The e-commerce industry is popular worldwide. Whether it is B2C or B2B, everyone prefers to order different products and services through the internet. We are living in an era that is heavily dominated by mobile phones and to cater to our needs, there exists a mobile application for any service you can think of. Mobile apps have completely changed and revolutionized the e-commerce industry for good. We will be discussing a few ways in which mobile apps have changed the e-commerce industry:
Fewer Distractions
Consumers now prefer e-commerce mobile apps over websites because mobile apps are more user-focused and there are fewer advertisements on mobile apps, which makes them less distracting. An e-commerce website has multiple things that can distract consumers and degrade their user experience.
E-commerce mobile apps are designed to facilitate consumers during online shopping with fewer distractions and an enhanced user experience compared to shopping websites. Due to better user experience, fewer distractions, and ease to look at products, consumers prefer e-commerce mobile apps over websites.
More Convenient
It is more convenient to shop from a mobile app than it is from a website. The best thing about mobile apps is that you get multiple features like camera search, image search, GPS, mobile wallets, etc, making online shopping more convenient. Within a few seconds, users can take out their mobile, open the app, search for the product that they are looking for and make purchases using mobile wallets.
This convenience of e-commerce mobile apps is unmatched compared to online shopping websites, due to which consumers prefer mobile apps. There was a time when website shopping was popular but as mobile apps came, they changed e-commerce for good. That is not it, e-commerce apps are now also coming with wearable devices compatibility which will further make online shopping convenient. McDonald’s has made it convenient for its customers to give user-review through its McDVoice app.
Easier To Access
E-commerce mobile apps are also easier to access. You just need to have the app installed on your mobile and then you can access it anytime you want to, whereas, with online shopping websites, users first have to load up their laptops or PCs, open the website, sign in to their account and go through the whole tiresome process. On mobile apps, everything is already saved inside the app and consumers just have to search for the products that they want to buy.
Online shopping websites are accessible through mobile phones too but compared to a mobile app, the loading time is longer for websites. Not only in e-commerce but in other industries such as the fast-food industry, big names like Chick-Fil-A have ensured that their users can easily access most of the content through the mobile app. They have also made their other services like the famous user-feedback program, MyCFAVisit easily accessible for users.
Transaction Safety
One of the major things that most users consider before shopping online is transaction safety because they don’t want their private banking information or credit information to fall into the wrong hands. Online shopping websites are more vulnerable to cyber threats because they are more accessible, visible, and open than mobile applications.
On the other hand, a mobile application only has limited exploration options available, it is not as open as an online shopping website, and the visibility of a mobile app on the internet is also restricted due to which it is less prone to getting hacked. Online transactions done through mobile apps are safer and quicker than those done on online websites thanks to the integration of mobile wallets that allow for quick and secure payments.
Exclusive Content
Another by which mobile apps have revolutionized the e-commerce industry is by providing exclusive and personalized content to customers. When customers search for a certain product on a mobile app, they start to get product suggestions similar to that product. Customers like it when they see relevant products in their search or see unique and exclusive content according to their interests. This has led to customers spending more time on mobile apps compared to online websites, as a result of which customers spend more and their engagement increases.
Integration Of Social Media
The integration of social media platforms into mobile apps has also changed the e-commerce industry. Everyone who owns a smartphone is logged into their social media accounts 24/7 and it has allowed e-commerce stores to not only target users on social media but also allow customers to sign in directly using their social accounts. Instead of wasting time filling out the sign-up form, customers can directly sign in using their social media account, allowing them to make purchases more safely, quickly and conveniently.
E-Commerce is a massive industry in today’s world and there are more e-commerce stores than ever in every country across the globe. The internet penetration has increased in the past couple of years and the internet is now accessible in the remotest corners of the world, which has given more traction to e-commerce and online shopping.
Mobile applications have changed e-commerce and made online shopping convenient, simpler, and better in every aspect. Consumers can just take out their smartphones and make a purchase in as little as 2 minutes. Online shopping websites were a great start for the e-commerce industry but now, mobile apps are the main deal in the e-commerce industry. Any store not having a mobile app isn’t even considered by consumers.