People love to shop online – it’s a fact!

Over 2.14 billion people are expected to buy products or services online by the end of 2021, according to Statista forecast, globally.

As of 2019, this number was 1.92 billion, and by the end of 2040, it is expected that 95% of all purchases will be completed through online mediums. 

The number of people using online shopping apps is on the continuous rise. In 2020, over 2 billion people bought products from e-commerce shopping apps. 

The online sales worldwide in 2020 surpassed $4.2 trillion, as per Statista. This is expected to grow to $6.4 trillion by 2024.

Not just that people love to shop online, they love buying from an online shopping app via a mobile device. 

The Mobile Dominance

About 85% of online shoppers in 2019 used Amazon and eBay mobile apps to make a purchase as opposed to website shopping that accounted for only 15%.

The same trend continues this year, with about 70% of people worldwide preferring smartphones to visit marketplaces and other online shopping websites. 

As opposed to this, desktop and tablets had better conversion rates last year.

The usage of mobile devices has grown tremendously in the past few years, and we believe this is only the start. The sale of mobile devices in the coming years is likely to see new highs. 

The regions that lack digital infrastructure are expected to witness progressive adoption of mobile devices as compared to the ones that are well-equipped. No wonder why shopping via mobile is popular in the countries of the continent, Asia. 

In South Korea, which is touted as one of the biggest e-commerce markets in the world, 64.5% of total online transactions were completed via mobile traffic in 2019.

Not enough numbers to make your retail business go online or to convince you in creating your online shopping app, then here’s what you should know as a small business owner. 

The small business converts 30% more customers via mobile traffic than the big players of the market. 

Leaves absolutely no reason for you to not consider investing in online shopping app development. 

The Covid-19 Impact on Online Shopping Business

While people were locked inside their homes to contain the spread of the deadly coronavirus, the e-commerce business flourished like never before. 

The monthly online visits to retail websites worldwide topped at 22 billion users in June 2020. Although during those times people didn’t have an option. They couldn’t step out of their homes to buy essentials even. 

However, the catch here is that a lot of new users turned up to these online shopping apps to buy groceries, apparel, and also tech products. 

With the convenience on offer and the perfect alternative to in-person shopping, avoiding queues, traffic, and crowded stores, don’t you think the new users would stick with the modern way to shop – from the comfort of their homes and with doorstep delivery on offer?

We believe, definitely!

Well, a lot of pointers to complement your decision of creating an online shopping app.

What goes into online shopping app development?

A lot of research and planning. No wonder why a lot of businesses that make online shopping apps don’t succeed. 

Successful creation of e-commerce shopping apps requires research aficionados and diligent strategy builders who prepare a workable action plan that not only attracts users but also converts them into customers. 

Creating online shopping apps is a step-by-step process involving professionals who hold years of hands-on experience. 

At SVAP, we have highly skilled individuals who are masters of their trade. Be it a creative team or development department, every individual that’s involved is proficient and profound. 

Hence we know how to make online shopping apps the right way and what are the exact requisites. Though the process of creating an app for your business is distinct which is of course according to your requirements, the overall development process involves certain processes to follow.

We build apps keeping in mind the current market scenario and build scalable solutions for the future. 

Here’s what to consider when developing online shopping apps.

Find a niche

If you have a physical store then you know what to sell online as you already have a niche. In the other case, you need to explore business avenues and find a niche for your business. 

In simpler terms, you need to define categories for your app. You can start with multiple categories at the start or begin with one or two and expand later. 

Do market research

Before indulging in the actual development of an online shopping app perform thorough market research that covers aspects like target audience, their needs, present market scenario, etc. 

This will not only help you plan better but also help in structuring the app and framing the industry-leaning marketing strategy for your business.

Study the competitors

It is important to know how your competitors operate, what are their strengths and weakness, and on which points you stand a chance to outperform them. 

Having an edge over your competitors guarantees success as users would prefer you over the existing players. Don’t forget to learn about their customer feedback. It’ll help you prepare a better app and an outstanding marketing plan.

Understand your audience

The review websites can play a vital role in analyzing what customers demand and where do the prevailing players lag. 

You can also run surveys to know the exact needs and demands of customers. You would only be able to succeed if you know what to sell, how to sell, and where to sell. 

All of it can be inferred from the answers you gather from your potential customers or past customers of competitors. 

List down the most important features of Online shopping app

It is time to list down the most important features of the online shopping app that you want to include in your app. 

While there are some essential ones that can’t be ignored, there are others that can wait for the upgrade version. 

You, in accordance with the online shopping app development company, can decide the list. 

Essential features of online shopping app according to our understanding are as follows: 

1. Quick login/signup
2. Powerful search with appropriate filter and sort options
3. Push notifications
4. Social media integration
5. Customer support
6. Wishlist
7. Multiple payment options
8. Easy tracking of products
9. Rating and review system

Other than these, you can consider powering your app with modern technologies like Augmented Reality (AR) and Artificial Intelligence (AI) for better user engagement and optimum targeting.

Create a Design Plan for Online Shopping App

Next comes the design. Prepare a layout that’s attractive, pleasing to the eyes, and easy to understand. Focus on easy navigation, quick checkout, and clean graphics. 

Consider making an online shopping app with a one-column approach with easy to use interface. 

The color scheme should be uniform across all screens. While there is no limit to embed creativity in an app, it is advised to keep things simple. 

You can consult with design pundits of a renowned online shopping app development for creating an elegant layout with the necessary features like cart, wishlist, menu, search, etc.

Define the tech stack for an online shopping app

Based on your audience and market research, you can select a platform and its related technologies. The selection of the platform will also depend on the buying behavior of the target audience, past habits, paying capacity, and the most important region you wish to target. 

While Android users are pronounced around the world, Apple users have better-paying power, according to a study. You can also choose to target both platforms by opting for cross-platform online shopping app development. 

By doing so, you save the cost of making the shopping app twice as the same codebase can be used for building Android as well as iOS apps. 

Frameworks preferred by app developers around the globe for cross-platform development are Xamarin, PhoneGap, React Native, Flutter, and Ionic.

Test it well

The app doesn’t need to be perfect from day one, but it should neither be loaded with flaws. Ensure to have a dedicated team of quality analysts who constantly check for the bugs and notify the respective teams for rectification. 

Testing is an ongoing process until the app is delivered to the client. In fact, it continues longer than expected for continuous improvement and significant output. 

Go live

Once everything is in place, starting from layout, functionality, features set, testing, and you are ready with a marketing plan, go live. The initial launch stage will help you gather valuable comments from real users that bring an ‘opportunity to improve’ to the table. 

Keep improving and keep growing. 

To win at online shopping business all you need to do is treat your customers well. 

Listen to their queries. Resolve them. Make the app better. Give what you promise. Keep customer satisfaction at the top.

Online Shopping App Development Cost

The cost of creating an online shopping app depends on various factors like a number of features, UI/UX complexity, platforms, technologies, and other requirements. 

Another thing the cost of app development depends on is the region of mobile app developers or the online shopping app development company you wish to hire. 

The hourly rates of designers and developers in the US start from $100-$130, while for the same tasks European developers charge anywhere between $50 and $100 per hour. The Asian developers, on the other hand, offer pocket-friendly rates, their hourly rates start from $15-$20. 

Discuss requirements

Creating a successful online shopping app is not easy. But you know nothing is easy in this world. 

People work hard day in and day out to acquire skills and learn. We, at SVAP, call them mobile app developers. They create magical apps that perform on the world stage and help your business touch new heights. 

Get in touch now to share your idea and discover possibilities of making it a hit.