Why do I need an eCommerce business app when I have an e-commerce website?
Before I answer this question, let’s look at the following interesting stats:
- 35% of US consumers use mobile devices to buy online.
- Mobile eCommerce hit the $3.5 Trillion mark in 2021.
These stats mean that mobile eCommerce is the new norm, and traditional means are insufficient.
To survive the evolving eCommerce landscape, you need an evolved strategy. You need eCommerce business apps that ensure you don’t miss out on opportunities. An eCommerce app can benefit you in many ways. In this blog, we’ll discuss them all.
How can an eCommerce Business App Benefit Your Business?
1. Helping You Make the Most Out of Mobile e-commerce
Mobile e-commerce is a rising trend. According to Statista, 72.9% of e-commerce sales happen on mobile. It means most people who will buy from you come from mobiles and tablets.
Now, without an eCommerce business app, you will miss out on 78% of your potential buyers. According to a report, 78% of users will buy from mobile apps instead of a mobile website. It means if you have 100 potential buyers, you will lose 78 to your competition because they have an app, and you don’t.
A Mobile ecommerce app can add value to your business can ensure customers remain engaged and keep buying from you.
2. Leading to a Higher Conversion
Our end goal as an e-commerce business is to generate revenue, which is possible only with higher conversions. Comparing global retail conversion by channel, you will realize that mobile eCommerce apps lead to higher conversions than websites.
Here are reasons why mobile e-commerce apps lead to more conversion:
- Features like push notifications that enhance conversion.
- Apps are faster and easier to use.
- These days, apps allow native smartphone features like the camera to improve the online shopping experience.
- Apps reduce the information users must submit to a bare minimum.
Besides, apps allow users to integrate mobile wallets to eCommerce apps these days seamlessly. It has made online shopping hassle-free, leading to more conversion.
3. Helping You Communicate Better with Consumers
To keep customers coming back to buy more, you must keep the conversation with them going. The longer they spend away from your website, the more likely they will forget your brand.
So, how would you ensure they keep coming back?
By connecting with them on additional channels through email marketing and social media campaigns? It can be one way. But it will cost your money. Also, you are still dependent on customers landing directly on your website before you have any chance of a conversion.
E-commerce business apps offer a better way, i.e., push notifications. With them, you can communicate with your customers without spending a dollar from your marketing budget. Also, when a user receives a push notification, they will land directly on your app.
This way, you can improve your communication with customers, encourage them to purchase more, and boost your revenue.
4. A Personalized Shopping Experience
Personalization is the backbone of an online shopping experience. A personalized experience makes customers spend more and fosters a sense of loyalty. Even 64% of consumers will shop from a brand only if they get a customized shopping experience.
Hence, there is a chance you might be using eCommerce personalization tactics to enhance your consumers’ shopping experience. You might be showing them products based on their age, gender, and location. Perhaps, you are also sending them emails with a curated list of items based on their interest.
But mobile apps can take personalization to a whole new level. Here’s how:
- By tracking consumers’ browsing and purchase history on your website, you can offer them a more personalized experience.
- You can even leverage push notifications to convey attractive offers now and then to make them come back.
- You can throw rewards based on their purchase history.
Overall, the sky limits what you can do to offer consumers a hyper-personalized experience with a mobile app.
5. Reduced Cart Abandonment Rates
Around 70% of people abandon their shopping carts right before the purchase, and it is a big issue.
So, why does a customer almost make the purchase but stops at the last moment?
There are a few reasons like:
- Extra shipping costs & taxes
- Complicated checkout process
- Website crashes abruptly
- Uncomfortable sharing card details with the website
So, you see that most of the time, people bail out of shopping at the last moment because of poor user experience. But mobile apps easily overcome this issue. Offering consumers a transparent, smooth, and reliable experience ensures consumers finish shopping. Even better, you can remind them to complete their shopping through push notifications if they bailout.
That’s why mobile apps have a 20% shopping cart abandonment rate compared to desktop sites (68%) and mobile websites (97%).
6. Fostering Customer Loyalty
Loyal customers are the biggest asset of any business. You would be surprised to know that selling to a new customer costs 25x more than selling to an existing one. Hence, it would be best to also focus on creating loyal customers besides acquiring new ones.
Besides, loyal customers spend more. Stats have proven that loyal customers are 62% more likely to spend on a brand. They will also bring more customers through word-of-mouth.
Mobile apps can help you foster customer loyalty. You can make them feel special by engaging in personalized communication through notifications, giving them the best recommendations, and pampering them with rewards. This way, they will feel you’re always in touch with them and spend more.
7. Helping People Recognize You
People are more likely to remember an app than a website. It is because we visit hundreds of websites each day and only remember a chosen few. But apps stay on smartphones all the time, and people use them whenever they feel the need to buy a product.
This way, if you have an e-commerce business app, you can easily connect with consumers. You can keep the conversation going and attract them with offers. You can even offer them exceptional services and inspire them to give you a good review. All these things will help you improve your brand recognition.
Takeaway
Your e-commerce business needs an app. I have given you the seven best reasons. But they all come down to the following essential metrics:
- Increased conversions
- Better marketing communication
- Increased brand recognition
- Customer loyalty
- Reduce cart abandonment
Every e-commerce business wants to improve these metrics. So, I see no reason why you don’t need an app. It is a significant investment but always worth the returns. You can no longer ignore the importance of an e-commerce business app.