“Mobile app and mobile website both delegate the same idea but have a different outlook and application depending on the scalability of your eCommerce workflow.”
For your eCommerce to succeed and make a place in this mobile responsive presence trending and the ongoing digital world you need to make your mark with a mobile website or application. You need to adapt your business with the user’s preferences and consider the numerous factors both internal and external that concern your organization like your target audience, budget, purpose, required functionality, trends, and so much more.
What is a mobile application and what is its purpose?
A mobile application can be downloaded and installed on your device as it is a program but is used on the same media as mobile websites. For example on smartphones, tablets, desktops, etc. it is not rendered within browsers. It even has device-specific visit portals like the Apple’s App Store, Android Market, Google Play Store, or Blackberry App World where you can find and download applications for any respective operating system. You can easily pull out content and data from the internet and can access it without the internet. They require a separate version
Advantages of a Mobile application for your E-Commerce
There are major breakthroughs in implementing mobile applications for your eCommerce business. Some of them can be listed below-
1. Interactivity
It has higher interactivity that has a higher user engagement and provides a different user experience than any browser-based application. It is highly applicable for gaming that has a more interactive basis between the user and the application.
2. Customization
It is very appropriate for target users that seem to have regular interaction and is easily accessible to take actions on it like personalized fashion, accessories, groceries, and household items, online banking and so much more.
3. Complex Interface
Mobile applications are based on the compiling of complex calculations, reporting of the visualization, and are event-driven or are based on real-time. It takes data and manipulates it with complex calculations, charts, or reports (both financial and scientific tools) in an effective manner.
4. Specific Functionality
It has a better hand at accessing certain features and functionalities that process more power in an effective way like accessing a camera, or files, etc.
5. Push Notifications
Push notifications are the ability of the mobile applications to send push notifications to the users that have been installed on your device by providing the access to app publishers to send direct messages to the users. The course of action allows the messages to the users by allowing it in the settings.
6. Eliminating Internet Connectivity
There is no hard and fast rule that mobile applications will not work without an internet connection but there are exceptions. Applications that are driven by online search, the real-time occurrence cannot work properly without the internet. If you need to provide offline accessibility to the digital contents or perform functions without a network then apps are more appropriate. You can easily store the data to your local device and upload it once the connection is established.
What is a mobile website and what is its application?
A website is a browser-based HTML pages that are interlinked together and can be accessible with the use of an internet connection. It is developed and designed for smaller and handheld devices with displays and touch-screen interfaces. It is a perfect fit for your brand and business to be launched digitally setting a new standard for your product and services. A responsive website or a mobile-friendly website is used to scale your business to any sized device. They have different features like call-to-action buttons, location-based mapping and have contents like texts, data, images, and videos. A mobile website is also called Web Applications and is easily adaptable on any device (smartphones, tablets, or desktops) with a perfect screen fit.
Advantages of Mobile Website to blend your online business
There are a few plus points of going for mobile websites or responsive websites that can blend with your eCommerce module by making it more user-friendly. Some of the major plus points can be stated as follows-
1. Availability
A mobile website is instantly available and accessible to all the users and visitors through a browser on any device (like Android, Windows, iOS, Blackberry, etc).
2. Compatibility
They can easily be integrated within the text messages, QR codes, NFC (Near Field Communication like Bluetooth) along with the URLs. Therefore it can reach numerous users at once across many varied mobile devices.
3. Instant Update
It has a very quick and dynamic update content which is very flexible. Instant changes ( changing the design or the content) can be made even after it is published. These changes are immediately visible.
4. Easily Discoverable
They are very much easier to be discovered or to be found as the pages displayed in the search result which are listed in the industry-specific directories making it easy for qualified users or web visitors to find you.
5. Quick Sharing
It can be easily shared by simply copying the links and shared between the users via email, text message, or on social media platforms like Facebook, Instagram, Whatsapp or Twitter. This helps in directing the users to the mobile website from where they have checked it out ( maybe a website, blog, or even in print).
6. Global Reach
Mobile websites are more accessible across a huge range of platforms and as you know they can be shared easily among users including the search engines. It has a father reach globally and is much more capable than apps.
7. Website Lifecycle
They have a longer shelf life than mobile applications as they are always available for the user to go back to them
8. Time and Cost-Effective
They are far more cost-effective and take less time and effort to develop a responsive website especially if you already have a previous built-in platform.
9. Reusability
A general or standard mobile website can be developed as a database-driven web application that can act like native apps.
10. Maintenance and Support
Maintenance of a responsive or mobile-friendly website is much easier and requires lesser effort in the long run.
11. Push Notifications
Many web browsers also allow web-based notifications that allow website owners to send out notifications to all the web visitors and users who both opt from desktops as well as any other mobile devices.
Key Points of Differences: Mobile App vs Mobile Website
1. Means of Accessibility
A mobile application can be accessible when we first download it from any online Play Store on any device irrespective of Android, Windows, Blackberry, or iOS. The application is saved from the app store or google stores on a device like a smartphone, tablet, or desktop. Most of the time it does not need any internet connection for it to work, unlike mobile websites.
A mobile website is very easily accessible through any web browser or with an internet connection where you can type the website’s URL in the navigation bar. This eliminates the need for downloading, unlike mobile apps. But it surely needs an internet connection for the user to gain access and browse
2. Purpose
A mobile application is applicable for frequent and repeated usage as it remains on the device after it is downloaded and installed on the device. A mobile website is designed with the purpose of informing a larger audience with a large time window about the events and promoting to a targeted audience with a limited time window at a time. Therefore mobile websites are ideal for mobile communication.
3. Engagement
Mobile applications have a barrier between the initial engagement and the user action or conversion as it has to be downloaded and installed for it to start working at full ignition. Whereas, with mobile websites, there is a direct interaction between the initial engagement and action or conversion by the users.
4. Sharing
Mobile applications cannot be shared in any manner like mobile websites. Though there are some loopholes to it, there is no simple direct way. Whereas, mobile websites can be shared easily between the users via any platform ( email, text message, or through social media like Facebook or Twitter).
5. Compatibility
Mobile applications always require separate versions to be developed for each of the devices to work at its full length. Whereas, mobile websites can be accessed on any device as it is easily integrated with the URLs with any form of communication or networking like messages, QR codes, NFC, etc.
6. Discoverability
Mobile applications have restricted visibility as it is hugely being available only on the manufacturer’s app stores. Whereas, a mobile website can be easily visited at regular time intervals and where it can be automatically sent to your mobile site using a device detection when they are handheld.
7. Updating Setups
Mobile applications are required to download and confirm the authorization of each and every update. This sometimes irritates and frustrates the users which therefore reduces the flexibility for such companies. Mobile websites are updated without bugging or nagging the user. It is an automated online process that takes place without the user even realizing it.
Discussion Takeaway
When it comes to choosing the right medium for your eCommerce – mobile application or mobile website factors in a lot of important aspects of your business module. Like some of the major key factors are – your end goals, target audience, market decisions, business workflow, scalability, geographical accessibility of your products and services, your financial budget, resources and so much more.
To make your eCommerce equipped for both responsive websites and mobile applications, you need to hire professional help like web development or mobile app development services in India that will embark on your business journey online. Then you can be sure that you’re getting an optimized return on investment that you are going to make while building an expensive app or website for your business.