How to Build an E-Commerce App for Android or iOS By James Tredwell on February 19, 2020 The impact of ordering things online and getting them delivered at your doorstep offers incredible convenience to users. E-commerce websites have revolutionized the lives of people who have no time to buy even the weekly groceries or daily necessities from retail stores. Now people can buy everything online whatever they want with just a few clicks through e-commerce websites. In today’s hectic life, providing a seamless mobile experience for your customers is vital to flourishing your business. A survey concluded that mobile sales account for generating about 60% of internet traffic. Another research has found that 80% of customers check out the website of the store before ordering something. The e-commerce stores with a mobile app have witnessed an increase in conversion rate up to 300%, as compared to companies not having any mobile app. E-commerce websites, with their rising demands and millions of potential customers, have now become a compelling way to scale your business and significantly increase your outcome. On the other hand, these websites need a lot of time and entrepreneurial skills to remain competitive and accomplish business goals. You need to consult with the best e-commerce app developers. Let’s go ahead with a list of some useful tips to consider before building an e-commerce app. 1. Explore the Target Audience and Market For any startup business, the most challenging task is to know what the customers want, who the competitors are, and when is the best time to launch your app. Extract a list of your competitors and know what makes them a perfect choice for their customers. Don’t copy their features to build your app, but offer something more interesting than them. 2. Identify a Platform Start by identifying which platform do you need an app for. The decision will depend on the platform that is used by your target market. If your users are on Android, then you need an app for Android only and vice versa. However, it is rarely the case. Chances are that you will need an app for both the platforms. Now decide whether you should build a hybrid app or native apps for each platform. A hybrid app is an app that works for iOS and Android, using a single codebase. Not only does it save development time, but it is also an affordable option. Most startups prefer getting a hybrid app, considering the limited budget. 3. Keep Your E-Commerce App Simple Simplicity is the key to success. Your customers will not spend hours to learn how to use your app. Always build an easy to use e-commerce app with clear and simple functionality. Any confusing and unnecessary elements may lead the users to abandon and leave the app. Make sure that your app has a negative space to have a sleek design. Make sure that the colors and theme is in coordination with the brand personality and essence. 4. Choose an Appealing App Design The first impression is the last impression. And if your e-commerce app is not impressing your customers at the time when they will open it, you will fail. Make sure to choose a professional design for your app. The visuals (UI, UX) of your app play a major role in impacting your customers. So, be careful while choosing your app design and don’t mess it up. Make sure that your app development team understands the different UI/UX principles of Android and iOS and design the app accordingly. 5. Payment Gateway Providing your customers with a streamlined payment gateway is another great option to build any e-commerce app. Don’t make your app with only one payment option. Keep in mind that your customers may want to pay via debit cards, credit cards, PayPal, Stripe, or other payment methods. It is important to offer various payment methods to facilitate a wide range of potential customers. You may also consider providing cash on delivery, depending on the parcel value, product type, and more. 6. Robust Security Security is also a significant concern for app users. E-commerce applications are intended to deal with buying operations. The app is the place where customers invest their money to buy the products or services the company is offering to them. It points out the necessity of providing a high level of security. Users will add their addresses, phone numbers, and payment details, which is high-level sensitive information. The app needs to be secure enough for users to trust it with such information. 7. Customer Reviews and Ratings An app with good ratings and reviews has higher chances of getting downloaded. People trust third-party reviews and will instantly find you reliable if the app has good reviews. Don’t be shy to take the inputs of customers about your products and services to make further improvements. Research shows that the user review section helps in boosting your business sales. Moreover, it will also show your reliability to new customers and inspire them to trust you and make a decision. Launch Your E-commerce App Hopefully, you have now got enough knowledge on how to create an e-commerce app for Android and iOS. Considering these points will help you significantly to build an app that your customers will love. If you still have any issues, contact some best e-commerce app developers to discuss your project. An experienced app development team will help you make the right choices in terms of platform, technology stack, app designs, and more. Your app success is our responsibility. Make sure that you find the right development partner for your project. You have three choices when it comes to getting an app: · Freelancers: It is an affordable option but freelancers lack diverse experience and often delay deliveries. · App Development Companies: Such agencies will fit in your budget and deliver excellent mobile apps. · Silicon Giants: Companies like IBM, Google, and others. You must choose an option that fits in your budget and meets your requirements. Good luck with your app development project! Author Bio Tabish Khalid is a Senior Digital Marketing Executive for ApplifyLabs, a web and mobile app development company headquartered in West Palm Beach, Florida. He enjoys years-long expertise in digital marketing, social media management, search engine optimization, and more. He loves writing about technologies.