (in billions)

In fact, according to Zippa, over 6.92 million people use smartphones around the world. Moreover, 1.14 billion people use tablets, according to data from Statista, and mobile app usage accounts for 88 percent of the time spent on mobile phones. Here are a few other statistics you should know: 

• Mobile applications are expected to generate revenue of $935 billion+ in 2023.
• The average person has 40 applications installed on their smartphone.
• 21 percent of millennials use apps at least 50 times per day. 
• 70 percent of users will abandon a mobile app if it takes a long time to load. 
• 31 percent of all eCommerce revenue in the United States comes from eCommerce apps.
• By 2024, eCommerce sales from mobile apps are expected to reach $534.18 billion.

What’s the Difference Between an eCommerce Store and a Mobile Commerce App?

That said, are there any differences between mobile apps and eCommerce stores?

Compared to a conventional web-based store, eCommerce mobile apps demand more time and money. This doesn’t mean that e-commerce online stores are bad choices. If you want to create a web-based eCommerce store, there are fantastic alternatives, such as Shopify Plus, that you can use.

You will likely have to select one based on what best suits your needs. The best thing to do if you’re torn between the two is to contact a mobile app development company for advice.

The Benefits of Using an eCommerce Mobile App for Your Business

Since mobile devices are here to stay and offer the convenience of being able to shop from anywhere and at any time, mobile eCommerce apps have the potential to drive growth. They can help you reach your target market on a personal level, which can make a world of difference for your bottom line. 

Let’s explore some of the other advantages of building mobile commerce apps.

• They allow you to always stay in touch with your customers using push notifications.
• You make shopping for your products easier and more accessible. 
• Improve the customer experience by providing better customer support services that your customers can access easily.
• You can boost your conversion rates with a well-designed eCommerce app. 
• Customers around the world have rapidly embraced mobile shopping, allowing you to tap into a growing market.
• An e-Commerce app will help to reduce the number of abandoned carts.
• They allow the freedom to offer several payment options, such as Apple Pay and PayPal.
• Boost customer loyalty. 

With so many benefits, it’s no wonder many in the eCommerce industry are turning their eCommerce platforms mobile. However, if you are to truly determine whether a mobile app would make more sense than an online store, it’s important to consider a few key elements.

Key Considerations When Creating Mobile Apps

Although eCommerce apps offer a plethora of benefits, you must ensure that it is created with accessibility, functionality, and your target market in mind. Let’s look at a few key considerations for eCommerce app development.

Identify Your Target Market

The first step in the process of building a mobile app is understanding who will use it. To put it another way, be sure to specify your target audience’s needs and how you plan to help meet them. You can concentrate your efforts on fulfilling their requirements after you know more about them.

A lack of attention to your end user brought on by a failure to fully understand them will probably result in the poor performance of your eCommerce mobile application.

Select a Platform

Another key element that will determine the success of your mobile app is the platform you choose. Targeting iOS and Android users is ideal, but this isn’t always possible, given the resources needed.

You can talk to an app developer about cross-platform options or choose one of these platforms. Again, having a good understanding of your target market is essential to help you make the right choice.

Build Your App for Your Target Market

Be sure to concentrate on the overall layout and concept before introducing other features, such as push alerts or recommendation algorithms. One of the key indicators of a mobile app’s success is an excellent user experience, so be sure to keep this in mind when building your application. 

Your eCommerce app should concentrate on ensuring crucial components like accessibility and usability, regardless of the industry you are in.

The Bottom Line: Should You Build an App for Mobile Devices?

Because technology is developing more and more each day and users are becoming more accustomed to convenience in all areas of life, it’s important to keep up with the trend to ensure the success of your business. 

With billions of people using mobile devices each day, you could be shooting yourself in the foot if you choose not to tap into this growing market. If you are still on the fence, please talk to us to learn more about the associated cost and the options you have to take your business to the next level.

We can help you build quality Android and iOS apps, no matter what industry you’re in. You can rely on our many years of experience to ensure the success of your business.

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