Today, more and more customers are shopping online than ever before, as digital shopping experiences become more secure and convenient. With an increasing number of web users choosing their smartphones and tablets over PCs and laptops, however, simply having a mobile-friendly website is quickly proving to be less than enough for many e-commerce companies. With the demand for e-commerce mobile applications growing, here are just some of the main reasons for your online store to consider getting an app.
Customer Convenience
With more and more customers using their smart gadgets for shopping, a mobile app can contribute to a better, more convenient customer experience. For example, when shopping on an app rather than their web browser, customers can easily leave to do other things such as take calls and check emails before being able to easily return to their basket simply by re-opening the app.
Improved Exposure
Simply having a mobile app can be a great source of exposure for your brand and will significantly contribute to your marketing efforts. For example, being advertised in the ‘new’ section in the App Store or Google Play Store is sure to get more people interested in your brand. Along with this, simply having your logo on their smartphone screen at all times can be a great way to make sure that your customers don’t forget about you!
Increase Competitiveness
Mobile app development for your e-commerce company can be a very effective way of gaining the edge over your competition and ensuring that you’re not losing out to your main competitors. A simple search of your main competitors in your smartphone’s app store will probably reveal that many of them have already taken this step. Developing an app for your customers to use will ensure that your company stays up to date with the latest e-commerce trends, avoiding getting left behind.
Customer Engagement
One of the best reasons to consider developing an app for your e-commerce store is the added benefit of improved customer engagement. With a well-designed mobile app, you can actually learn more about the types of things that each individual customer enjoys browsing or purchasing, and use this information to send them tailored push notifications informing them about deals, offers and new products that you think they will like based on their search or purchase history. Be sure to ask for notification permissions beforehand, so that your customers know to expect them.
Increased Revenue
The cost of developing a high-quality mobile app for your business can certainly be offset by the increase in revenue that developing a mobile application can yield. According to opinion polls, almost 80% of web users reported a preference for mobile apps, rather than a mobile web browser, when shopping online using a smart gadget. This is due to a number of benefits for the customer, including a faster shopping experience and improved payment security.
These are just some of the main ways in which your e-commerce company can benefit from a mobile app! Would you like to add to this list? We’d love to hear from you in the comments.
