At one point in our lives, mobile responsive websites were the most in-demand projects of the software development industry. Businesses were moving past desktop browsers and targeting the mobile platform.
The innovations in technology and changes in customer behavior, however, means it’s not enough to have a locus on the World Wide Web. Mobile apps are increasingly dominating the digital world, and entrepreneurs need to invest in developing an app for their e-commerce store to keep up with the changing times.
If you want to know why you need a mobile app for your e-commerce store, then here are some significant reasons that answer your question:
Why You Need a Mobile App for Your E-Commerce Store
The evolution of mobile applications brings with it tons of benefits for the e-commerce industry and its customers. Here are a few advantages that will help in deciding why you need to hire the best e-commerce app developers and join the mobile app market:
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Improved Customer Retention & Loyalty
For users, the mobile platform brings more mobility and accessibility. But for the e-commerce industry, it offers a chance to improve their customer retention rate. One way to encourage returning consumers to spend their cash at your store is to reward their loyalty. Mobile apps boost the probability of your customers signing up for the program.
Loyalty rewards are a tried and tested method to encourage consumers to spend more. But mobile apps make it possible for them to view their program status in real-time. It will urge them towards another spending spree and gain the next reward.
Additionally, downloading the app is a personal choice. So, you know that the people who download your mobile app are more inclined to become a returning customer, than those who don’t. By developing an app, you can reward their loyalty and ensure they keep returning.
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Customers’ Preferred Choice for Browsing
Smartphones have become deeply engrained within our everyday lives. With mobile apps available for almost everything, people can use their phones to hail a cab, book a flight or table at a restaurant, order takeout, and more.
The increasing use of smartphones shows that individuals prefer to browse via mobile apps than websites. It doesn’t mean you don’t need a mobile-optimized site. According to the statistics, 85% of people say a website’s mobile version needs to look better than its desktop version.
But, 78% of people also said that they would prefer to use a mobile app than a website when browsing an e-commerce store. Here are a few reasons why:
- Mobile apps are more convenient.
- Apps are faster than a website.
- They offer personalized content.
- People can enjoy loyalty rewards for using mobile apps.
- Better deals are accessible via the app.
Of these five, convenience and speed are two of the most significant reasons. So, if you don’t invest in a mobile app, you’re failing to attract the majority of your target market.
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Alternative Marketing Channel
As an alternative marketing channel, the mobile platform opens up several opportunities for you to boost your sales, increase brand awareness, user engagement, and more. With an app, you can optimize your marketing campaigns to reach more people and expect a higher probability of interaction than with email campaigns.
With a website, you are dependent on your customers to access the site to drive conversions. But what are the chances of an individual returning to the website for purchases every day or week?
That leaves you to launch your marketing campaigns on alternative channels in hopes of reaching your target audience and encouraging them to visit again.
A mobile app offers a much more convenient route! You can engage with your user base via push notifications. It’s a better way to interact with your consumers because they don’t need to do anything except download the app.
Push notifications appear directly on the users’ screen, and with a tap, they get to your app. It is another convenience of online shopping.
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Personalized Offers
Advancements in technology have allowed service providers to offer their customers personalized shopping experience. Now personalization is vital to the success of any e-commerce store.
Even without a mobile app, you provide personalized offers to consumers via emails, based on the details they share when signing up. Alternatively, you optimize your website to show deals and items based on their location.
But mobile apps allow you to take that personalization to a whole new level. You can send push notifications with custom recommendations based on their order history, browsing habits, and more.
Additionally, it’s a way to alert your users on upcoming sales and deals on their favorite items. Instead of sending generic notifications to all customers, you can try targeted marketing based on their preferences and improve their experience.
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Improved Customer Service
Customer satisfaction determines the success of your e-commerce store, which depends on the quality of your customer service. Meaning, excellent quality customer service is what stands between you and a high customer retention rate.
73% of retail shoppers agree that they would shop longer and spend more if they experience excellent customer support on their first visit.
That said, a mobile app allows you to improve the quality of your customer service. You can integrate live chat messengers to offer assistance 24/7 directly through the app. An alternative way to get in touch is to provide a ‘call us’ option in your app.
Additionally, you can include an order tracking feature in your mobile app to increase your customers’ satisfaction. It’s possible with a mobile website as well, but the user experience is much better with an app.
Next Step: Hire a Development Company to Build Your E-Commerce Mobile App!
With the use of smartphones increasing, the mobile app market will continue to grow. It’s an investment you can’t forgo!
I hope the blog helped in understanding why you need a mobile app for your e-commerce business. The next step is to hire the best e-commerce app developers and leverage the benefits the platform will bring.
