eCommerce App Development- A Complete Guide in 2023

eCommerce App Development- A Complete Guide in 2023

eCommerce has witnessed unimaginable popularity in the past two decades thanks to convenience and variety for consumers. Whether someone has to buy sneakers or it is about office furniture, we can buy anything online. It has only become possible due to the advent of eCommerce app development technology at scale.  

The increasing use of smartphones has skyrocketed the amount of people involved in online shopping. According to a report by Statista, the number of digital buyers is expected to surpass 377 million by 2025 in India. It is only a glimpse of things that can be expected in this industry for future. If you are serious about using the power of the digital shopping universe, we suggest reading this post until the end.

What is eCommerce App Development?

What is eCommerce App Development?

Understanding the exact meaning of this technology is important to create ecommerce app that can really withstand the competitors. An eCommerce app development services the process of creating an application using which people can buy or sell products with a few clicks on their phone. It has become one of the major forms of entrepreneurship in the past few years thanks to the lucrative opportunity to make big money.

There is solid competition building in this industry and using an innovative approach to build an e-commerce application is necessary. It is suggested to use a combination of effective solutions and intuitive features to ensure a positive consumer experience. If such an application is built using a highly functional build, it can boost sales and bring royalty to the brand.

The development process consists of many steps, from project planning to creating a UI website design and testing the platform. It is a guided procedure that aims to find what needs to be included and in what format. Taking the help of an eCommerce app development company is strongly suggested for completing the entire process smoothly.

eCommerce App Market Stats

eCommerce App Market Stats
Image Credit: statista.com

The process to build an ecommerce app will always stay a demanding and popular trend in upcoming years. It has become one of the highest-generating industries in the world. Let’s have a look at a few stats that prove how much this segment contributes to the market:

  • Market Retail Share

If we talk about the total retail sales in the United States, eCommerce apps contribute more than 7%. Out of these sales, nearly 40% of them are made on Amazon.

  • Generated Revenue

There is a staggering amount of US$ 338 billion generated by mobile commerce sales in the United States. Experts have even predicted that the number of mobile shoppers will pass the 187 million mark by 2024.

  • Company Specific Apps

More than half of smartphone users prefer buying from brand-specific apps rather than third-party platforms. Almost 40% of users have planned to do more shopping using an eCommerce app in the upcoming years.

  • Predicted Growth

Market experts believe the mobile commerce market is expected to grow at a CAGR of 9.6 in the next few years. The reason behind that is increasing app usage and downloads among consumers.

Pros of eCommerce Application Development Services

Pros of eCommerce Application Development Services

An eCommerce app is critical in creating relationships between businesses and buyers. It is considered an exceptional choice for understanding the concerns of customers in a better way. We will discuss the major advantages of mobile commerce app development in detail below:

  • Better Business Recognition

The biggest benefit of these solutions is increased visibility for your business. You can connect with your customers with the help of a mobile app. There are lots of hours spent by everyone on their mobile phone daily.

However, choosing a quality development team is essential as almost 1/3rd of users uninstall the app instantly when they don’t find it helpful. Go for the best solutions to ensure a quality experience for the users.

  • Loyal Customer Base

If a brand make eCommerce app to improve business, the chances of increasing its loyal customer base are pretty much possible. A well-designed mobile application only not boosts the overall experience but also assists in acquiring & retaining new customers.

They can conveniently shop for products using a mobile app, selecting and buying products seamlessly. These features are extremely useful in maintaining a loyal customer base because brands can offer much more than competitors. Go for a platform to add customized shopping choices to understand customers’ concerns.

  • Great Marketing Communication

The availability of mobile phones allows consumers to stay connected with brands all the time. An eCommerce app allows companies to improve interaction with them and shopping by having the desired information.

The number of customers preferring to buy online is continuously increasing every year. It proves how beneficial B2B ecommerce mobile development can be for brands. It helps in only boost the method of interaction but also lets the companies retain them.

Cons of eCommerce Application Development Services

If someone believes this solution only benefits the companies, we strongly recommend changing the strategy. We have explained a few cons of eCommerce app development in detail below:

  • Costly Maintenance

You must understand that solid maintenance & TLC is required to accommodate an eCommerce app on various platforms. There is tons of time wasted on modification when even a single feature doesn’t work properly.

On top of that, making frequent changes in the app can increase the chances of inefficiency that none of the brands will wish for. It can be very expensive for small companies and demand tons of time.

  • Regular Updates & Testing

Experts strongly recommended to hire eCommerce app developers who really understand how to update & test apps after launching. The applications must continuously tested and updated to fix bugs and adding the latest features.

If someone doesn’t perform these things properly, the chance of the app losing its credibility is very high. It is an ongoing commitment that demands investment and time to improve things.

  • Expecting Too Much

There is very stiff competition in the world of eCommerce apps, and many retailers struggle to match the expectations of customers. A common mistake brands make is rushing the launch of their apps without achieving perfection.

Customers don’t want to use apps with tons of glitches that should be fixed instantly. It can create a bad brand image and make it tough to deal with competition.

Why should you outsource for eCommerce Mobile App Development?

Developing a mobile app for an eCommerce brand is a highly complex task involving various stages. It is harder to handle for those who have little to no experience. If you are going through the same phase, it is strongly recommended to outsource the work to an expert eCommerce application development company.

  • Work Practically

Outsourcing is an impressive technique that can give terrific returns for short-term projects. For example, you want to build an Android eCommerce app that delivers medicines to consumer’s doorsteps. If the key members of your team are involved in this work, it can disrupt normal business operations.

Hiring an outsourcing agency will ensure your core team can work on their original tasks, while the app development work goes smoothly.

  • Save Solid Sort of Money

Outsourcing the app development work rather than hiring a full-fledged team can help in saving tons of money. Furthermore, it is also cost-effective when you live in a country like the United States, where developers charge high fees.

Developers in India can do the same work at a very affordable price. Additionally, there won’t be any need to buy software or equipment for performing this work when everything is outsourced.

  • Boosting Operational Efficiency

One can experience a significant boost in the company’s operational efficiency by outsourcing the retail app development project. There won’t be any disruption in the usual tasks of the company as a freelancing team will perform the entire work.

Once the mobile app gets ready, you only need to make things adaptable for the brand and its employees.

What are the different types of eCommerce apps?

What are the different types of eCommerce apps?

Knowing about the various categories that fall under eCommerce apps is important before trying hands in this business. We have explained the broad categories with proper explanation below:

  • Business-to-Business Application (B2B)

An eCommerce mobile application having a trade between two or more companies falls under this category. The premier examples of B2B are Amazon Business, Quill, and Alibaba.

  • Business to Consumer (B2C)

The eCommerce platform that sells products directly to final consumers is called B2C apps. It is one of the most commonly used models by businesses these days. The top examples of this category are Amazon, SnapDeal, Flipkart, and Walmart.

  • Consumer to Consumer (C2C)

If you build an e-commerce application that allows one consumer to sell products to other consumers, it is called a consumer-to-consumer platform. Some examples of C2C are eBay, OLX, and Quicker.

  • Consumer to Business (C2B)

The next business model we want to explain is the consumer-to-business that works with a unique concept of businesses consumers serve. The main purpose of the C2B model is to let the end consumers sell their products to high-level brands. Major examples of this category are Cluth and GitHub.

Which Option is Right for Me?

Choosing the exact eCommerce app type depends on what kind of business model you have. Every brand has a different operating system that varies from one to another. It is hard to predict the right one without knowing the business model.

Think about taking the help of an Ecommerce app design company to understand the main motive behind creating such a platform. You need to understand that goal for this purpose should be adding convenience for both the seller and the party. Your app should play a critical role in communication between these two parties.

Make sure the choice is made according to your brand’s business operations. It will serve the purpose quite convincingly in the long run.

Types of eCommerce App Platforms

Although there are many different versions of eCommerce app platforms, we will explain only the major ones below:

  • SaaS Platforms

An eCommerce solution that delivers solutions using the internet is known as a SaaS platform. It is ready to go option that doesn’t ask for deployment and coding.

A premier example of such a platform is Shopify, allowing users to create a site with a simple subscription. It is a perfect option for those who don’t have a huge amount to invest.

  • PaaS

PaaS is one of the most commonly used options for ecommerce mobile app development that give the liberty to set up a website for managing a database. It mixes the element of hardware with the features of SaaS.

This platform offers a professional setup & support and is considered perfect for those just starting this business. Magneto Commerce Cloud is the ideal example of Paas.

  • IaaS

In the IaaS platform, users can rent a virtual infrastructure for their ecommerce platform, opening many possibilities. It ranges from full administrative rights to configure the firewall and many more.

If you plan to open a large online store or marketplace, IaaS is the perfect choice to make. Alibaba Cloud and Amazon Web Services are the right examples of this platform.

eCommerce Application Development Technology Stacks

Want to build an e-commerce application with the best tech tack? Let’s have a look at what it should look like below:

Android App

The following tech stack should be used while developing an eCommerce mobile app development for Android:

  • Hybrid- Flutter
  • Data- Room, Realm, and SQLite
  • Core- Android Jetpack & SDK
  • Language- Kotlin & Java
  • Analytics- Facebook, Firebase, & AppsFlyer

iOS App

We recommend using the following Tech Stack for iOS eCommerce web app development below:

  • Data- UserDefaults, KeyChain, and CoreData
  • Language- Swift and Objective-C
  • Analytics- AppsFlyer, Amplitude, and Firebase
  • Core- CocoaTouch and iOS SDK

Common Mistakes to Avoid in eCommerce App Development

The eCommerce market is expanding exponentially, resulting in many mistakes during development. Have a look at the critical mistakes to avoid during the ecommerce app development below:

  • Not Focusing on the Requirements

The biggest mistake made when creating such an app isn’t performing the proper analysis before launching. You can’t simply succeed by only having a great idea and a huge investment as the performing market is equally important.

It is essential to conduct proper surveys to understand what features users demand. It will ensure the idea can be validated essentially for having a loyal user base in the future.

  • Choosing an ecommerce mobile app development company without research

This mistake can completely ruin the entire system of your goal and make it difficult to achieve success. You need to hire specialized mobile app developers who understand ecommerce industry rather than picking anyone.

Do proper research to find the company that fits the needs of your application. Always ask questions regarding the budget, complexity, and domain before finalizing a deal.

  • Not taking MVP seriously

Another common mistake even made by this industry’s pros isn’t even thinking about creating an MVP. For those who don’t know, MVP is fully abbreviated as Minimum Viable Product which lets users test the product in real-time for evaluation before launching the full version.

It is an important stage that only not minimizes the actual time & cost but boosts the overall development process to a greater level. It helps in making the required modifications to make the final product better.

  • Creating a Poor UI

An ecommerce app development involving a poor UI web design should be avoided at any cost. User interface (UI) creates the first impression of your application, and not giving it the desired look can lead to failure.

Try to make a good UI that increases user retention and makes users love your eCommerce app.

Steps to Build an eCommerce App

Steps to Build an eCommerce App

There are certain steps need to be followed to make eCommerce app just like any other software that we have explained below:

Create Goals

The process starts with setting the goals that the app would solve. It will consist of products that need to be sold or the buying customers. One can also consider adding new methods for presenting appealing products to the customers.

Knowing the Targeted Audience

The next step is to decide which audience needs to be targeted. It shouldn’t only consist of people using the app and the usage conditions. Make sure the app comes with features according to the targeted audience.

Finding the Essential Features

Determining the major features of an app is extremely important for making it successful. Although certain features are necessary for such apps, few must be added according to project goals and targeted audience.

Selecting the Technology

The fourth step for taking the app towards success is selecting a reliable tech stack for a good customer experience. Ensure the tech stack is compatible with the already present system used in the app.

Building MVP

In this step, the eCommerce app development company will begin developing the application that will lead to MVP. It is the minimum feature the app needs to function and stay useful to the customers. It is essential to ensure that only polished features should be added to the app for the best experience.

Publishing the App

Once you feel MVP is complete, the apps need to be published to evaluate the audience’s reaction. If we talk traditionally, the app will be launched on Google Play and Apple App Store as most of the audience lies there.

Marketing the App

There is always a need for a strong approach to marketing the app appropriately. One can think about using plenty of means for this purpose, ranging from social media to influencers and in-store advertisement as per requirements.

Modifications

In order to stay ahead of the competition, understanding the feedback of the audience is very important. It would help if you made the required modifications to make the experience better for users.

How to Choose the Right Technologies for Your eCommerce App Development?

How to Choose the Right Technologies for Your eCommerce App Development?

Selecting the right technology is extremely important for the success of an eCommerce app. It is appropriate for serving the right solutions to the audience. Allow us to tell the major criteria for choosing the right technologies for the eCommerce app below:

Compatibility

If you are building the app from scratch, it is better to avoid this point. However, brands looking to add technologies should ensure they are compatible with the present solutions.

Scalability & Security

Scalability is an important criterion when selecting e-commerce mobile app development technologies. It should be scalable enough without adding lots of manpower and investment. Also, there should be a proper focus on the security of important information and data to boost consumer loyalty.

Project Specific

Make sure the technologies match the requirements of projects adequately. Understanding the initial project requirements can be very helpful in selecting the technologies.

The Custom eCommerce Mobile App Development Process

The Custom eCommerce App Development Process

The main motive of a custom e-commerce app process is to develop an application that matches a brand’s particular needs. It consists of developing custom solutions for letting the brands manage online stores, giving customer support, and easily processing payments. Let’s look at the e-commerce app development process with customized work in detail below:

Defining Goals

Understanding what your application should have is essential to reach the goals. Factors like customer experience, security, and scalability need to be discussed in this part.

Researching the Market

The next thing that needs to be done is identifying the present solutions to know whether a custom software is required.

Selecting a Professional Team

Go for an experienced team who knows how to build an e-commerce app with customized solutions. They should have expertise in areas like analytics, back-end programming, UI/UX web design, etc.

Specifying your Needs

As we have already mentioned, custom e-Commerce app development involves a system to match the business requirements. It is essential to specify the functionalities required for completing the project.

Designing the User Experience

It is important to have an intuitive & seamless user interface to make things effective in the application.

Things to Consider Before Designing an eCommerce App

Things to Consider Before Designing an eCommerce App

Certain things need to be addressed carefully to make eCommerce app with the highest quality. We have explained the major ones in detail below:

Data Security

The most important thing to do is protect the user’s personal information, including credit card numbers, mobile phones, etc. When someone visits an eCommerce app, they trust them for the security of data.

Think about adding an alarm system, push notifications, defining access rules, and using a private cloud.

Stability

A common issue people face while using an e-commerce app is instability and regular crashes. It significantly affects the app’s performance negatively. Moreover, users prefer not to use an app with poor balance and inconsistency.

There are certain precautions to boost stability in the system, ranging from running QA tests to receiving feedback from users and releasing fixed updates.

Scalability

Another thing needed is to make their app scalable enough to tackle a huge number of users. Most users don’t think about it initially, but forecasting the app’s growth is essential for succeeding in this industry.

If you understand this thing at the beginning of development, it will be easier to plan the app’s architecture conveniently. It will ensure the app doesn’t face any trouble in terms of scalability in any manner.

ecommerce app Development For Enterprises: Complete Guide for 2023

Factors that Influence the Cost of eCommerce App Development

Plenty of factors influence the overall cost during the development of an eCommerce app. It varies from strategy to compatibility and functionalities. We have explained the major ones in detail below:

Business Model

The business model plays a very critical role in finalizing the overall cost. You need to know that targeted users are different for every type of brand that should be understood adequately.

eCommerce Mobile App Development Team

eCommerce App Development Team

The next thing to understand is how much the development team is charging. The cost varies from one agency to another and involves lots of factors. For example, a team based in India costs way less than one with an office in the United States despite no differences in expertise.

Design & Functionality

Design and functionality are major factors affecting the overall development cost. It is essential to add advanced functionalities to make the users’ performance seamless. The cost increases with a quality user-centric interface and high-quality design.

Hosting & Security

There will be tons of big data & real-time data exchanges in an e-commerce app. It consists of confidential information that needs to be protected at every cost. To do so, one has to opt for hosting and security that vary according to the plan. Experts usually suggest using a dedicated server with multiple security that costs a lot to the users.

Conclusion

We believe everything is clear about how to build an e-commerce app for your brand. Understanding the market and following the key trends for achieving success is strongly suggested. Selecting a professional and highly efficient development is critical to tackling the competition.

There is an immense number of opportunities guaranteed by having an eCommerce app. It begins with a competitive advantage to quick access and better customer loyalty.

If you have any queries about the process, feel free to ask us through call or email.

FAQs

Q. Can we start an eCommerce mobile app development with limited functionality?

A. Yes, developing a mobile e-commerce app with MVP is possible, but make sure it can be scalable later.

Q. How much does an eCommerce mobile application cost?

A. The total eCommerce mobile app development cost can range anywhere between US$ 80,000 & US$ 150,000 according to the selection of mobile platforms, UI/UX design, and the number of features.

Q. How much time is needed to develop an Android eCommerce app?

A. On average, the minimum viable of a quality eCommerce app can take at least 3 months to complete. In contrast, a complete application with medium complexity can take almost a year to complete.

Q. What are the key members of mobile commerce app development?

A. A team should consist of professionals, like a project manager, UX/UI designer, mobile device IOS & Android developer, QA engineer, and business analyst.

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