eCommerce is the future of commerce. And eCommerce applications are no longer a luxury, they are a necessity.
If you don’t believe us, check out the huge number of companies that have launched their products and services online in the last few years!
So if you are a business with a vision to stay relevant in today’s market, then you need to do two things, pronto!
First, take your business online. Two, get on the phone!
How to create an eCommerce app (15 easy steps)
1. Identify your requirements
If you want to sell better and gain more online visibility, you need to put your trust in mobile devices. After all, they are an integral part of our lives.
The first step in mobile app development is to take a deep breath and put together your requirements.
What do you want to achieve with the mobile app?
Will your app require access to device-specific features? If so, which all features will you add to the list?
Do you want an app that can handle a heavy load or one that is more aesthetically appealing?
These are just a few of the many questions you should consider before taking the next step.
2. Research on the development of applications for e-commerce
Once you have an idea of what you want from your finished product, you need to get down to your due diligence! Here it means to examine your heart!
Proper background research will help you gather a wealth of information that will influence your product development. You’ll understand how receptive the market is, what your target audience’s expectations are, and how good (or bad) your competition is.
If you want to get an idea of the types of research you’ll need to do, take a detour and come back to this blog.
3. Set a workable budget
You need to fix your mobile app development budget. And don’t be too stingy here because an eCommerce app is a great investment for your business in the long run.
Since mobile business apps are not new anymore, you can find plenty of technical teams to help you develop a great app within your budget.
If you want an idea of how to budget for your eCommerce app development project, why not check out the average cost of mobile eCommerce app development in 2022?
4. Create an achievable plan
With a good budget in hand, you now need to come up with a good plan for your potential app development project.
eCommerce app require a lot of careful planning and coordination to execute properly. So you will need a good business plan with clearly outlined achievable milestones.
When setting deadlines, do not forget to leave some margin for unforeseen situations.
5. Build a reliable technical team
You will also need a team of talented UI/UX designers to make your dream app a reality. Be careful when choosing your technical team, because the fate of your final product depends on them.
Do you need more front-end developers or back-end developers? Or should you hire a full team of developers? The answers to these questions will depend on the requirements you outlined in step one.
Since you are trying to build an eCommerce app, it is a good idea to include at least one e-commerce developer in your team. eCommerce developers are equipped with additional skills that are necessary to master the tools and platforms related to online stores.
6. Plan your core features/capabilities
Now you can sit down with your team and figure out the core features and capabilities you want in your app.
Always keep your target audience in mind as your ultimate goal is to create a pleasant online shopping experience for your customers. Consider questions like:
What features are most requested by your target audience?
How can you upgrade your application to make it desirable to your end users?
7. Design a user-friendly application
Online stores are primarily about user convenience.
And no, it’s not actually about the contactless restrictions imposed by the recent pandemic either.
Trends show that most businesses have also been slowly but steadily moving towards full digital transformation. The coronavirus just gave businesses around the world a little extra push in the digital direction!
So, make sure your eCommerce app is user-friendly and easy to navigate. Also, be sure to choose a development platform that best suits the needs of your target demographic.
8. Develop your mobile app
Ah, finally! We are getting to the heart of the project.
Developing your product is the most important stage of your app development process. If you get your product development wrong, all the extra careful planning and research you’ve done will be for naught.
Take a look at the different stages of an eCommerce mobile app development project and learn about the process. It may also help to review our compilation of tips for successful product development.
9. Test your app for bugs/defects
First impressions are the best impressions. So make sure your product is bug-free before you give your target users the first glimpse of what you’ve built for them.
Thoroughly test your eCommerce application for any bugs and fix them as soon as possible. Ideally, product development and bug writing should go hand in hand.
If you procrastinate on QA testing, you can end up with a ton of technical debt, and you definitely don’t want that!
10. Start your promotional activities
You need to start promoting your product as soon as you have a minimum viable product in your hands. This will help you get a head start on actually launching your product.
Nowadays, digital marketing on social media is the best way to promote your brand and eCommerce app.
You can market your eCommerce mobile app on various social media platforms like Facebook, Instagram, and Twitter to name a few. This way you can reach a wider and more diverse audience.
11. Engage your audience with prototypes
Shopping apps are not uncommon. But great shopping experiences are.
Once your prototype is ready, connect with your target users and help them get used to your user flows.
Show them what you can offer that gives you an edge over the competition. Maybe your eCommerce app design is cluttered and easy to use. Perhaps your multiple payment options give your users more purchasing power.
Don’t forget to emphasize your USP (Unique Selling Points) when engaging your audience.
12. Get feedback and implement it
Real-time feedback is something that is crucial to the outcome of your eCommerce app development.
By involving all your stakeholders in the feedback, you will be able to get valuable information from them regarding your app and its features and functions.
Your team and end users can help you innovate your application and guide your final product in the right direction.
13. Launch the app on the Marketplace
Your final product is ready for public review! Great, now it’s time to go to the app store!
Don’t forget to give your app good visibility in the app store of your choice. You don’t want it drowning in a sea of faceless apps, do you?
To improve the visibility of your app, you need to ensure that you do proper ASO (App Store Optimization).
14. Market your app well
It’s time to launch a full-fledged marketing strategy!
Let the world know what you have to offer and why they need to use your eCommerce app to shop online!
The right marketing can make or break an online business, so be sure to employ the services of a good marketing team.
15. Constantly improve your final product
The polish you can do to your product is endless. Make sure your product is constantly evolving. A stagnant product quickly loses popularity in the market and ceases to be relevant.
Ask your users how you can improve their overall online shopping experience in your eCommerce app.
Maybe you can add a push notification feature? Perhaps they prefer more options when it comes to payment gateways?
The customer is always right, so listen to their needs.
Conclusion
Developing an eCommerce mobile app isn’t easy, but it’s not that difficult either!
With the right technical partner, you will be able to develop a unique and engaging mobile application for your business in a matter of months.
And mobile app development can also be hassle-free if you choose to outsource your project to reliable agencies. Here are some of the types of IT outsourcing models you can choose from.
The key to success is making sure you hit all the eCommerce software development milestones we mentioned above and you’ll soon have a brand new mobile app that will put your business on the digital map!