People often refer to mobile e-commerce as the next best thing. As if it is a fad or a trend that will soon become replaced by something better.
But the truth is, e-commerce is here to stay.
Jeff Bezos, the richest man in the world, and the owner of Amazon made his fortune as a result of the growth of the e-commerce industry. Once thought to be a niche area, today it is the norm. A wide range of e-commerce platforms floods the market today, from well-known companies like Myntra, Jabong, Amazon etc. to obscure ones that we are unfamiliar with.
But what do we mean by the term e-commerce?
Ecommerce, also referred to as internet commerce or electronic commerce, refers to the purchase and sale of goods or services on the Internet as well as the transfer of money and data to carry out such transactions. Ecommerce is mostly used to refer to the selling of tangible goods digitally, but it may also define any form of commercial transaction that is enabled via the internet.
The history of e-commerce began on August 11, 1994, when a guy offered a CD by Sting to his buddy on his website NetMarket, an American shopping portal. It is the first case of a customer purchasing a product from a company via the World Wide Web — or “e-commerce” as we all know it today.
Since that fateful day, e-commerce has found ways to make products easier to discover and buy through online retailers and markets. Registered freelancers, small companies and big organizations have also benefited from e-commerce, which allows them to market their products and services at a rate that was not feasible with conventional off-line shopping.
Transformation of E-commerce Industry
Mobile apps are now utilized by a wide range of sectors. While led by the gaming and entertainment industries, the world of app development is now accessible to a range of functionalities. There are applications for social networking platforms, there are e-commerce, education, taxi services etc. mobile applicationsMobile application developments now rule the world.
The rise of Mobile Apps
Mobile websites were once the shizz. Before the advent and rise of mobile applicationsmobile applications, online shopping was done via mobile websites. When the Apple App Store launched in 2008, there were only 800 applications users could download. In 2017, there were 2,200,000 apps in the App Store!
Mindblowing, isn’t it?
Regular mobile phones soon became smartphones and mobile applications as we now know them came to life. Mobile apps are specialized applications for a particular purpose.
As mentioned above some are for live-tracking, some are for entertainment purposes, and some are for more academic or work-related activities. Businesses have developed their own apps so that their products and services can be accessed in just a few taps.
More than 1,000 apps are submitted daily to the Apple Store alone. In fact, we have to admit that this is the era of mobile apps, and even though mobile websites still prevail, using the app is a more convenient alternative.
User Preference- Mobile Apps vs Mobile Websites
As the demand for e-commerce mobile application development rose, websites became redundant. The U.S. in a 2016 Cross-Platform Future in Focus study revealed that smartphone use controls work area, utilizing mobile applications as the primary method of perusing the internet.
So here we go.
1. Preferential Option
In an analysis carried out by ThinkWithGoogle, it found out that when users are looking to shop for an item, they first do a quick search on their mobile phones. And only after having to check the prices would they visit the local store. This makes the entire shopping experience convenient and easier. They have the option to compare brand prices and even check ratings and reviews.
Therefore, creating a mobile app not only increases revenue but also help e-commerce stores gain clarity about the current market trends and consumer behaviour, resulting in better marketing strategies.
2. Brand Recognition
Consumers are the sources of recognition for a brand. Mobile apps can be the key driver behind the spread of brand awareness among them. Comparing to websites, users devote about 27% more time on mobile apps. To draw them, marketers are incorporating unique promotions and flash sales into their marketing campaign.
Apps will improve this strategy by delivering push notifications when discounts are available. It may also help to maximize downloads and installs. Other built-in features, such as navigation control and voice assistance create a favourable brand image as well.
Applications are now incorporated into a number of social networking platforms. Brands and advertisers may monitor user interaction, tastes, and purchasing patterns. Knowing the clients would provide valuable knowledge about them, leading to the development of appropriate marketing strategies. Prolonged customer satisfaction creates a loyal base and in turn boosts revenue.
3. Ensures customer loyalty
Which leads us to the next benefit, customer loyalty. Today, Mobile applications play a key role in linking companies to their clients. Could you imagine that there were days where companies choose roadside banners, advertisements, billboards to attract consumers?
Currently, eCommerce mobile applications are the way forward as it helps businesses gain knowledge about their consumer’s requirements with just the click of a button. As consumers spend a vast majority of their time on mobile phones, companies need to ensure that they offer product descriptions, contact information and all required details that motivate users to make purchases. E-commerce mobile applications are a must. By delivering products and services that cater to the requirements of their audiences, brands can guarantee customer loyalty.
4. Increased visibility for your brand
A further reason to opt for e-commerce mobile apps is to increase brand awareness. Although a large number of customers spend hours on their mobile apps, it is important for the brand to offer high-quality app experiences that customers prefer. Utilizing clever branding strategies for UI / UX designs, you can create apps that entice your customers.
As your brand gathers information about your audience, your brand becomes better at addressing the needs and concerns of your consumer. The eCommerce app provides greater exposure and chances of selling to your products or services by incorporating customized plugins for sharing on social media. For example, encouraging consumers to share their favourite product page via Facebook, Snapchat, YouTube, or Gmail.
5. Analytics and Data Collection
The Mobile eCommerce app helps you to gather and monitor users’ interactions and provide beneficial consumer details, such as audience profile, buying behaviour, reviews/feedback, and efficiency. Mobile applications are the perfect way to get to know your target audience and help you understand the needs of customers and their market demands.
This allows brands to introduce new initiatives or change their products according to consumer demand, produce personalized content and develop appropriate and innovative marketing strategies
Take Away:
The above-mentioned benefits are just a few in the extensive list of benefits offered by mobile applications. Our mobile applicationsmobile application developers spend time to understand your business and develop eCommerce apps that are a blessing to your company. They strive to ensure the growth of your business and develop apps that cater to your audiences. If you are looking to develop an e-Commerce application in order to provide a solid clientele and improved revenues, look no further. At SpiderIndia, our expertise helps us design apps that you need.