How Mobile Apps can make a difference in your E-Commerce business

E-commerce has inevitably come to dominate how a sizeable portion of the global population is purchasing both goods and services. It is estimated that over 2 billion people globally are expected to make their purchases online by 2021, leading to a lot of potential opportunities in the online commerce sector. Mobile Apps, over the last decade, have completely revolutionized many aspects of daily life. Several services such as Uber & Ola have come into existence and found success only because of smartphones. The sheer number of people shopping via their smartphones globally has spiked massively over the last decade. As seen in the graph below, the USA alone has ~200 million people shopping via their mobiles.

Mobile Apps and E-commerce – A recipe for success

It can be easy to associate E-commerce as a playground limited to big brands like Amazon (Consumer products from any category), eBay (Consumer Products), Microsoft (Hardware and Software Services and Products) and Google (Hardware and Software Services) but that couldn’t be further from the truth. Many small retailers, brick and mortar stores, Restaurants, Salons etc. have developed applications that act as an extension of their services. This combination of Small, Mid and Large scale e-commerce is happening globally, and these businesses have benefitted massively because of their decision to adopt mobile applications as part of their business.

So how exactly can Mobile Apps make a tangible difference in your E-commerce business?

Bigger Target Market
Yes, this may seem like an obvious point, but it needs to be stressed that Smartphones are expected to exceed 5 billion users by 2019 itself! (Source: Statista). Capitalizing on this vast user base should be the first step for any e-commerce business looking to expand or find continued success. This does not mean immediately going global, as that may not be possible for all businesses. However, every new smartphone user even in your local area is a potential customer for your business, and that shouldn’t be ignored.

Higher Conversion Rate
As seen in the image above, mobile apps for e-commerce have proven to have a far lower rate of cart abandonment than e-commerce websites for mobiles and desktops. This translates into an extremely high conversion rate for Mobile Apps, which can take advantage of the features offered by modern smartphones. Another factor that influences this conversion rate is the fact that mobile e-commerce apps feature a simplified checkout process
In-App Analytics
A major benefit offered by Android Apps is the ability to use Analytics services embedded within the App or the smartphone to gain unique and useful insights into user preferences and behaviour. One can analyze micro-moments such as session duration, gestures used, user navigation behaviour etc to see how much time on average does a user spend looking at an item and more. These insights can then be acted upon and the user can be contacted about their interests via push notifications or emails or SMS.

Unique Features possible only via Smartphones
Smartphones these days are pocket-sized powerhouses, and even low-end smartphones in 2019 are packed with features like multiple cameras, gyroscopes, location tracking capabilities and more. All of these features can, and in many cases, already are being utilized by businesses to enhance their e-commerce. Augmented Reality is supported by a large number of devices these days and has already revolutionized traditional shopping experiences in many industries. GPS tracking can allow you to target potential customers with location-specific products and offers.
Apps boost customer loyalty
Getting your App on to a customer’s phone is not a simple process, but people can be incentivized to download your app with discounts, offers and freebies which you can offer through advertisements etc.. Once your app is installed on a customers device, research shows that they are far more likely to return to your app on a consistent basis, which can and often does result in a purchase being made. One can further increase the rate of purchase by potential customers by enabling their apps to personalize themselves over time as per the customer’s usage. With personalization, one can approach the customer in a familiar way, remind them about items still in their cart and present them with offers relevant to their interests. Push notifications are a great opportunity presented by mobiles which can be capitalized on to reach customers more effectively. Apps can also be helpful in promoting exclusive content which can capture a user’s attention.

Mobile Apps – The present and the future of E-commerce

Mobile Apps have already demonstrated their impact in increasing revenue for E-commerce platforms as they have proven to be a secure and convenient means to access the world of E-commerce, for both sellers and buyers. With many small and mid-size businesses jumping into the mix, now is the perfect time for one to open up their services or their store to a potentially global client base, with the sky being the limit for how far one can expand.

Use MetaDesign Solutions to Develop your E-commerce Mobile Apps

Mobile Apps can be of immense benefit to any business or e-commerce platform due to their versatility. If you are looking to get a Mobile App for E-commerce developed or would like to know more about the same, do consider MetaDesign Solutions Development Services. We are a Mobile App Development Company and our expert developers will surely be able to create a solution that meets your app development requirement.