10 Things to Consider When Creating a Mobile App for Your E-Commerce Website
If you run an e-commerce website, you might be wondering if you need to create an app in addition to your online store. Although it might sound like a good idea, there are several considerations you need to take into account before you make that decision and spend the time and money to create the app itself. Here are 10 things to consider when creating a mobile app for your e-commerce website. This will help ensure that your time and money are spent wisely.
1) Why Do You Need an App?
Before we dive into how to make an app, it’s important that you know exactly why you need one. If your website is built on WordPress or another platform, there are already features in place that can help optimize your experience on mobile devices. It may not be worth hiring someone or paying monthly fees to make your own custom app unless there is an immediate and tangible benefit. Here are some examples of situations when an app might be right for you
2) How Will An App Benefit your Business?
Before you get started with any coding, you have to figure out whether or not an app is even necessary. Take into consideration what an app will add to your business, how much it might cost and how much time will be spent in developing one. If your company has a mobile website and/or offers mobile services, it may be easy enough for consumers just to use those features when visiting your site. However, if your products or services are particularly hard to sell via traditional methods and you’re looking to increase conversion rates on your e-commerce site, creating an app may be right up your alley. Think about what types of people would buy from you on their mobile devices—and whether they need help getting there.
3) What Is The Best User Experience For My Customers?
User experience is always a priority, but it can be even more important when you’re launching an app. Think about how customers would interact with your company on your website and try to translate that into an app. What are they doing? How do they find what they’re looking for? What features would benefit them most? How can you make sure users find these features easily? It might help to consider customer goals when creating an app; there might be different features associated with buying something and after that purchase. Another thing to keep in mind is whether or not your customers will use an app while they’re out or at home browsing their phones. If they don’t have access to wifi or data, it could be problematic.
4) How Much Does it Cost to Develop a Mobile App?
Developing an app can be expensive, depending on what you want your app to do. As of 2018, most apps that cost more than $1 million to develop are games or gambling apps. The average cost of developing an app ranges from $100,000 to $300,000; however, factors such as who is doing the work and how complex your idea is can impact price.
5) How Long Does it Take To Develop A Mobile App?
The amount of time it takes to develop a mobile app depends on how simple or complicated you want your app. If you have little experience with creating mobile apps, it’s best to ask other developers how long they think it will take them and compare their answers against yours before making any financial commitments. That way, you can have an idea of what your timeline should look like. As far as costs go, many people say that developing an app is between $20,000-$50,000 per month if you are outsourcing development work through foreign companies in Eastern Europe or Asia. These costs can change depending on how large your project is and which parts of development need handled by in-house developers vs external ones.
6) What Platform Should I Use To Create My Mobile Application?
Choosing which platform is right for you will be decided by your company's needs. If your company already has a mobile app in place, then you will want to make sure that your mobile application compliments what you already have and keeps with your brand's image. If you are looking into creating an e-commerce website, then it would be in your best interest to select an appropriate platform that not only caters towards e-commerce but also incorporates user experience and design elements as well. Ultimately, there are no wrong answers when deciding on what platform to use; it all comes down to how much time, money and work is needed to complete. You should select a mobile application platform based on whichever one gives you more leverage and takes less time while meeting all of your current needs.
7) How Will My App Work On Different Devices And Screen Sizes?
One of your first big considerations is how your app will display on different devices. In addition to traditional desktop monitors, you’ll need to take into account mobile devices and other emerging technologies, like Apple TV and Google Glass. It’s also important that your app has responsive design—meaning it’s built so that it adapts seamlessly to multiple screen sizes. You can find mobile app development companies in any industry niche. But one strategy you should adopt is localization; while global audiences may be interested in purchasing from you, they might not be as interested in using an app with only English language content.
8) Who Will Build My Mobile Application?
Many e-commerce businesses choose to outsource their mobile app development. If you choose to build your own application, then be prepared to devote significant time and resources. It can be difficult to find developers with an extensive background in developing mobile applications for e-commerce websites. Also, because of Apple’s strict guidelines, it is harder than ever before for new developers or startups to get approved by Apple's App Store. If you do decide to build your own application and want it available on both Android and iOS devices, don't forget that each platform has its own set of guidelines—which means more resources and time put into creating a quality application.
9) Where Can I Learn More About Developing an E-Commerce Mobile Application?
TechTarget has some great information on developing an e-commerce mobile application. If you’re just starting out and looking to develop your first mobile app, I recommend you start with their Introduction to Mobile Apps module. You can also find out more about IBM solutions in their Mobile Application Development with IBM Pure Application System modules and find out more about Oracle solutions in their Mobile and Android Applications: HTML5, PhoneGap and Other Platforms modules. If you want other solutions providers, TechTarget has an extensive library of development information.
10) Conclusion – Start Working on Your eCommerce Website Now!
Choosing an ecommerce platform is one of your first steps in building your own store. As you can see from our list, we’ve included some of the most popular and robust platforms out there. We recommend taking at least five minutes to read through each summary so that you can get a good idea of which ones are right for you and your business. Good luck!
Great information
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