E-commerce App Development Guide: Cost & Features

Ever since the 2000s, the eCommerce industry has been on a meteoric rise, with no sign of downfall.

This significant growth can be clearly depicted through the market size of the eCommerce industry, which is expected to grow to $16215.6 billion by 2027 A recent survey has also shown that the eCommerce industry will have around 230 million users in the coming future.

It means anyone having an eCommerce business should invest in creating a powerful app, with a scope of scalability. Why? Because an eCommerce app will let you reach a wider audience and improve your customer retention rate, which will eventually grow your business.

Make sure you partner with award-winning app development companies like Protonshub Technologies to turn your million-dollar ideas into functional apps. Our team of eCommerce app developers uses the most advanced technologies to meet and exceed client expectations.

Before you hire our app development team, read this blog to gain a complete understanding of eCommerce app development, its cost, features, and more.

E-commerce App Features Your Business Needs

The popularity of eCommerce has made it one of the most vast industries in the digital space. This vastness often complicates the mobile app development process, stopping the eCommerce app from becoming successful.

Don’t worry, there is one way you can ensure the success and better future of your eCommerce app. It’s by adding essential features to your eCommerce app development MVP.

Here’s the complete list of MVP-level features for successful eCommerce app development:

1. Authorization

Add a seamless authorization feature during eCommerce mobile application development so users can easily sign in via email address or phone number. You can also allow users to authorize through social media for hassle-free sign-in.

2. User Profile

Allow users to create detailed profiles so they can view personal information like name, email, delivery address, purchase histories, and orders in one place. Adding icon pictures, photos, and nicknames is also helpful.

3. Feed

Include a vast range of suggested features in your eCommerce app depending on your user's preferences. You can regularly update your app to keep the users interested. Allow users to quickly filter the available options by selecting model, color, size, and other aspects. Since voice search has become common, you can consider adding it to your eCommerce app.

4. Online Support

It's likely for the customers to get confused while placing an order. That’s why you must install a quick messaging and calling system in the eCommerce app. Likewise, incorporating chatbots is also a great way to help customers from getting overwhelmed.

5. Seamless Payment Methods

Next on the list of must-have MVP-level features is the payment method. You need a team of reliable back-end developers to seamlessly integrate popular payment methods during the eCommerce app development.

6. Feedback

Allow customers to leave reviews for the products that they have purchased by adding a feedback section. Other customers are likely to read the feedback before purchasing to make sure they get only the best product.

Likewise, you must also add rating systems for the products during eCommerce app development to help businesses increase their credibility.

E-commerce App Development Cost

Before starting the eCommerce app development process, you need to know the cost to make sure you don’t exceed your budget. Predicting the exact app development cost is not easy as it depends on multiple factors. But on average, the overall process can cost you $10,000. The cost can further increase depending on the eCommerce app development services your project requires.

Factors Affecting the E-commerce App Development Cost

Below are the common factors affecting eCommerce app development costs:

1. eCommerce App Platform

Did you know that your selection of an eCommerce app platform can greatly affect the price? The app development cost for iOS and Android is different. Also, if you want to build an app for multiple devices, the cost will differ depending on the devices and platforms you opt for.

Likewise, the time required for development is also considered while calculating the app development cost. Compared to hybrid apps, native apps are costly to develop.

2. App Functionality

Besides the app platform, the kind of technical specifications your app requires also influences the development cost.

Along with basic requirements, if your eCommerce app needs advanced functionalities, the cost will increase. For instance, adding third-party integrations, social sharing, referrals, code registration, wish lists, and similar features can be expensive.

Hire a trusted eCommerce app development company that can integrate top features as per your business requirements. This way, you can accurately calculate the cost and set a realistic budget.

3. App’s Design

Did you know that appealing UI/UX design can boost your conversion rate by 200%? It’s because users like spending time on a website that looks engaging and visually appealing. Increasing the number of screens, design elements, and mobile app complexity can increase the development cost.

4. Location of E-commerce App Development Company

The eCommerce app development team you choose can directly impact your business’s success. Also, the location of the company can affect the development cost.

For instance, if the company is based in developed countries like the UK and the USA, the cost will be higher. However, if the company is based in Dubai or similar locations, the cost will be low.

5. Third-Party APIs and Payment Gateway Integration

Regardless of the type of eCommerce app you want to develop, it’s necessary to integrate it with third-party APIs and payment gateway.

Linking multiple digital wallets can offer a seamless experience to your customers. But it will also increase the overall development cost. Lastly, adding custom-built APIs to the app can be an expensive affair.

Types of E-commerce Apps

Conducting thorough research on the type of eCommerce app that your targeted audience is likely to use the most is always beneficial.

Below are three widely used eCommerce apps that you can choose from:

1. Native Apps

Native apps are ideal for business owners who want to create eCommerce apps for a particular operation system, i.e., iOS or Android. This type of app lets you take advantage of device-specific features to improve the user experience. However, designing and developing native apps for multiple platforms is time-consuming.

2. Hybrid Apps

Commonly, business owners choose to create hybrid eCommerce apps as these are developed using web technologies like JavaScript and HTML. The apps are then rightly wrapped in a native container, which allows them to be accessed as native apps.

Compared to native apps, hybrid eCommerce apps offer better cross-platform compatibility, lower development costs, and faster development time. But these apps do not perform as amazingly as native apps.

3. Progressive Web Apps (PWAs)

PWAs are web apps that provide an app-like experience. Users can access PWA web browsers as these are platform-independent. While, progressive web apps are fast, responsive, and can work offline, they do not provide access to all the features.

Conclusion

Despite the meteoric rise of eCommerce, the industry offers a profitable space to investors and entrepreneurs. If you also have a business and would like to create an app for the same, you must work with a reliable eCommerce app development agency, like Protonshub Technologies.

We work with a team of professionals who have a deep understanding of the eCommerce space. Our team uses the best tools and technologies to create scalable and functional mobile apps.

No matter how simple or complex your eCommerce app development requirements are, our team can make them happen for you.

Reach out to us today to discuss your eCommerce app development project.

Frequently Asked Questions

The exact time required for eCommerce app development is difficult to predict as it depends on factors like product requirements and goals. However, creating a basic version of an eCommerce app can take between 3-4 months. Developing a medium-complexity app can take up to seven months. Also, the app requires regular development and improvements, which can further stretch the timeline.

When developing a mobile app, you need to consider a few things, like recognizing your niche and understanding the market opportunities. In addition, you must choose an appropriate product development platform, create visually stunning UI/UX designs, design apps, write code, and test & launch.

As an eCommerce business owner, you must be aware of the common threats associated with eCommerce mobile apps. It includes availability, integrity, and confidentiality. You must create a solid strategy to keep your eCommerce site safe and secure.

Complete Guide to E-commerce App Development: Cost & Features