Mobile shopping has transformed retail forever. In 2023, mobile commerce sales hit $2.2 trillion in the US alone. From groceries to luxury goods, consumers now expect to buy anything with a few taps on their phones. For online stores, a mobile app has become as crucial as a physical storefront was twenty years ago.

Why Build an E-Commerce App? Elevate Customer Experience and Boost Loyalty

The difference between a mobile website and an app is like the gap between a pop-up shop and a premium boutique. Take ASOS, for example. Their app users spend 80% more per year than website-only customers. Why? The app remembers their size preferences, shows personalized recommendations, and lets them check out in seconds using Face ID. Collaborating with a mobile app measurement partner ensures businesses track these metrics effectively and optimize user engagement further.

Nike's app success tells a similar story. Their app members spend 3x more than non-members, thanks to features like size scanning, virtual try-ons, and exclusive drops. These aren't just convenient features – they're reasons for customers to stay loyal to your brand.

Top Programming Languages for Developing E-Commerce Mobile Apps

Native development:

• Swift for iOS. Powers apps like Shopify and Etsy. Swift delivers top-notch performance and buttery smooth animations. Bank-grade security with Apple's CryptoKit in Swift for payment processing.

• Kotlin for Android. Used by Amazon and Alibaba, Kotlin can decrease development time up to 30% compared to Java, thanks to its built-in null safety features. These features eliminate common app crashes, and coroutines make handling multiple shopping cart operations seamless.

Cross-Platform Solutions:

• React Native: The choice for shopping on Instagram. Shared codebase running under both iOS and Android to save up to 40% on development costs. Powered the Walmart app for 300+ million listings smoothly in the app.

• Angular. PayPal and Xbox Shop have bet on Angular, which is known for its strong architecture and integration of TypeScript. With its dependency injection system, Angular development services allow for building up complex shopping carts and checkout flows to be maintainable. The McDonald's ordering app has used Angular to process millions of orders daily with 99.99% uptime.

• Flutter. Developed by Google, used by the Xianyu app of Alibaba with 50+ million users. Flutter's widget system creates pixel-perfect UIs that look identical on all devices. Its hot reload feature speeds up development by letting developers see changes instantly.

Backend languages:

• Node.js. The choice of the backend by Walmart, serving 20,000 requests per second on Black Friday sales. It adopts an event-driven architecture excelling at real-time inventory updates and push notifications.

• Python. The backbone for Spotify and Instagram. Intelligent product recommendations thanks to the machine learning libraries in Python. Secure API endpoints thanks to Django REST framework—easy to build.

For a quick app and where you are short of resources, go with React Native. But for the highly graphics-intensive applications with AR features that are long—native development using Swift and Kotlin will be worth the extra cost.

The Three Pillars of E-Commerce Success: Convenience, Personalisation, and Pastime

Successful e-commerce apps excel in three areas. Let's look at real examples:

• Convenience. Amazon's app mastered one-click ordering and same-day delivery tracking. Customers can reorder essentials by scanning barcodes, use Alexa voice commands, or just tap a button. Their "Buy Now" feature cuts a typical 7-step checkout process down to one tap.

• Personalization. Stitch Fix's app learns your style through interactive quizzes and purchase history. It then creates personalized collections, suggests outfits based on your wardrobe, and adjusts recommendations based on what you keep or return. Their algorithm gets smarter with every interaction, making each shopping session more relevant.

• Pastime. Sephora's app turns beauty shopping into an experience. Users can virtually try on makeup using AR, watch application tutorials, join beauty masterclasses, and earn points through gamified challenges. These features keep users engaged even when they're not buying.

3 Reasons To Develop Mobile Apps for E-commerce

Here are 3 trends you must be aware of.

Mobile Commerce is Trending Up

The numbers are compelling. According to Statista, the share of mobile e-commerce in all e-commerce has been on a steady climb, up from just 56% in 2018 to an expected 62% in 2027. The increase in mobile e-commerce sales themselves has been even steeper as the whole sector keeps expanding globally. In 2027, Statista analysts expect $3.4 trillion of mobile e-commerce sales, in stark contrast with the $982 billion that was generated in the segment as recently as 2018.

This isn't just about more people using phones – it's about changing shopping habits. Take grocery shopping. Instacart's app processes over 1 million orders daily. Their average cart size is 47% larger than web orders because the app makes it easy to build recurring shopping lists and discover new products.

Consumers Prefer Mobile Applications

Data shows that people spend 88% of their mobile time in apps versus mobile browsers. The reasons are practical:

• Apps load 1.5 seconds faster than mobile websites

• They work offline, letting customers browse catalogs anywhere

• They use phone features like cameras for visual search and AR try-ons

• Push notifications drive engagement

Zara's app proves this preference. After launching their app with features like in-store item finding and self-checkout, their mobile sales jumped by 63% in one year.

Higher Conversion Rates

Mobile apps convert browsers to buyers more effectively than any other platform. The stats tell the story:

• Apps convert at 3x the rate of mobile websites

• App users complete purchases 90 seconds faster than website users

• Shopping cart abandonment is 20% lower in apps

• Average order value is 40% higher through apps

H&M's app users spend twice as much annually as their website customers. Why? The app remembers payment details, shipping preferences, and size information. It also offers exclusive app-only discounts and early access to collections, making customers feel special.

Conclusion

Mobile commerce isn't just growing – it's evolving. New technologies are making apps even more powerful:

• AR lets customers see furniture in their homes before buying

• AI-powered solutions reduce returns by up to 60%

• Visual search helps shoppers find products by taking photos

• Mobile payments are becoming faster and more secure

Warby Parker shows how these technologies boost sales. Their Virtual Try-On feature led to a 50% increase in mobile purchases. Customers who use the feature are also 60% more likely to complete their purchase.

For online stores, a mobile app is now essential infrastructure. It's not about keeping up with trends – it's about giving customers the shopping experience they prefer. The most successful retailers aren't asking whether to build an app. They're focusing on how to make their apps indispensable to their customers' daily lives.

Remember: every day without a mobile app means lost sales and missed connections with your most valuable customers.