Overview
In today’s time, smartphones play a vital role in our daily lives, primarily when it is about to shopping online. Moreover, if brands have mobile applications for shopping, it offers users a more friendly experience. As per various surveys, it is evident that customers prefer to shop online via eCommerce apps instead of eCommerce websites. If an online shopping app is extremely functional being integrated with advanced features, then it successfully caters to users’ needs more adequately and thus helps gain brand visibility among a large customer base.
For the past few years, mobile app development has been one of the top-growing industries as businesses need applications to help build their online presence. Therefore, investments in eCommerce mobile app development have widely increased. With improved digitalization, businesses have clearly understood the significance of developing mobile apps for future growth.
No. of Mobile App Downloads worldwide from 2016 to 2022
As per the data, the total mobile app downloads across the globe have increased to a massive number of 255 billion downloads from 140.68 app downloads in the year 2016. This data reflects how the use of mobile apps is growing among users worldwide. Such numbers prove that mobile apps are the future of businesses. There are multiple reasons behind the massive demand for eCommerce mobile app development such as it saves a lot of time of the customers when they shop using a mobile app, easy accessibility, greater reach, quick checkouts, multiple payment gateways, and many more.
Now, let’s understand the top eCommerce app features in the next section –
Top ECommerce App Features
On-demand mobile applications are the buzz that is reshaping the entire eCommerce sector. These online eCommerce apps are used by businesses for providing a great user experience. Maximum industries have used the potential of mobile apps for taking the growth to next level and the remaining are in the queue. The eCommerce sector is one of those industries that has gained huge attention and scalability with its first-mover advantage. As we know, with improved digitalization and innovative technologies, several new and advanced features make these eCommerce apps highly functional and customer-oriented which developed by any top eCommerce development company.
Let’s check the entire list of top eCommerce app features here:
1. Sign Up
This is the primary feature that needs to be integrated for using any application. There is a lot of time spent in signing up if the user needs to enter multiple pieces of information. Thus, to attain a high conversion rate and make it user-friendly, there should be limited information that needs to be filled in. The signing-up process should be simple. The users can sign up using their email address, social media account, or their mobile numbers.
2. Log-in
The integration of this feature is for the users to log in to the eCommerce application quickly. They can log in with their social media accounts and can change or reset the password if in case they forget it. This feature of log-in makes it easy and quick to use the eCommerce application.
3. Registration
This is one of the basic eCommerce app features that helps them to register and sign-up to use the application. With just a few details like email id, contact details, and OTP, the registration process is completed. If the registration process of the eCommerce app is simple and hassle-free, it makes it easy for the users to register and use the application.
4. Online Payment Mode
In the eCommerce applications, people need to have several options for making payments as it makes it convenient for them to pay digitally. It is one of the significant eCommerce mobile app features that help users to pay through credit cards, debit cards, e-wallets, net banking, and many other ways. A lot of famous eCommerce applications like Amazon, Flipkart, etc. are already experimenting with it. The addition of this feature at the time of online shopping app development allows quick payment and a better user experience.
5. Shopping Cart
For online shopping applications, it is one of the crucial features as it simplifies the purchase of a service or a product. ECommerce app developers pay high attention to the integration of this feature as it makes the application functional from a user’s perspective. It allows the users to add the products they need to purchase. And if they want to scroll and see more products they can continue with that by just adding the selected products to the shopping cart. Also, eCommerce apps have this feature to help customers keep their selected products in the cart to save time whenever they make the final purchase. The companies providing eCommerce development solutions always make sure of the successful integration of the shopping cart feature in the applications.
6. Voice Assistant
Integration of Artificial Intelligence (AI) is high in demand in eCommerce apps as it helps to boost user experience. Voice assistant feature using AI is one such functionality that allows users to search for products using voice commands, also they can navigate the app and get quick results with voice assistant. Integration of this feature might increase the eCommerce app development cost as the companies providing eCommerce app development services need efficient mobile app developers for this. Based upon the latest market trends and technologies, there is also available an informative guide to start eCommerce business that can help the businesses to scale by understanding every minute detail of eCommerce businesses.
7. Product Descriptions
The next crucial eCommerce app feature is product descriptions. When potential buyers look for any specific product or service, they are more likely to read about it for a better understanding of the product. At present time, product images are not solely sufficient; instead, there is a need for good and well-written descriptions that illustrate every minute detail about the product or service. It helps to make them an informative decision and reduces customer dissatisfaction rate. Therefore, while you look for mobile commerce development, make sure there is a feature of product description in it.
8. Sort & Filter
In an eCommerce application, there are thousands of products and it becomes difficult for the user to get a filtered list of products that match the customer’s requirements. For this, eCommerce apps have a feature of filter and sort. With this functionality, users can filter the products based on certain factors as in the case of apparel; the filter would be based on size, color, pattern, etc. Thus, it helps to increase the chances of conversion. The sort feature allows users to sort the product list based on factors like discounts, prices, etc. Integration of this feature in an eCommerce or online shopping app enhances user experience and results in quick purchases or cart checkouts. The requirement of integration of this feature should be highlighted to the mobile app development company while discussing the project.
9. Wishlist
Users love to add products to the wishlist as it allows them to quickly add any of the products for later without actually putting them in the shopping cart. There are times when some products are out of stock, users add them to their wishlist to purchase them later when they are next available. Such a feature increases the chances of customers coming back and becoming regular buyers. Even there are notifications sent to users when the products are in stock so that they can complete the order. This is one of the most loved features of eCommerce applications. Thus, to give the user a meaningful experience, this feature should be integrated into the online shopping application.
10. In-store Experience
At present time, users expect a store-like experience even if they shop online using an eCommerce app. This raises the demand for in-store features such as scanning product barcodes, personalized offers, stock checks, etc. When an eCommerce app has in-store features then it results in delivering a great user experience and improved customer loyalty. But the integration of such a feature requires a mobile app development company to hire eCommerce app developers who are highly experienced and can easily integrate such features into the application.
11. Augmented Reality (AR)
Integration of AR in mobile applications is the need of the hour and so is the online shopping applications. With AR, the products can be presented to the users in a more personalized and real context. With such integration, users can digitally preview how the product would look in real and it helps them to choose the correct and more suitable product. For example, they can check the look of any dress or jewellery on them using mobile camera integration through AR. An on-demand ECommerce mobile app like Nykaa has a similar feature for a better user experience. But this might slightly take the eCommerce app development cost on a higher side as the integration of AR needs companies to hire expert eCommerce app developers.
12. Membership Option
A membership program is one of the best ways to help win customer loyalty. Various online eCommerce businesses offer VIP memberships to their regular customers. Such membership allows exclusive access to the members before the actual sale starts. Also, there are wide discounts on products for VIP members. There can be various categories too based on the yearly purchase value of the customers and so the offers provided to them. Integration of this feature in the eCommerce app development makes the app user-friendly and helps earn a loyal customer base.
13. Secure Payment Gateway
While using online shopping applications, users seem very much concerned when it comes to making payments using a third-party gateway and thus it decreases the chances of purchases or order completion. Several eCommerce mobile apps offer in-app payment options to customers. It gives a safe and secure experience to the users as the payment gateway is secured and there are the least possible chances of fraud. Therefore, the integration of the secure payment gateway feature allows the app to have a larger customer base and easy order completion.
14. Product Gallery
In an eCommerce application development, it is necessary to pay higher attention to the product page. To fetch the attention of the users, it is essential to have an adequate product gallery that comprises high-resolution images showing the product from different angles. It allows users to get an in-store-like experience. Such captivating visuals offer a long-lasting impression on the users.
15. Returns and Replacements
The replacement and return feature is the most significant feature of an online eCommerce application when it comes to user convenience. A smooth and easy return and replacement process enhances user experience and helps to create a more trusted and loyal customer base. In online businesses, there are various times when customers receive wrong or incorrect products and if they can return the product easily then they are likely to use the application more frequently. Thus, to offer a great shopping experience to the buyers, then at the time of eCommerce app development make sure this feature is integrated and functions properly.
16. Shipping Options
In an online eCommerce application, shipping is one of the mandatory features without which the orders cannot be placed. But now famous eCommerce apps like Amazon, Ikea, etc. allow customers to select a shipping date and time when the users can receive the delivery of the products as per their availability. This helps ease the customers in making purchases as they can get the products on a specific date and time. Such features surely lead to a positive customer experience and they are much more likely to use the eCommerce app again to make a purchase. This is one of the advanced eCommerce app features that require the app development companies to hire expert mobile app developers that can ultimately slide the cost of eCommerce app development on a higher side. But on the positive side, it can help create a loyal customer base for the online business.
17. Reviews and Ratings
This is one of the most common and frequently used features by customers when they make an online purchase. Reviews and ratings are the way to build trust among the customer base. A maximum percentage of users first check the reviews and ratings of a product before making a final purchase as the positive reviews along with original pictures of the products help them make the right decision. This also proves beneficial for online businesses as it saves time exhausted on returns and replacements. If the user checks the pictures and reads the reviews, they are aware of the product and the customer experiences. Thus, this feature is one of the most important features of an eCommerce application from the users’ perspective. Also, customers can give ratings and write reviews based on their personal experience of buying the product.
18. Loyalty Bonus
Giving loyalty points is a sort of bonus the online businesses offer to the customers when they install the eCommerce application and at the time of every purchase they make. These loyalty points are equivalent to cash, for example, 10 loyalty points may count as 1 rupee. Therefore, customers can redeem these points on their next purchase. Such a feature helps build a strong customer base and also motivates them to make frequent purchases to use these loyalty points. To make your application more customer-friendly, you can ask the eCommerce development company to add this feature to the application.
19. Waitlist
It is an eCommerce app feature that helps customers to save products that they want to purchase in the future or when they come online. There are times when customers search and purchase products but they are in an offline mode, thus, this waitlist feature helps to keep the customers engage and increases the chances of purchases. An eCommerce app development company needs to hire expert mobile app developers to integrate this feature into the application.
20. Personalized Product Suggestions
To enhance user engagement, there is a feature of personalized content where customers are suggested various product choices that suit the customers as per their past purchases. Such personalized product options are one of the most innovative ways to interact with users. This feature also saves the time of the customers and speeds up the purchase process. A mobile app development company increases the cost of eCommerce app development with the integration of such advanced features but it increases the chances for businesses to build a strong and extended customer base.
21. Check the Order Status
Once a customer has purchased any product, they want to know when they will receive it and for that purpose, the check order status feature is used. In online eCommerce applications, this is one of the most significant and useful features for the users as they can check whether the order has been shipped or not, currently, it is at which location, by what time and date they will receive the product, etc. The integration of this eCommerce app feature is a necessity for an online shopping application to make it more user-friendly.
22. Discounts & Sales
To drive more customers to both online and offline stores, sales and discounts are the top most strategy that is used by businesses. Similarly, to enhance the customer base, it is necessary to have sales and discounts from time to time. There needs to be added a feature where all the discounted products are displayed to the potential buyers. It not only fetches the attention of the customers but also increases your sales. Various big brands are using advanced and modern analytics tools for segmenting users based on their buying behaviour and sending them notifications for these online sales and discounts. If such notifications are delivered to the right set of customers they are likely to place bulk orders, hence scaling the online business. At the time of eCommerce app development, this feature should be integrated for extending your customer base.
23. Help & Support
Customer service is the substance of every business may it be the service industry or product-based sector. Online businesses need to ensure that customers can reach them with their feedback and issues easily. Businesses offering easy and accessible customer service gain the trust and loyalty of the users as they resolve the issues instantly, support them for any assistance, and are available 24*7 for any help. There can be a lot of queries related to products, returns, shipping, payments, etc. ECommerce applications need to have a smooth help and support feature to assist them when they need it. There can be telephonic support, email support, online chat, and call support.
24. Download the Invoice Feature
The next important eCommerce application feature is the download invoice feature. With the integration of this feature, the customers can download the purchase invoice on their mobile phones. This gives a sense of assurance to the buyers when they have paid through online channels. In online transactions, there are technical glitches that might take place sometime. Therefore, the such feature helps to support the customers and also works as a key factor in building brand loyalty among the user base. Big eCommerce brands like Amazon allows customers to download invoice at the time of paying bills etc. Hence, it is one of the advanced eCommerce features that businesses should integrate into their online shopping apps for better user experience and easy customer handling.
25. Order Summary
This feature is integrated at the time of eCommerce app development so that the customers can check and verify whether the items added to the cart are the ones they have selected. Before checkout, they can see if all the items are included or not, also, mostly at the time of sales and discounts, a lot of products are out of stock before the customers perform a final checkout. Hence, they need to check the order summary before making the final purchase. It helps reduce the chances of returns and also improves user experience. It is one of the common features of an eCommerce application.
26. Push Notifications
Promoting an online business’s products and services is one of the mandatory features of an on-demand eCommerce mobile app. There are push notifications that help send customers notifications about upcoming sales, discounts, product availability, newly launched products or services, personalized content, coupon codes, offers, and other information that can help fetch the attention of prospective buyers. This eCommerce app feature is a direct marketing tool that helps engage a large customer base. Also, these alerts or push notifications are way more effective in comparison with other ways of marketing and promotion.
Summing Up
The eCommerce mobile applications are useful both for customers as well as for businesses. With these applications, customers gain better user experience, more personalized content, and ease of accessibility. On the other hand, businesses aim for higher customer engagement, greater market reach, and increase customer base because of no boundaries or geographical restrictions. Thus, the demand for eCommerce app development is growing at an increasing rate.
If you are also looking forward to scaling your business, there is a need to develop a highly functional mobile app that can gain user attention and generate sales. For a feature-rich and smooth mobile application, it is essential to hire a good mobile app development company that has experienced and professional developers to build powerful on-demand mobile applications.
