E-commerce has undoubtedly grown gigantic over the past couple of years. What used to be a platform that earns a lot of doubts and hesitation has risen to be a channel that earns huge sales.
Over the years, many developments have also made e-commerce better, and more capable of addressing the ever-changing needs of customers from all over the world. One of which is how e-commerce is becoming a mobile-driven business. A solid example of this is how a lot of e-commerce businesses have their apps now.
This is not just a fad but an indication that there is a lot of benefits that can be acquired for having a dedicated mobile app. There are some reasons why you too should have a mobile app for your e-commerce business. Five of these are the following:
Reason # 1: Mobile Phones are the Go-to Platform
The primary reason why e-commerce apps are huge is that a lot of traffic is now coming from mobile phones. In the past, like websites, in general, were not optimized for mobile phones yet, most sales are coming from computers. But with the proliferation of smartphones, there is a need to capture the growth potential of that segment.
An e-commerce app is a great way to effectively tap the mobile sector as people tend to be more on-the-go. So to capture more customers, going wherever they go a great idea. Having a mobile app is the best way to do this.
Reason # 2: Clutter-Free User Experience
A great thing about mobile apps is that developers have the liberty to design the interface, as well as the user experience that the app can provide. For e-commerce sites, business is just bound to building a website that corresponds to the specifications of web browsers. Mobile app development is within the full control of the business and the developers working on the app.
With this, businesses can craft a straightforward shopping experience that will help lead to more sales and less cart abandonment. E-commerce businesses can engineer the app in such a way that it encourages a smoother transaction for its users.
Reason # 3: Increases Conversion Rate
Because it is very easy to explore products, to check out, and to shop in general through mobile apps, the conversion rate in this channel has consistently been growing. By effectively tapping the growing market of mobile users, your business will have the ability to generate more revenues, and thus make your business grow.
There are also features within a mobile app that is geared for encouraging users to buy such as push notifications that can serve as a reminder that the cart has not been checked out yet, or as a channel where sales promotions can be coursed through.
Reason # 4: Utilizing Inbuilt Phone Features
Another reason why e-commerce apps are great is that smartphones’ features can be used to facilitate a better shopping experience. This is something that separates mobile e-commerce from desktop e-commerce. The utilization of the phone’s features allows for an easier way to do e-commerce as compared to how it is normally done.
Some of the phone features used to improve mobile e-commerce include the following:
- GPS helps identify the location of the user, helping to localize options where applicable.
- The phone’s microphone can also support voice search, which is a great alternative to people who may not be able to type for various reasons.
- The camera can be used to scan QR codes or can be used to scan credit cards for easy registration.
- Biometrics such as a fingerprint scan can be used as an additional layer of security for purchase confirmation.
With the continued evolution of smartphones, additional features are bound to make the e-commerce experience even more advanced. And this will further differentiate mobile e-commerce from traditional platforms.
Reason # 5: Rewards and Loyalty System
Mobile apps have also become a platform that encourages loyalty by coming up with various reward programs. A lot of businesses practice the earning of points per transaction, which can then be redeemed as prizes. For users, this is an exciting way to earn something rewarding on top of what they already purchase. For businesses, this is a great way to keep your customers coming back to do more transactions with you. And for as long as the rewards that you provide are worthwhile, and if your main products themselves have reasonable prices and are of good quality, there won’t be much justification needed for your loyalty programs, and your customers are bound to patronize your program and your business.
You can also incentivize the use of your app itself using lead generation software. Usually, first-time users of mobile apps are given a gift such as a discount voucher which can be used in the app. Acts like this can help customers feel better about transacting with you while earning their loyalty in return.
Take Action Today
A wise entrepreneur would find that a dedicated mobile app can bring about great benefits to your business. However, it will entail a lot of work and would need your determination to pull it off.
If you would like to take your starting business to the next level, developing your app is a great area to work on, and there’s no better time to start than now. Begin with small steps, and you are bound to enjoy the benefits of having your e-commerce mobile app soon enough.
