Why Your Ecommerce Store Needs a Mobile App

Why Your eCommerce Store Needs a Mobile App

There’s an app for everything, or is there? You’ve probably heard that you need an app, but no one seems to provide compelling reasons why. While your eCommerce store can see huge boosts in sales, interactions, and views through mobile apps, there can also be some concern about adding another aspect to your company’s mix.

What Does A Mobile App Mean for eCommerce Stores?

What is mobile commerce? It’s the commerce that happens within a mobile app. This can include in-game purchases in freemium games or outright transactions for goods in shopping apps. Many brands are launching mobile applications to grab a segment of the market that they believed was previously unavailable.

You can expand this definition even further to include any sale that happens on mobile devices such as laptops, tablets, and smartphones. Many people are dividing eCommerce and mCommerce based on whether the device is handheld, which may exclude laptops. Giving m-commerce this broad or flexible of a definition creates some confusion when looking at statistics and sales figures.

Ultimately, you can keep a broad definition of mobile eCommerce as any sale which happens on any wireless device if you consider that mCommerce is a subcategory of eCommerce.

Quick Stats on eCommerce, Mobile eCommerce, and Consumer Activity

For the wary and those who have the slightest bit of hesitation when it comes to launching an app, these stats may impact your decision. Consider the scale and audience that a small thing like an app can impact.

About 49% of web traffic is from mobile devices. When you’re looking at the differences between ecommerce and mCommerce definitions here is where you can start drawing the line. The conversion may have taken place on a mobile device but was on a web browser or the visitor returned from a desktop at a later time to complete their purchase. It’s possible that people navigating to your site from their mobile device don’t have a convenient way to finalize their purchase. Likely because of your mobile webpage setup or format.

The mobile-payments market should increase by over 33% by 2022, reaching $3,388 billion. Essentially this stat spells out that many people will be using their devices for making payments in various transactions. While this stat does include digital wallet factors, these digital wallets such as Samsung and Apple Pay are making it easier for mCommerce shopping cart checkouts.

On the subject of mCommerce shopping carts, the primary reported cause for abandoning mobile carts is a confusing or poorly designed checkout page. It’s clear that mobile optimization is necessary for conversions in these situations. However, an app could be the solution to this issue as well.

Looking into the future, many are estimating that:

• Smartphones will source 34% of eCommerce sales in the U.S. by the end of 2019.
• mCommerce sales will make up more than 50% of eCommerce transaction by 2021.
• 58% of mobile users will choose to buy from the app or site that makes the purchase easiest.

Consumer Benefits of Mobile Commerce

It’s clear that mobile commerce is happening, and that it’s gaining a lot of traction. While companies receive many benefits as well, more on these in a moment, it’s clear that consumers aren’t willing to go back to traditional shopping methods.

Mobile commerce, when in the form of an app, allows customers to personalize their experience. While it is possible to have some level of customization with web portals, CRMs, and other technology solutions, an app puts the customization preferences and control in the user’s hands.

With an app, the consumer can create a profile that will only display products or information that interests them. One example is Poshmark, which allows the user to input their clothing sizes and then doesn’t show anything that wouldn’t fit them. Customization plays a role in other aspects of brand management, namely, loyalty.

Security is another benefit. eCommerce stores have long struggled to prove that their sites are secure and safe. However, customers aren’t buying it. They are more protective of their sensitive data now than ever. eCommerce apps often accept numerous forms of payments, including digital wallets that come with their own level of security.

Company Benefits of mCommerce

Clearly, the consumers benefit from this rising advancement in commerce. However, companies can get a lot out of it, too. Although you will have to put in the effort of developing an app and maintaining it, you’ll see that the app will quickly pay for itself.

eCommerce stores have taken advantage of SMS and email marketing previously, but with an app, you can hit the consumer directly with push notifications. It guarantees that consumers will see the marketing message, as long as they agree to the notifications. Push notifications are a non-intrusive and a rather friendly way to remind your customers of limited-time offers, sales, or even that an item is in their cart.

It also puts you where your customers are: on their mobile device. Marketing and sales departments often preach about the need for an omnichannel experience, and an app is part of that mix. Get the exposure that you need, and if you know that your mobile webpage optimization is lacking, then prompt mobile site-visitors to download your app.

To get the most out of mobile eCommerce apps, be sure to:

• Have a pre-launch and a launch campaign to let your current customers know that you’re delivering an app with eCommerce abilities.
• Invite beta testers to test your app and report feedback before the official launch.
• Optimize your app; it’s just as vital as optimizing your landing pages.
• Gather ratings and reviews from users to improve your ranking in app stores.
• Make sure your app is localization-capable, so users see prices in their currency and have realistic delivery estimates.
• Create a page for your app, so it captures the attention of Google search.

Take Part in the mCommerce Action

eCommerce apps aren’t going to go away. Smartphones and other mobile devices will continue to gain substantial portions of eCommerce transactions and will eventually make up much more than 33% of online sales.

Designing and launching an app is a lot of work. However, it puts you right in front of your consumer. An app allows you to deliver excellence in service, and it can be a new (and more effective) marketing channel.

Certipro Solutions helps companies cultivate their eCommerce growth, and that includes handling issues with eCommerce apps and mobile eCommerce. Contact Certipro Solutions directly for assistance with native mobile eCommerce application solutions.