How to Convert an e-commerce Website into a Mobile App?

Mobile shopping has been one of the most important changes in the digital marketplace that has changed significantly over the last ten years. Now over 60% of the online purchases are done using smartphones – and the figure is ever rising in such markets as India, UAE, and Southeast Asia. 

To businesses that want to stay competitive, it is no longer an option to transform an already existing ecommerce site into a high-performance mobile app instead of an option. This is the reason why nowadays most companies are turning to the top ecommerce developers in India to develop smooth, easy-to-use and conversion-oriented mobile shopping sites that can be better than the traditional sites.

A mobile app is faster, personalised, has push notifications, can be accessed offline, and it is easier to communicate with the customer, which translates into increased sales and brand loyalty. Having an e-commerce business that is set to develop, the ability to transform your webpage into an application is the initial course of action towards the expansion of online operations.

Reasons why Businesses are transforming their e-commerce websites into a Mobile App

E-commerce has changed to the mobile-first format, which has forced businesses to reconsider their online presence. Many companies, in order to match consumer expectations, are teaming with the top ecommerce developers in India to develop mobile apps that perform better than mobile sites.

Mobile apps enhance:

•  Speed: Apps are faster compared to mobile websites.
•  Personalisation: Custom offers, history of visits, likes.
•  User experience: Improved UI, navigation and the checkout.
•  Brand engagement: Glenmark customers are kept busy with push notifications.
•  Offline access: Another way of browsing without the internet.
•  Credibility: Apps create a closer brand credibility.

Retaining customers is another benefit of apps, which is drastic in retaining customers, with 3 times more app users likely to be retained than mobile web clients.

Why is it Better to Turn an E-commerce Website into a Mobile Application to Increase Conversion?

When you have traffic on your site but are not converting it, then converting it into an app would make the site perform wonders. A lot of well-performing e-commerce brands employ the skills of the top ecommerce developers in India to convert their websites into apps due to fewer points of friction in apps.

The apps decrease the checkout abandonment rates because of:

•  One-tap payments
•  Saved card details
•  One-second access (through OTP, Google, or Apple).
•  Quick navigation
•  Personal recommendations

Also, apps can provide functions that are not possible on websites, and these include:

•  Real-time push alerts
•  App-exclusive discounts
•  AR shopping camera access.
•  Voice search capabilities
•  Order tracking via GPS

This leads to increased customer interaction and repeat purchases.

Evaluating the Readiness of Your E-Commerce Website to Convert Apps

The first thing that you should consider before beginning to develop an app is to check the nature of the content, structure and functionality of your current site, as they have the potential to be converted into app experiences.

Ask yourself:

•  Do you already have a clean products catalog?
•  Does your site have well-organised content?
•  Does your store use Shopify, WooCommerce, Magento, or a custom backend?
•  Are your APIs ready?
•  Are you registered with user accounts and preferences?
•  Is your brand mobile UX friendly?

Otherwise, the initial step is building a solid website base – then transitioning to app conversion.

 Select the appropriate type of mobile app: Native, Hybrid, or PWA.

The right type of apps to use when transforming your e-commerce website into an app is essential.

Native Apps (iOS and Android respectively).

•  Best performance
•  Most features
•  Highest cost
•  Best UI/UX

Hybrid Apps (Flutter, React Native)

•  Faster development
•  Cost-effective
•  Great performance
•  Cross-platform

PWA (Progressive Web App)

•  Works inside browser
•  Lower cost
•  No app store required
•  Limited features

Flutter or React Native hybrid apps are the most popular choice of most e-commerce businesses because they are a balance between cost and performance.

Mapping Your Website Structure to App Navigation.

Your mobile application should be smooth and user-friendly. In contrast to sites that have numerous pages, apps are based on having a tight, concentrated navigation.

The normal App navigation encompasses:

•  Home
•  Categories
•  Wishlist
•  Cart
•  Profile
•  Order History
•  Notifications

This is aimed at streamlining the process and fewer clicks. This is referred to as IA (Information Architecture) – this is what professional e-commerce app developers are good at.

Designing a Superior Mobile UX/UI Design.

Mobile e-commerce revolves around design. The interfaces of the apps should be simple, easy to use, and appealing.

The main design elements are:

1. Home Page

•  Banners
•  Categories
•  Trending products
•  Personalized deals
•  Product Page

1. High-quality images

•  On the fold, there is an add to cart button.
•  Reviews
•  Price alerts
•  Checkout Flow

1. Minimal input fields

•  Auto-save info
•  One-tap checkout
•  Branding Elements

1. Consistent colors

•  App-friendly typography
•  Clean layout spacing

UI/UX designers make sure that the app looks high-end, structured, and user-friendly.

Backend Integration: the Essence of App Conversion

To have your app interoperable with your ecommerce site, the backend should:

•  Sync products
•  Sync stock
•  Sync user accounts
•  Sync orders
•  Handle payments
•  Handle notifications

This involves the development of APIs, which is an important step in transforming an app to a site. When the existing backend does not provide APIs, a developer will have to create them manually.

Implementing Secure Mobile Payment Gateways

A significant breakthrough in e-commerce app development is payment integration. Your application should have quick and safe payment platforms.

Common methods include:

•  Debit/credit cards
•  UPI
•  Wallets (Paytm, PhonePe)
•  Apple Pay / Google Pay
•  Net banking
•  Cash on delivery
•  Buy Now, Pay Later (BNPL)

The best apps also support payment retries and card details (PCI-compliant) storage.

Incorporation of the Necessary Ecommerce App Features

To be a successful competitor in the e-commerce world, your app should have advanced features that make it better to use.

Must-have features are:

•  Push notifications
•  Wishlist
•  Smart search with filters
•  Reviews & ratings
•  Real-time order tracking
•  In-app chat support
•  Multiple language support
•  Personalized recommendations
•  Loyalty programs
•  Dark mode

Intense ecommerce brands could also have an AR preview of products, product videos, or machine-led suggestions.

Reasons Mobile Apps Should Have a Push Notification Strategy

The greatest benefit of mobile apps compared to websites is the use of push notifications.

They help:

•  Increase repeat purchases
•  Promote sales
•  Reduce abandoned carts
•  Re-engage inactive users
•  Announce new arrivals

Applications that have well-crafted notification strategies convert at up to a 40 per cent rate compared to mobile websites.

Testing App Before Launch

Testing is a process that confirms that everything is going out as planned.

Quality assurance verification of:

•  App speed
•  API syncing
•  Broken flows
•  Checkout problems
•  UI spacing
•  Bugs & crashes
•  Payment errors

Testing happens across:

•  Multiple devices
•  Operating systems
•  Screen sizes
•  Internet speeds

This makes sure that your app has a perfect experience on the first day.

Getting Your App to the Play Store and App Store

Guidelines and approval processes are involved in each store. Android permits are quicker and whereas Apple is very rigid on adherence to UI/UX and security standards.

Developers prepare:

•  App icons
•  Screenshots
•  Descriptions
•  Privacy policy
•  App permissions

Upon approval, your application is made to be made accessible to millions of prospective users.

After-sales marketing and Customer acquisition

The development of an app is not the end. To create downloads and enhance the level of engagement, you need to:

•  Social media campaigns
•  Email marketing
•  App-exclusive discounts
•  Referral programs
•  Push notifications
•  Influencer partnerships
•  Google App Campaigns

Top brands in e-commerce keep on advertising their apps to keep up with visibility.

Making and Keeping Your App Up-to-Date

Technology changes – your application needs to change. Updates improve:

•  Performance
•  Security
•  UI design
•  Checkout flow
•  New features

It is through this that the majority of the brands will have development teams to maintain and improve in the long run.

Collaborate with Professionals in a Smooth e-commerce app redesign

Mobileizing your online business is not a fad, but it is the new face of digital business. An application will make it easier to connect with customers, engage them better, increase conversions, and create a long-term customer relationship. 

Through collaboration with the top ecommerce developers in India, you are able to access experience, cutting-edge technologies and strategic advice to create high-quality, scalable and profitable mobile applications. When you are willing to expand your e-commerce brand and be at the top of the competition, one of the best decisions you can make today is to invest in application development.