The mobile segment of the market is actively growing, and the development of mobile platforms such as iOS and Android change the game rules and make us look at the business from a new perspective. Our generation is now comfortable not only using mobile devices for Internet surfing but also to make purchases, get services and solve many other everyday tasks.

Ignoring the potential of a mobile audience is definitely a bad idea. There is the risk of losing a market share and a decrease in sales. It’s worth taking into account the fact that adaptive design is not the only way to solve the problem. Another option is to create a mobile application for an online e-commerce website.

Websites designed with adaptive layout have a clear advantage in terms of development costs, audience coverage and viewing capabilities on all mobile platforms and devices. Applications, in turn, are installed directly on the user's smartphone or tablet, which potentially provides interactivity and a higher level of customer involvement.

Like the adaptive design, mobile applications have a number of advantages. However, it’s better to understand the issue itself, and our mobile development company will help you with this.

Advantages of a mobile application for an online store

1) The potential for repeat sales. The seller has the opportunity to ensure a permanent and visible presence on the device. If in the future the user wants a product offered by this online store, there is a high probability that they’ll re-order.

2) Contact in one click. All the user has to do to go to the product catalog is to tap the app icon to get started.

3) Interactivity. Unlike sites, applications are integrated with the platform on which the device operates, and can use its functions to interact with potential buyers. For example, to distribute information about new promotions through push notifications or remind about an abandoned basket. This is a key advantage.

4) The phone is always with the user. The user uses it every day and everywhere: in transport and in a queue, at a cafe table with a fragrant cup of coffee and at a party, etc. Even when their computer is nearby, but off, many people prefer to use their smartphone instead of going to the PC and turning it on. The mobile application is theoretically available to potential customers more often than the actual website.

5) You can attract attention with push notifications. They help to attract the user’s attention, with information about attractive promotions, discounts, and sales. However, remember that some people consider too much push notifications very annoying, and they can even delete the application not to receive them anymore. Dedicated Developers, as an experienced mobile development company, will help you configure the push notifications in the most convenient way for your customers.

6) Simplified payments. If your application provides the ability to pay for an order with a bank card (as well as electronic money, funds from a mobile phone account, etc.), this will speed up and simplify the payment process. This is especially true for cards that use the two-factor authentication with an additional dynamic SMS password: the client does not have to remember the password and enter it somewhere else (for example, in a special field on the site).

7) Convenience and speed. A high-quality application still accelerates and simplifies the process of registration, payment and order management. The user only needs to open the program on his smartphone, click on the products he likes and complete the purchase. As a rule, in applications, information about products is provided in a somewhat simplified form, which can please those users who love brevity and simplicity. You can hire developers who will provide the most convenient mobile app for your e-commerce sales.

When Should You Use the App?

Before making the final decision about the app development, an e-commerce website owner should think carefully — taking into account the specifics of the market and the target audience — whether the creation of a mobile application is really an effective direction for an investment of time and money. A business owner will need to invest a significant amount of time, money and energy to create an application for a site that people will want to download and use. Even after you finish the app, you’ll need to constantly work on its promotion, improvement, and the correction of any errors.

An application development is reasonable in the following situations:

• The store gets a lot of repeat sales. In this case, a convenient program can benefit the business. With a competent advertising campaign, a significant portion of your regular customers download the application and will actively use it.
• The store has a permanent target audience. A constant target audience means users who constantly visit your site for some reason. They probably don’t always make purchases, but they’re interested in your goods, discounts, interesting articles, etc. If such a target audience is broad enough, then you can also wisely choose to invest in developing a mobile application. Many fans of your site will be interested in such a program, and some of them will even start making purchases more often.
• Traffic on the site exceeds 10,000 people a day. You can try to attract some users to download the application. To be successful, you’ll also have to competently promote the program and to provide bonuses to those who decide to download it.
• This is a step that must be considered only as a strategic, not a tactical solution. You can invest in a platform for developing your business, and it will make you a great profit.

Thus, the development of a mobile application is a risky step, especially for newly opened online stores, which yet cannot boast a broad target audience, impressive traffic and a large percentage of repeat sales. In order not to rise too much, you can compromise: take care of creating an adaptive website design. This is a design that is understandable and convenient even when viewing the pages of the online store from the phone.