How to Create a Shopify Shopping App
How to Create a Shopping App: Expert Tips for Shopify Store
Owners The pandemic has changed the way people think, live, and shop. Consumers are now more likely to buy things like food, clothing, or electronics through their convenient smartphones. In the past 12 months, 44% of consumers surveyed have made purchases via smartphones, compared to 34% who have made shopping using their desktops.
If you're running an ecommerce business, you should bring your online store functionality to mobile devices. If you're wondering how to build a shopping app quickly and without a large upfront expense, this article from Appery.io experts will guide you and help you build an ecommerce app.
Think about it: Between January 2020 and July 2021, 580 million ecommerce app installs occurred in the U.S., according to the Ecommerce App Marketing Status Report. The same report states that there were 750 million e-commerce app downloads in Europe and the Middle East. Globally, downloads reached 4.5 billion – more than half of the world's population.
People want easy access to goods and products. Brands can deliver this by creating online store apps that delight customers." -Application
Experts Complementing your existing ecommerce store with an online store app can enhance your retail framework and provide availability along with value. But the biggest hurdle you'll need to overcome is how to build a mobile shopping app that makes shoppers buy and stay loyal to your brand.
Here at Appery, we understand that an outstanding user experience means a lot and makes a first impression count. Think about the feature: When I create an app for my online store, what features should I list?
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Key features to include in your online store app
Users expect certain features so they can shop with the mobile app. You should include logical features for your customers. Consider the most important top job when it comes to creating online store apps.
1. Easy
search options Just like in a brick-and-mortar store with window displays, partitions, and clothes on hangers, the app should provide users with a convenient way to find the item they want to buy. You can offer catalogs, filters, and sorting tools to simplify the search process, or you can offer a search bar where users can type the necessary product, and the app will pull out the highlighted items.
2. Preview the odds
Your app should include great images. Since there is no actual in-store help to guide the shopper, your product images should make a lot clear to visitors. Especially if the product is complex, the preview option should include several images that display the product from different angles. But even more so, users want to read about products. Therefore, the inclusion of a brief description helps users better understand the characteristics of the product.
3. Personal
Account While it's a good idea for customers to have personal accounts so you can send personalized offers and collect feedback, don't make registration mandatory right away when a user enters your online store app. Instead, have the user register when they choose a product they want to buy from you.
4. Checkout
process Once the user finds the product they want to buy, they need to add it to the cart. Making a shopping cart, then, is an integral part of every buyer's journey. The cart is the place where the user can preview or modify their order. Make sure users can clearly see the total cost and other payment details.
5. Payment
Gateway Unless your target audience comes from a specific location where there are limited payment methods accepted, you want to build an ecommerce app with many payment options. These can include payments processed by PayPal, MasterCard, Braintree, Stripe, etc.
You may also want to include other relevant features in your online store app:
- Loyalty Programs
- deductions
- Rewards Program
- Rewards for active buyers
- Product Ratings
- Notices
- Chat options
- and other custom features that fit your mobile phone solution
Knowing what features you need takes you to the next logical step: implementation.
Basic Methods for Building an Online
Store App There are two main methods that can help you build a mobile ecommerce app. You are free to choose between custom mobile app development or mobile app builders.
Custom
mobile app development is a traditional way of building mobile apps. This includes a dedicated team that provides a comprehensive development cycle. Usually, it starts with a design that goes through the development stage when approved. Each development race is supported by quality assurance testing.
Once all the features are implemented and there are no bugs in the app, it is ready to go live. Some companies that offer custom development may offer support and maintenance after the application is released. When hiring a team of developers, consider the market share you want your solution to work for: iOS, Android, or both.
If you want to kill two birds with one stone, you can choose to develop across platforms. With cross-platform development, you can create a shopping app that meets the needs of iOS and Android smartphone users by means of a single programming language like Flutter, Xamarin, etc.
Full-cycle development companies can help you identify the brand as well if you don't have one yet. They will create a logo, choose fonts, and choose brand colors that complement your brand best.
Why Choose Custom Mobile App Development:
You want your online store app to have an original look and feel;
you have features that go beyond the generally accepted actions taken by app users, and you want to offer some unique features to your brand;
You are a large store chain and you really want to stand out with a custom app;
You can wait for one month or more;
and/or you can afford custom app development.
On the other hand, mobile app development platforms or mobile app builders allow you to access a predefined set of templates to build an ecommerce app without coding. If the low markup option is allowed on the platform, you'll also be able to edit your app yourself without having to involve a development team.
Why create a shopping app with an app
builder You are a startup and want to test the situation;
you are on a budget.
And/or you need to build an app in days, not months.
Take the time to think about the development option you want to invest your money in. If you're already a Shopify account owner, first consider using an ecommerce app builder.
How to create a shopping app if you're a Shopify
store owner That's a good question to ask! You have your online store that works well on the web. Your brand is established, and you have loyal customers. But you want to bring your brand closer, with a single click, directly to your customers' smartphones. Or maybe you're just starting out for Shopify and want to unite your efforts. Either way, you're willing to make as an online store that works for success.
Here at Appery we believe that there is no need to address a dedicated team of developers unless there is custom logic involved. Of course, you can hire developers to design a unique app, but you can also create a shopping app using an app builder. Keeping your brand accessible to your customers is your ultimate goal anyway. Here's how to handle development for your Shopify account using an app platform.
1. Create online store apps with templates
Find a platform or templates for the online store app. The idea behind the ready-made solution is that you don't have to program unless absolutely necessary. If you choose to use the mobile app builder, each component you choose can generate code automatically. Attention is taken to the back (the behind-the-scenes part that makes the app work).
Platforms that offer low-to-zero coding can not only teach you how to create a shopping app, they can also expand your business opportunities even further. You can build an online store app that can work across all mobile and desktop devices thanks to hybrid app development. This means that the code, once written, can serve multiple purposes due to its flexibility, unlike custom native development where you can develop for iOS or Android devices.
There's no need to reinvent the wheel and sacrifice your time for marketing if you can build a shopping app with built-in components. If a user's buying journey has a common logic – such as search, add to cart, and checkout – you can definitely use a bunch of templates that pull the code themselves.
2. Create a fast and cheap
shopping app that is likely to be music for your ears to hear that you can quickly build an online store app. You might spend months creating a custom shopping app – which will end up costing thousands of dollars (or even more), when you could have developed it in less than a day.
With a mobile app builder, you can significantly reduce development time. This does not mean that the process will be free, but you will save a lot. Typically, mobile app builders will have plans you can choose from, as well as a test drive. The price of each plan depends on the number of stores you want to host on the platform and the capabilities you need, such as bandwidth, server requests, and developer seats on the platform.
3. Choose the right
online store app builder Finding the perfect online store app builder can seem daunting unless it turns into a platform that has stood the test of time. Let's consider three main criteria when choosing a platform for your shopping app.
Who created the platform?
Pay attention to the actual creator of the platform before making your final choice. Ideally, it should be created by a reputable software company that offers this platform as a standalone solution and has a dedicated team responsible for the product.
How many app developers does the platform have?
The number of active users who actually use the platform is a good indicator of its credibility as a builder Online store apps. 100,000 or more active users in the platform prove that the app builder works fine and is a popular choice.
Does the platform offer unlimited technical support?
There may be comprehensive tutorials and documentation, but you also need human contact: any problem you may encounter can be solved with the help of technical support available around the clock, seven days a week and can be accessed through live chat, email or contact. Pay attention to the "unlimited" terminology here when you consider your options. This means that every time you need help, a system expert will troubleshoot your problem or offer help. Otherwise, limited technical support will address general issues.
4. Make sure integrations
are easily accessible
When you build online store apps, they will include integrations. In short, integrations allow you to connect your app to third-party services. Let's say you want to give users the option to pay through PayPal (a third-party service). This is where you need to connect your software to PayPal to enable secure and reliable transactions. This connection is possible if you implement an integration or, in more technical terms, an application programming interface (API).
In the case of your Shopify account, it should be relatively easy to establish this connection. You can configure this integration at the configuration level without having to program like a technical wizard.
5. See if you can customize the online
store app When choosing the right app builder, check for customizations. Some solutions only offer a predefined feature set, which means that as your business grows it will be difficult to add new features.
If the platform offers customization, see how easy it is to customize your current solution. Ideally, you'll need a platform that allows you to add pieces of code to your existing solution. Therefore, you should find an app builder that offers low encryption options. If you are not familiar with coding, the platform is supposed to offer assistance at a specific price.
6. Inquire if you can keep your trademark
If your brand has a clear identity, you must stick to it. Templates might be a good way to get started if you don't have a design interest, but you'll want to build an online store app that reflects your brand colors, logo, fonts, and images on your Shopify account. Each element of your application should allow detailed changes unless you want to commit to predefined attributes.
7. Consider deployment
options When you're done creating your app, you should be able to deploy it quickly. When you submit a custom app, it undergoes a review phase to ensure that the app complies with app deployment best practices. If the App Store or Google Play finds errors, they will send a notification about the issues you need to address.
On the other hand, app creators reduce deployment time since they have taken into account all the requirements offered by the App Store and Google Play. All you have to do is start Create on the platform and download certificates – and you're ready to go live with your online store app. The only thing you need to do yourself is craft an initial description using keywords for your app to appear in search results.
Create online store apps to expand your
reach Your approach should satisfy your customers and come back for more. Whether you choose a custom development or an app builder, focus on offering an online store app that makes it easy to find and buy goods. Your app can also act as an analytics tool to help you predict your future revenue and steer your campaign toward more sales.