Mobile Commerce Made Easy: The Best eCommerce Apps for iOS and Android

People purchase a variety of things online – sneakers, sunglasses, drugs and office tables, among them – which has led to an explosive eCommerce app development trend in lockdown times. Making purchases using eCommerce apps quickly became one of the easiest and preferred shopping avenues.

Statista estimates that mobile eCommerce sales will reach $432 billion by 2023 – an astounding increase over their 2018 figure of $154 billion! Given these predictions, one may start considering entering or expanding upon eCommerce markets or simply increasing revenue through increased customer attraction/gain. One way would be developing an eCommerce application.

In this article, we’ll go through mobile commerce and share the best ecommerce apps available for iOS and Android platforms. Let’s dive in! And make this shopping trip happen. Let’s do this thing together. Let’s begin.

Mobile Commerce App: Overview

Mobile E-commerce (m-commerce) software enables companies selling online to provide superior experiences to consumers shopping on mobile devices. E-commerce companies use this type of software to develop custom mobile applications tailored specifically for the industry or types of consumers they target. M-Commerce professionals and marketing departments often rely on M-Commerce software to ensure apps conform to branding guidelines set by the companies they represent.

M-commerce must not be confused with mobile versions of existing e-commerce solutions. Rather, M-commerce allows users to develop apps from scratch rather than only customizing existing apps. Mobile development software qualifies only if it includes functionality specific to e-commerce.

Electronic commerce was pioneered nearly 40 years ago by English entrepreneur Michael Aldrich and quickly found acceptance by consumers as we now utilize it daily. Though initially unsupported by many, electronic commerce quickly became part of everyday life.

eCommerce stands for Electronic Commerce of Goods on Online Marketplaces (ECM). In order to purchase goods or make transactions electronically through your smartphone or computer, eCommerce entails conducting electronic commerce between suppliers and purchasers.

The ecommerce industry saw exponential expansion driven by technological progress and globalization, as well as people’s desire for greater choices and superior experiences.

Today’s eCommerce market requires businesses to shift from brick-and-mortar stores into an online presence. eCommerce app development company serves this need perfectly.

Mobile E-Commerce: Why?

Businesses with an e-commerce store should take steps to make their site accessible for mobile users or create a store tailored specifically for this demographic. As more consumers turn to mobile phones to purchase goods and services, businesses with stores optimized for this platform need to meet this growing demand by optimizing for mobile. A dedicated mobile app or store eliminates using responsive web designs or compromising the design to accommodate mobile shoppers; instead, creating one allows businesses to incorporate branding and create a consistent experience – essential elements for an omnichannel strategy!

Brand Consistency:  Brand consistency is crucial to businesses, especially online stores, which depend on marketing and branding for success. A customizable mobile commerce platform gives them an ideal way to apply their branding consistently across channels; customers appreciate this consistency and are likely to return.

Optimized mobile storefront:  Mobile screens differ significantly from computer screens when it comes to how users browse them; using finger gestures vs mouse/keyboard navigation makes for an entirely unique browsing experience, especially on small-screen mobile applications that rely on buttons that may or may not be large or clear enough. Shopping via a mobile application should not be dangerous or frustrating – otherwise, businesses risk accidental purchases and unhappy customers, leading them further away from purchasing from them! It can be easier for businesses to create this experience using dedicated tools for creating mobile storefronts than using tools designed specifically to build storefronts themselves.

Omnichannel: To effectively utilize mobile channels for business growth, ecommerce app development services tools provide an engaging mobile shopping experience while seamlessly connecting it to other channels – be that digital or physical stores. Mobile devices allow consumers to seamlessly use them throughout their shopping experience – further expanding selling potential.

M-commerce: What Benefits It Brings Along?

M-commerce is an umbrella term encompassing mobile commerce. While not an entirely new trend or technology, M-commerce was born out of an existing e-commerce niche that’s been around for over ten years. Mobile devices now make up more of our users’ device usage than any other category; consequently, M-commerce encompasses banking, shopping and digital wallet services or payment options as part of it all.

Improved User Experience

According to surveys, 46% of mobile e-commerce app users reported using such an application for product and service research. More specifically, popular flash sale retail company Rue La La managed a 60% boost in message open rates after experimenting with the design and text of notifications sent out from its system.

Wide Audience

The data speaks for itself – 79% of smartphone users purchased things or services via mobile in the last month alone, and Uber managed to gain over 82 Million Users since 2015 with its user-centric approach that ensured an effortless experience when users visited its app.

Better Customer Support and More Effective Content

Customer service plays a pivotal role for businesses. To maximize sales and expand brand recognition, businesses need to establish open communication between users and the store – with mobile apps making this task even simpler! An app also makes providing 24/7 support possible, which leads to higher brand loyalty levels, which in turn brings companies 4%-8% additional revenues each year on average.

Improved Sales

Modern companies utilize mobile app consulting services to increase sales. Some even manage to increase both online and offline sales with this strategy; Domino’s Pizza invested in building one such app, which has since been downloaded 10 million times, increasing e-commerce sales by 25%; globally speaking, m-commerce sales already account for about 50% of total e-commerce sales worldwide.

E-commerce App Development: Role of UI/UX

UX/UI design investments yield dramatic long-term ROI gains. One could argue that by paying proper attention to an outstanding design, you double your return on total investments when prioritizing it – eventually reaching up to 500% ROI and keeping customers loyal longer with increased word-of-mouth recommendations (provided your UI/UX design can truly wow people).

The Design Management Institute claims that companies like Apple, Netflix and Coca-Cola that place significant focus on designs tend to outpace industry performance index averages by more than 200% in 10-year market operations periods.

Trends You Can Follow For E-commerce App Development

App for ecommerce has replaced traditional methods of purchasing goods, but this does not indicate a difference in customer experience between online shopping and physical retail locations. Let’s examine this phenomenon further with mCommerce features along with trends that create improved customer experiences on eCommerce apps.

Big Data

eCommerce mobile app development now relies more heavily on big data algorithms as user volumes surge within this industry. Amazon excels at anticipating what users might purchase next and providing relevant suggestions based on an algorithm powered by big data to predict purchase decisions and recommend products that you may like, leading many consumers to wonder, “How did Amazon know my preferences?” It is no longer a secret that they track users’ actions via an app and use this information with its big data algorithm to provide personalized recommendations based on big data analysis.

AR Experience

Augmented reality (AR) bridges the gap between eCommerce shopping and in-store experience. Ikea Commerce App stands out as being particularly adept at offering their customers access to all catalogue items via AR mode.

One-Click Purchase

An eCommerce user experience defined by single-click payments has long been one of the hallmarks of success for mobile app development companies such as Uptech. When working on the Dollar Shave Club app, we made this feature one of our top priorities; by eliminating retyping payment details every time someone buys something, multiple purchases become easier, ultimately leading to better user experiences and business sales growth.

Artificial Intelligence Chatbots

AI Chatbots enable your business to remain in close touch with its users while not overwhelming them with excessive information. Furthermore, with AI-enhanced training tools, you can tailor chatbots specifically toward business cases so users have a highly tailored experience of your brand that encourages loyalty and increases retention rates.

Social Commerce

E-commerce companies have recently witnessed an upsurge in social commerce, with personalized user experiences playing an essential part. Companies incorporate their online products onto popular social media platforms (such as Facebook or Instagram ), allowing customers to purchase items right while browsing these apps, further enabling instantaneous tracking price changes as well as buying in that very instant! Social commerce will allow shoppers instant price tracking capabilities as they purchase instantly without delay!

Mobile ECommerce App: Things To Keep In Account Before Developing

E-commerce app builders present specific challenges. Here are the moments to keep in mind when developing such an eCommerce application:

Scalability

Your app must be designed to scale with ever-increasing user numbers. While focusing on its scalability may appear unnecessary at the outset of eCommerce mobile app development, forecasting its growth from day one and planning its architecture is key for long-term success.

Data Security

When customers first log onto your eCommerce mobile app, the first thing they will be asked for is personal data: home address, credit card number, and mobile phone number. Your customers trust you with this sensitive data – that is great. But be wary not to dissatisfy them: take proactive measures against unwarranted usage such as:

Set access rules. For instance, only premium subscription users have access to certain services.

Utilize a Private Cloud. When it comes to digital data storage, be certain that your provider offers a personal cloud regime; in such instances, it would be prudent to take extra measures in terms of safeguarding user information in this fashion.

Alarm Systems. In an emergency, alarm systems provide fast notification of potential danger and quick reaction so you can take measures quickly to mitigate its negative consequences.

Stability

Stability and constant crashes can significantly hamper an app’s performance. Users usually prefer balanced apps over inconsistent and unbalanced ones, so to achieve stability in its performance, you should:

1. Operate QA tests; 
2. Consider making product iterations; 
3. Always consider getting responses from users; 
4. Make sure to release regular updates. 

eCommerce App Development Cost

Now that you understand how to create an e-commerce Android app, let’s examine it more closely. Let’s review some key issues that could influence its creation cost.

At times, it can be challenging to estimate the precise cost of creating an app for your business, as projects often span years to finish. Therefore, budget planning should focus on your expected return on investments and forecasted revenues. For instance, by considering niche market size: smaller markets usually generate lower ROI. So more cost-efficiency is key to reach final profitability, while niches that demand wider TAs bring greater profits. It is prudent therefore that investments be used wisely according to these conditions along the way.

Other aspects may help determine an approximate pricing estimate:

1. Type of Application,
2. Devices and platforms supported,
3. Size of the app,
4. App design,
5. Structure and Location of the development team,
6. App maintenance,
7. Functionalities and features,
8. Marketing campaigns.

Top eCommerce Apps for iOS and Android Platforms

As per the best ecommerce mobile app development company below are the top eCommerce platforms for iOS and Android. Check it out:

Boxed

Boxed is an American online wholesale retailer offering direct delivery of groceries and household products in bulk quantities. Their user-friendly mobile app makes shopping wholesale products on the go easy without paying membership fees – app users can experience all the convenience that bulk purchasing from mobile devices offers them!

Boxed has also created shopping lists and ideas tailored for specific events – vacations, parties, etc – in order to save app users time in planning what to bring or serve on those occasions. All our lists are fully configurable, so users can tailor them easily by removing existing terms they no longer require while adding any relevant new ones that come up during planning for themselves.

Based on their customers’ past purchases, Boxed App uses machine learning to predict when their customers run low on an item and sends reminders via their SMART Stock up to make replenishment easy and seamless. Furthermore, to add even greater satisfaction to shopping with them, its Stuff on Sale section lets customers hunt down discounts.

ASOS

ASOS, the global fashion retailer from the UK, provides over 85000 products online through mobile experiences and boasts more than 80% of UK traffic from mobile devices. They’ve invested significant resources in the ASOS mobile app to bring these 850+ brands right into customers’ hands – it has over ten million downloads, and customers spend 80 minutes monthly browsing it!

With Asos’ “Style Match” visual search tool, sales are projected to rise between 30%-35%. This key app feature has proven immensely helpful to shoppers seeking similar items for any desired outfit quickly, simply by taking or uploading a reference photo – Style Match will show them closet results from among 85,000 items available from stock! Analyzing color, pattern, and texture from images, the tool works superbly well at making convincing recommendations to users.

Nike

Nike’s digital transformation is driven by customer behaviors and preferences that evolve, such as mobile shopping habits or preferring traditional stores over websites for purchases. They took steps to minimize friction by connecting digital and physical environments more seamlessly – including by developing their Nike app as part of a customer-focused digital strategy.

As per ecommerce app developers, The Nike App aims to improve customer experiences in several ways. Customers can check an item’s in-store availability, making same-day reservations easier and sending push messages when items are ready for pickup. NikePlus members have access to special Nike products, discounts, and partner rewards during in-app shopping; the barcode scanner allows quick product details search while discovering available options and real-time inventory online and offline.

Warby Parker

Warby Parker is an innovative American online retailer of prescription glasses and sunglasses. Their billion-dollar business began by creating an easy online distribution model that allowed customers to order and try on multiple pairs of brand-name glasses risk-free before deciding to buy. Within 48 hours after going live on their website, they had amassed a waitlist of 20,000 customers! Since then, they’ve expanded into mobile with an award-winning iOS app as part of their expansion.

Warby Parker app quickly made waves after its debut, being featured as one of Apple’s 10 Best Apps of 2016 with over 500 5-star Reviews on the Apple Store and having fun and convenient digital try-on capabilities for its users. Customers can use the Warby Parker app’s digital try-on to view how different styles look against them or try placing virtual glasses style onto photos to see which looks the best on them; in its most recent update, it even takes advantage of iPhone X’s camera to scan people’s faces to recommend best fitting glasses.

Sephora

Sephora is an international cosmetics and beauty retailer, operating 1,750 retail locations in 30 countries worldwide. Their digital makeover, wherein their app plays an instrumental role as a mobile strategy, has proved extremely successful; within this app alone, they’ve introduced numerous customer experiences benefitting customers of Sephora’s services.

This app boasts over two million downloads and an exceptional in-store digital experience: loyalty card integration and gift card purchasing options, product scan for rating and reviews, and personalized alerts regarding offers available in-store. It even allows app users to virtually try on various makeup products with Sephora Virtual Artist, and over eight million visits have taken advantage of this augmented reality feature – offering 200 million shades of lipsticks, eyelash foundation and other beauty items tried on by Sephora customers themselves!

Wayfair

Wayfair is an American enterprise mobile app development company that boasts over 10 million items for home furnishings, decor, home improvement, and housewares. Serving as one of the world’s premier home goods websites, Wayfair continuously develops innovative features within their mobile app that improve the way shoppers purchase home items.

Utilizing augmented reality technology, Wayfair app users are capable of turning any room into a furniture showroom through “View in Room 3D.” Home shoppers are inspired to shop by visualizing life-sized products in their real homes through mobile device viewing, thus enhancing online purchases with confidence that they will look fantastic in real-life settings – playing an essential part in Wayfair app users’ shopping experiences worldwide. Millions have taken advantage of its revolutionary feature!

JOANN

Jo-Ann Fabric and Craft Stores is one of the US’s largest fabric and craft retailers with locations in 49 states, having first opened as one retail store back in 1943. Since then, there have been an additional 849 locations of Jo-Ann serving fabric and craft supply needs across America – as of summer 2017, their digitally focused business launched the JOANN app to enhance customer omnichannel experiences further.

With the app, customers of JOANN Fabrics can shop for supplies, find project ideas, and take advantage of mobile coupon offers all in the convenience of their mobile phones. It allows for weekly sales browsing as well as personalized offers such as personalized deals or custom shopping lists, not to mention publishing your projects with photos, videos, and music so friends, family, and one another can share finished projects confidently – not forgetting millions of active users that use the JOANN app daily and its downloads continue to increase rapidly!

Final Word

Simply stated, mobile app development companies in USA are seeing significant success due to a number of factors: smartphone use is on the rise due to the widespread pandemic, as well as consumers wanting something different and other global factors.

Establishing an eCommerce app provides businesses with numerous advantages, ranging from faster access to users to a competitive edge. We took a look at top players in the eCommerce industry, so you have some examples and trends to follow when developing an eCommerce app, but ultimately, the key component in making any successful eCommerce app development process lies with providing customer-centric solutions.

FAQs

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Who Uses Mobile E-Commerce Software?

Marketers — Marketers can gather vast amounts of customer data through e-commerce platforms for use in promotions and targeted campaigns. As more consumers use their phones to purchase goods online, marketers have access to an enormous treasure of data that they can utilize across marketing initiatives in terms of social media posts, emails or text message campaigns with pertinent info from mobile users.

Retailers — Any retailer with an e-commerce presence should carefully consider creating a mobile presence. With more consumers shopping on smartphones than ever, mobile e-commerce software provides retailers with access to this demographic while simultaneously creating an enhanced customer experience.

How much does an e-commerce app cost?

On average, enterprise mobile app development companies in USA cost approximately between $80K to $150K depending upon factors like features required, mobile platform compatibility requirements and design complexity – this figure may go even higher depending on factors like mobile platform features or complexity of UI/UX design complexity, among others.

How to build an e-commerce app?

The custom mobile app development services timeframe for eCommerce apps varies significantly based on goals and product specifications. A minimum viable app may take three or four months to build before its full development takes another seven. Expect it to constantly change!

How to hire ecommerce app developers in the USA?

If you are looking to hire ‍custom mobile app development company, then make sure to do proper research. Always check with the experience, background, history, online existence, portfolio, and support service. This can give you a clear idea about the company and make it easy for you to make your decision.