First came the computer, and then the cell phone. The Internet emerged then, and so did the smartphone. Little by little, we came to the conclusion that there are a handful of applications ready to be installed in our hands and on our smartphones. All these applications, of course, use the mentioned technological achievements. And it is really difficult to follow the development of technology in an era in which some significant invention appears every day. Many will say that there is no point in being up to date with them. But that would be a mistake they would have to admit very soon. And whether you are ready or not, you will not have many options, but you will have to obey the authority of technological achievements.
The good news is that… this is not such bad news. Once properly implemented, technology can lead to significant growth in your online business. Today, the number of mobile phone users is higher than the number of desktop computer users. What do you believe the explanation for this is? Of course – ease of use.
Customers are rapidly embracing the trend of using mobile applications, and the alternative, which some retailers are trying to resort to by creating mobile versions of Internet sites, has not proved to be good enough. Mostly because the user experience is not comparable to that in the mobile application.
Mobile App vs Mobile Site
What makes a mobile app better than a mobile site?
- Additional features
Mobile applications contain a number of functionalities that you can take advantage of. Contact list, phone calls, GPS, camera, etc. All of these features make the user experience more interactive and fun. And let’s not forget that they can significantly shorten the time required to perform a certain action.
- No limitations
Mobile sites, no matter how advanced, still have limitations in the application of various functionalities. With mobile apps, this is not the scenario. Some of the simplest functionalities can make a huge difference in everyday life (swipe, drag, zoom-in…).
- Ability to work offline
Probably one of the best features of mobile apps is that they can work offline. This feature puts them well above mobile sites. Because even though you probably cannot do all the work without an Internet connection, there are still a lot of things you can do offline.
- Improved productivity
Mobile apps allow you to track your customers and their purchases and better understand their shopping habits. This can give you a significant advantage because you can keep their favorite products ready, so you do not run out of goods just when your customers need them. You will also be able to predict the content and the time of their next purchase. And we have all learned that the ability to meet customer requirements and prompt delivery, simply means better sales.
- Increased profit rate
Mobile applications are easy to use and users spend more time searching for your products. The speed factor results in a reduced cost of time and an increased number of purchases. Additionally, applications typically allow personalization through profile settings. Simple personalization that includes information about the interests and location of the customer helps the merchant to personalize his offer to the given customer, which, in turn, results in higher conversions.
E-commerce Mobile App: Profit-wise Advantages of Having One
A mobile app can help businesses keep ahead of the competition by boosting engagement rates and providing tremendous marketing opportunities, as well as increasing average sales price, raising revenue, and establishing brand loyalty.
Let’s have a look at the most important advantages of having a mobile app for your business:
- Increased Client Satisfaction
A smartphone app is created to satisfy the needs of customers by making it comfortable and simple to use the services available. When compared to traditional websites, it is far more dependable and personalized. It appeals to the consumers’ demand for speed by making any step toward achieving their goals as simple and quick as possible without having to go through a number of clicks.
Customers have grown to expect a quick response to their problems, and the sooner they can communicate their concerns and receive a response, the happier they are. Mobile apps are intended and developed to make this process easier by removing the need for many communication channels such as websites, support services, call centers, and emails. The last-mentioned tool, however, should remain a marketing tool by all means. You can engage with your audience effectively by segmenting newsletters via services such as Benchmark. So you may utilize email messages that are optimized in this way to keep your customers for a lot longer, which is important because acquiring a new customer is five times more costly than holding an existing one. Chatbots (a technology dedicated to simulating human-like encounters with clients by text messages on chat) can automate these operations, i.e. replace many communication channels, based on the specific company FAQs.
- Marketing Campaigns That Are More Effective as a Result of Data Analytics
A mobile app allows firms to gather, analyze, and exploit client data in an effective manner. This is important for advertising and marketing since the data acquired allows you to make data-driven judgments to enhance your services. Apps enable businesses to employ data-driven marketing methods to provide clients with a highly individualized experience by analyzing their product preferences, search habits, and comments. Promotions and special offers, for example. With push notifications, an app may rapidly remind users about your services and goods whenever it makes sense, amplifying mobile app engagement by a lot.
As per Google research, 91% of respondents consider shopping notifications on smartphones useful if they are relevant. Furthermore, mobile apps enable crucial insights about how much time users stay on the app, which features are used the most, and which are used the least, allowing app material and features to be customized to deliver content to customers more effectively.
- A Strong Bond with a Company
Creating a unique mobile app helps to target a fresh group of customers who prefer apps over traditional forms of communication. Because everyone’s phone has a mobile app, it is a one-stop-shop for acquiring all the important information about the company but also showcasing new items and services.
This helps firms establish closer interactions with their customers while also building a digital brand image.
- Payment in a Convenient Manner & Security
A few of your current financial accounts can be linked to the interconnected payment system in most mobile applications. This type of connection allows users to pay for things directly from the app, eliminating the need for further authentication with external resources. Customers will save a huge amount of time because they will not have to enter their information more than once.
Another benefit of mobile app payments is that they can be built with a protected payment option such as biometric authentication, which recognizes users using their fingerprints or facial recognition. Biometrics defines customers’ perceptions of how protection should work for mobile applications, according to the newest mobile app development trends. This provides an additional layer of security for your customers’ data and money.
- Customers Who Are Loyal to You
Mobile apps allow users to find, discover, and order preferred products or services in a matter of minutes, resulting in the greatest possible shopping experience. The more individuals interact with your brand and become satisfied with the products and services you provide, the more they will reciprocate by raising brand awareness, referring you to their friends, and so increasing earnings.
Integrating customer loyalty programs and personalization capabilities into a mobile app is a great approach to building and keeping a customer base. Customers are considerably more willing to revisit if they are rewarded for their purchases, which can be accomplished by sharing relevant specials, discounts, or prizes. Customers become devoted users and brand champions as a result of reciprocating relationships.
Conclusion
To summarize…. Mobile applications are extremely important for your online business. People spend more time in them because of the simplicity and automation of use, but also because of the better shopping experience and the simpler decision-making process.
Mobile applications can bring new value to your business. And all you have to do is convince your users to try your app.
James is the head of marketing at Tamoco
