The mobile epidemic is spreading. Today, there are more than 2 billion active smartphone users around the world. And all these people choose a smartphone as the most convenient device for most of their daily tasks. The possibilities of this market are limitless, and if you haven’t done anything to take advantage of them yet, it’s about time you did. In this article, we’ll explore why a website is no longer an option for online retail, what benefits you’ll gain by creating an engaging retail mobile app, and what functionality you’ll need to include there.

Your site is not enough

Ask yourself which device you use the most. Is it a PC or a phone? I’m sure it’s a smartphone. Now ask yourself what is easier to work with a mobile app or a website through a mobile browser. I think the answer is obvious. And we are not the only people who have noticed the difference. Here are some stats taken from PR Newswire to prove my point:

• Mobile app users search for 280% more items compared to mobile websites.
• Mobile apps have 90% more goods added to cart compared to mobile websites.
• Mobile websites in retail have more than 100% lower conversion rate compared to mobile apps.

The numbers clearly show that mobile apps perform much better in areas like customer engagement and increased profits. And one more thing to consider, the Flurry Analytics portal has estimated that modern mobile users spend about 90% of their time working with apps and only 10% browsing.

You see the statistics and you have to draw conclusions because your competitors do. Every day we receive thousands of retail mobile apps and there are various reasons why entrepreneurs create them.

Business Benefits

All these phrases like “improved business” and “increased profits” sound very confusing. Let’s talk about the real benefits you’ll get after launching your business app:

Dirty boost. It was estimated that more than 85% of users who installed a commercial application use it regularly. Nearly 55% percent of these people have made a purchase through the app in the past month.

Very promising statistics, right! Plus, with the help of discounts, special offers, and a loyalty program for mobile shoppers, you can easily break these records. For example, Alibaba, an online retail app famous for its discounts, earns the most from mobile users – almost $25 per user per month!

Extinguish competitors. This business is taught and the course is very intensive. Did you know that 60% of all retail entrepreneurs interviewed confirmed that they are ready to start their own app development or have already launched one? Modern apps are very easy to use, have a much more intuitive interface than mobile websites and 45% of people who participated in the AYTM survey said they prefer to make purchases through a mobile app instead of a website . Sounds like a lot of people, right? Do not give these customers the opportunity to choose another application. Get in touch with a mobile app development company and launch your product faster than your competitors!

Build brand loyalty. Brand recognition and loyalty are a great advantage for your company. Many companies are trying to build their marketing campaigns in a way that will increase the popularity of their brand. That is one of the main reasons why many entrepreneurs create their own mobile application.

Improved store experience. It was estimated that more than 50% of customers can use both a mobile application and buy in a physical store. Which means that these notions are not mutually exclusive. Also, one can help another. In this way, you can enhance your store experience with the help of a mobile app.

For example, with a barcode scanner app, your customers can learn more about a product and its quirks without calling a staff member. On top of that, your customers can pre-order products and pick them up whenever they want.

MVP Feature List

Still, there are some features that are must-haves in your retail mobile app. Are here:

Convenient catalog. It has to be a really well organized and structured catalog to help users save time and nerves. Here’s a tip for you: use only high-quality product photos and keep your catalog up to date. Nothing drives customers crazy like an item you can see in the app but can’t buy because there isn’t one.

Many filters. Customers are very demanding nowadays, so it would be useful to add additional filters to the usual ones, such as size, color, etc.

convenient payments. Add multiple payment options. Not all people use only Visa or MasterCard. Different options give the user the right to choose. It would also be great if you added the total cost feature to your shopping cart, so a user can see if they have enough money or if one or a few items need to be excluded.

The information we have listed above should become a guide for you if you want to make your retail business prosperous. The modern age demands only modern technologies and approaches. Don’t waste time and give your customers the opportunity to shop comfortably!