It is no secret that the eCommerce industry is booming. In 2021, according to Statista global retail eCommerce sales amounted to 5 trillion US dollars and projections show that this number will reach more than 7 trillion US dollars by 2025. This rapid growth is driven by the increasing adoption of mobile devices and the convenience of online shopping.
With such a huge opportunity for growth, it’s no wonder that more and more businesses are looking to develop their own eCommerce apps.
But what does it take to create a successful eCommerce app? In this ultimate guide, we’ll explore everything you need to know about eCommerce app development, from the initial planning stages to post-launch marketing.
By the end of this guide, you’ll have a solid understanding of what it takes to develop a successful eCommerce app. So let’s get started!
Table of Contents
Why Develop an eCommerce App?
Probably the first thing you want to know is “Why should I go for an eCommerce app?” After all, there are already a number of prominent eCommerce platforms out there, namely Amazon & eBay.
So what’s the point of developing your own eCommerce app?
There are actually a number of benefits to developing an eCommerce app, including:
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Increased Reach
An eCommerce app gives you the opportunity to reach a larger audience than you would with just a website. According to Statista, there are currently more than 2 billion active app users worldwide. By developing an eCommerce app, you’ll be able to tap into this vast pool of potential customers.
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Enhanced Brand Visibility
An e-Commerce mobile app provides you a constant presence on your customer’s home screen. This helps to improve brand awareness and recall, as your customers will see your app every time they use their phone.
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Better Engagement
An eCommerce app can assist to increase customer engagement by providing a more immersive and engaging experience than a website. With eCommerce app development services, you can take advantage of features such as push notifications and in-app messaging to keep your customers engaged with your brand.
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Improved Customer Loyalty
An eCommerce app is a great way to build customer loyalty by making it easy for customers to purchase from you and providing them with a seamless and enjoyable experience.
In addition to these benefits, developing an eCommerce app can also help you to stand out from the competition. With more and more businesses entering the eCommerce space, it’s becoming increasingly important to differentiate yourself from your competitors.
An eCommerce app enables you to do just that by giving you a unique platform to showcase your products and services.
Now that we’ve got all the answers to the question “Why should I go for an eCommerce app?”Let’s see what steps we need to undertake for a successful eCommerce Application Development.
How to Develop eCommerce Apps ? (Step-by-Step Process)
As we are through with the basics, we will help you out the step by step process to get through our major question for the day: How to make ecommerce app ?
1. Define your eCommerce App Development Goals
The first step in any successful eCommerce app development process is to define your goals. What do you want your application to achieve? Do you want to increase sales, engagement, or both? By having a clear understanding of your goals from the outset, you’ll be able to develop an app that is better aligned with your overall business strategy.
2. Do your Research
Once you know what you want to achieve with your eCommerce app, it’s time to start doing some research. Check out the competition and see what they’re doing right—and wrong. See what type of apps are popular in your industry and try to identify any gaps in the market that you could fill with your own app.
Your research should also extend to your target audience. Who are you developing the app for? What do they want and need from an eCommerce app? The answers to these questions will inform the rest of your development process, so it’s important to get them right from the start.
3. Choose the Right Platform
There are two main platforms for eCommerce mobile app development: iOS and Android. Both have their own set of benefits and drawbacks, so it’s important to choose the one that makes the most sense for your business.
If you’re targeting consumers in North America, for example, iOS might be the better choice since iPhone users tend to have higher incomes and are more likely to make purchases on their phones. On the other hand, if you’re targeting a global audience, Android might be a better option since it has a larger market share worldwide.
4. Selecting the Right Features
Once you’ve determined which platform you’re going to develop for, you need to select the features that will be most important for your target market. This includes both basic features, such as product search and payment processing, and more advanced features, such as push notifications and in-app messaging.
5. Designing an Intuitive User Interface
The user interface (UI) is one of the most important aspects of your eCommerce app. It must be visually appealing & intuitive to use. If your UI is not up to scratch, it will result in poor reviews and high levels of customer churn.
6. Find the Right eCommerce App Development Company
After you’ve chosen your platform, you need to find the right partner to help you develop your app. This is one of the most important steps in the process, so it’s important to take your time and find a top eCommerce App Development Company that you can trust.
Look for an online shopping app development company with experience in developing eCommerce apps and a proven track record of success. Be sure to read reviews and check out their portfolio to get an idea of the type of work they’re capable of. And, most importantly, make sure you have a good rapport with them—you’ll be working closely together, so it’s important that you feel comfortable communicating with them.
7. Create a Prototype
As soon as you’ve found a reliable partner, it’s time to get started on developing your app. But before you start building out all the features, it’s important to create a prototype first. This will allow you to test out your ideas and get feedback from potential users without having to invest too much time or money.
Creating a prototype doesn’t have to be complicated—a simple wireframe will do. But it should be enough to give you an idea of how your app will look and function. Once you’ve created your prototype, you can start testing it with potential users to get feedback and make sure you’re on the right track.
8. Develop the App
You can now begin developing your actual app once you’ve created your prototype. This is where the bulk of the work will take place, so it’s important to make sure you have a clear understanding of what needs to be done.
Be sure to also create a detailed ecommerce website development project plan that outlines all the features you want to include and the timeline for each one. This will help keep your ecommerce mobile app development process on track and ensure that you’re not missing any important details.
9. Test the App
As your app is developed, it’s important to test it thoroughly before you launch it. This includes both functional testing (to make sure all the features are working as they should) and usability testing (to make sure users can actually use the app).
It’s also a good idea to get feedback from potential users at this stage. Ask them to try out the app and see if they have any suggestions for improvement. By gathering this feedback, you can make sure your app is as user-friendly as possible before you launch it.
10. Launch the App
When you’re ready to launch the app, you’ll have to test and make sure it’s ready for launch. This is where all your hard work will finally pay off.
There are a few things to keep in mind when launching an app. First, it’s important to create a marketing plan to promote your app and get it in front of potential users. Second, you need to set up a system for managing payments and transactions. And third, you need to have a plan for dealing with customer service and support issues that may arise.
By following these steps, you can ensure that your app development process is smooth and successful. You are now all sorted out with all the answers to “how to create eCommerce app”. Just by taking the time to plan and prepare, you can launch an app that will be a success with users and help you achieve your business goals.
Must Have Features For Your ECommerce App MVP
When it comes to developing an e-Commerce mobile app, you want to make sure that you include all of the must-have features to ensure its success. However, with so many features to choose from, it can be tough to determine which ones are the best use of your time and resources. Here’s where MVPs come in handy.
Use of MVP in eCommerce App Development
MVP, or Minimum Viable Product, is a popular methodology for developing eCommerce apps. The idea is to create a basic version of the app with the essential features, and then to gradually add more features over time. This approach has several advantages.
- First, it allows the app to be released quickly, which is important in today’s competitive market.
- Secondly, it offers developers to get feedback from users early on, which can help to guide future development.
- Finally, it helps to reduce development costs by allowing developers to focus on the most essential features first. MVP is not without its challenges, however, and care must be taken to ensure that the basic app is still usable and enjoyable for users.
So, what are the must-have features for your eCommerce app MVP?
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User Accounts
User accounts are essential for any eCommerce app. They allow customers to save their information so they don’t have to re-enter it every time they make a purchase, and they also allow customers to track their orders and view their order history.
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Search Functionality
Search functionality is key for any eCommerce app. Customers need to be able to quickly and easily find the products they’re looking for. Otherwise, they’ll get frustrated and go to a competitor’s site.
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Shopping Cart
A shopping cart is an absolute necessity for an eCommerce app. Without a shopping cart, customers wouldn’t be able to add items to their order, and they wouldn’t be able to checkout.
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Payment Integration
Payment integration is a necessity for any eCommerce app. Payment methods should be available for customers to choose from, and they should be able to pay quickly for their orders using their preferred payment method, and they need to be able to do it quickly and easily. Otherwise, they’ll get frustrated and go to a competitor’s site.
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Customer Support
Customer support is important for any eCommerce app. Customers need to know that there’s someone they can contact if they have any questions or problems with their order. Otherwise, they’ll get frustrated and go to a competitor’s site.
These are just a few of the must-have features for your eCommerce app MVP. If you make sure that your MVP includes all of these features, you’ll be well on your way to building a successful eCommerce app.
Overall eCommerce App Development Cost
When it comes to eCommerce app cost, there are a lot of factors that can affect the overall cost. The type of platform you use, the features you want to include, the design, and even the size of your team can all play a role in determining the price tag.
To give you a better idea of what to expect, here is a general idea to the cost involved in eCommerce app development services:
Basic eCommerce apps can start as low as $5,000. This price point is typically for platforms like Shopify or BigCommerce, which offer basic templates and themes that can be customized to a certain extent. If you want to add any special features or design elements, you can expect the price to go up accordingly.
More custom and complex eCommerce apps will cost significantly more, sometimes upwards of $100,000. This is because you’ll likely need to work with a team of developers to create an entirely custom solution. The sky really is the limit when it comes to features and design for these types of apps.
Of course, these are just ballpark figures. The final eCommerce app development cost will ultimately depend on your specific needs and requirements. By working with an experienced development team, you can get a better idea of what kind of budget you’ll need to bring your vision to life.
What Does the Future Hold for eCommerce App Development?
As the way we shop continues to evolve, so too does the technology we use to do it. In just a few short years, eCommerce has gone from being a niche industry to becoming a central part of the way many people around the world shop. And as eCommerce grows, so too does the demand for eCommerce app development.
But what does the future hold for eCommerce app development? What new e commerce technologies and applications are emerging that will shape the way we develop eCommerce apps in the years to come? Keep an eye on these things.
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The Rise of Augmented Reality
One of the most exciting trends in eCommerce application development is the rise of Augmented Reality. Augmented Reality (AR) allows users to superimpose digital content on top of the real world. This means that users will be able to see how products look in their homes before they buy them. This is a huge selling point for furniture and home décor retailers in particular.
But AR isn’t just limited to furniture and home décor retailers. It has applications for all sorts of businesses, including fashion retailers, who can use AR to allow users to “try on” clothes virtually; cosmetics retailers, who can use AR to let users test out makeup before they buy it; and food retailers, who can use AR to let users see how ingredients would look in their kitchen before they purchase them.
The possibilities for Augmented Reality are virtually endless, and we can expect to see more and more businesses begin to adopt AR into their eCommerce apps in the years to come.
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The Proliferation of Chatbots
Another big trend that we’re seeing in eCommerce app development is the proliferation of chatbots. Chatbots are computer programs that simulate human conversation. They are commonly used by businesses as a way to provide customer support 24/7 without needing to staff customer service representatives around the clock.
What’s more, chatbots are becoming increasingly sophisticated and are beginning to be used for more than just customer support. For example, some businesses are using chatbots as a way to handle product recommendations, take orders, and even provide personalized discounts and coupons. We can expect chatbots to become even more common in eCommerce apps in the years ahead as they become more sophisticated and cost-effective.
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The Growth of Mobile Payments
Finally, another big trend we’re seeing is the growth of mobile payments. As consumers become more comfortable making purchases with their smartphones, we can expect to see an increase in mobile payment options in eCommerce apps. This trend is already well underway.
As you can see, there are lots of exciting trends emerging in ecommerce application development. These are just a few of the most important ones to keep an eye on; no doubt there will be plenty more in the years ahead.
Closing Notes
The eCommerce industry is booming & shows no signs of slowing down. This guide has outlined the most important aspects of developing an eCommerce app that will thrive in 2023 and beyond. If you are looking to create a successful eCommerce app, make sure to keep these things in mind. With the right planning, development, and marketing, your eCommerce app can be a major success in today’s digital age.
Frequently Asked Questions
Q1. What types of eCommerce platforms are there?
Ans. There are two main types of eCommerce platforms: hosted and self-hosted.
- A hosted platform is a turnkey solution that takes care of everything from hosting and security to updates and maintenance. Shopify, BigCommerce, and Volusion are all examples of hosted eCommerce platforms.
- A self-hosted platform, on the other hand, gives you more control over your store but also requires more technical know-how. With a self-hosted platform, you’ll need to find your own hosting and take care of security and updates yourself. WooCommerce and Magento are both self-hosted eCommerce platforms.
Q2. How much does it cost to develop an eCommerce app?
Ans. The eCommerce app development cost will vary depending on the features and functionality you want to include, as well as the platform you choose. A basic app with a limited number of features could cost as little as $5,000 to develop, while a more complex app with multiple features and functionality could cost upwards of $100,000.
Q3. How long does it take to develop an eCommerce app?
Ans. The answer relies on the features and functionality you want to integrate into your app. A basic app could be developed in as little as 4-6 weeks, while a more complex app could take anywhere from 3-6 months to develop.
