Are you currently weighing up whether or not to build an eCommerce mobile app for your online store? With mobile commerce expected to surpass $4 trillion in 2025 and 59% of total retail eCommerce sales, it certainly should be a question to ask yourself.
In recent times most eCommerce sites have been built from a mobile-first perspective, but even that’s not enough in 2025. When it comes to providing the best quality mobile experience, you need an eCommerce mobile app.
85% of U.S. mobile shoppers prefer to use apps as opposed to mobile websites, so if you’re committed to providing an excellent customer experience, you’d better make sure your store has one!
Five reasons to build an eCommerce mobile app
1. Leverage eCommerce mobile application’s high performance attributes
In order to win loyal customers, you need to create an excellent experience which keeps users coming back. This is where an eCommerce mobile app really helps.
Below are some key performance areas where an eCommerce mobile app outperforms a responsive website:
Loading time: A slow-loading website can kill your business from the very beginning. A 1-second delay in page load can reduce conversions by 7%, and around 53% of mobile users abandon a site if it takes longer than three seconds to load. Users in 2025 expect almost instantaneous page speed, and the best way to deliver this is with an app rather than a responsive website.
Personalization capabilities: Customers want to see products and offers that are directly relevant to their needs and interests. When users create an app profile, their shopping preferences and previous order data can make personalization much easier. Once customers feel remembered and welcomed, they are more likely to return again.
Offline access: The best eCommerce mobile apps can provide users with basic functionalities, such as checking prices or comparing products, even when offline.
2. Keep your customers coming back
eCommerce mobile apps have unique features that enable you to bring back shoppers who have downloaded your app. Check out these two highly effective ways of doing this:
Push notifications: Mobile push notifications increase conversions by 88% when used effectively. Whenever you want to inform your customers about the latest discounts, deals, or items that are back in stock, push notifications can be a great option to inform them of this and bring them back to your store.
Incentives for your previous customers: Users want to feel special and treated well, especially loyal consumers who deserve to be rewarded for their frequent shopping. Consumers consider mobile commerce apps that feature loyalty programs and exclusive offers the most valuable at 63.4% and 62.5%, respectively. You could try a reward points system to be used for discounts or similar incentives that recognizes regular customers.
3. Promote brand recognition
By building a beautiful, user-friendly eCommerce mobile app, you’re painting a positive picture of your brand to your customers and potential customers. Users will often maintain this association when deciding whether to make a purchase or not.
Many companies that are looking to drive digital transformation or a mobile-first strategy offer discounts and other incentives for new customers who download or purchase through the app. 84% of shoppers also said that they would be willing to install and shop through a mobile app if it gave them access to better sales or pricing.
You can also integrate social media platforms like Twitter, Facebook and Instagram into your eCommerce mobile app to empower customers to post about your products and services with ease.
4. Boost conversion rates
22% of mobile e-commerce consumers say mobile apps provide the most convenient shopping experience. Only 12% of mobile shoppers say mobile websites are the most convenient way to shop. With a naturally high channel conversion rate, let’s have a look at some tips that can maximize the effectiveness of your mobile app for eCommerce:
Avoid intrusive ads: Imagine someone bombarding you with tons of irrelevant information while you’re having a look around a high street retailer. There’s a high possibility that you’d get irritated and leave right away. To increase mobile app conversions, try to avoid hosting intrusive ads.
Simplify your app’s navigation: Your app’s navigation can make or break a sale. To ensure you provide a friendly user experience, users must have easy access to search options and relevant calls-to-action.Utilize push notifications: Push notifications can be an effective way to increase conversion rates by bringing people back to your app at important times and letting them know when there’s a deal they can take advantage of!
5. Lower cart abandonment rate
Cart abandonments are a headache that eCommerce businesses will always have to deal with. Based on 49 different studies, the average cart abandonment rate is 70.19%, with mobile showing even higher rates.
On average, approximately 70% of all shopping carts are abandoned without a purchase. Cart abandonment is more common on mobile, but eCommerce mobile apps have the ability to create a simplified checkout process, contributing to a higher conversion rate and more sales!
From the statistics above, we can see that nearly a quarter (23%) of respondents leave because of a long or complicated checkout process. Checkout optimization can increase conversions by 35.62%, and mobile apps for eCommerce naturally provide streamlined checkout experiences.
Latest trends in eCommerce mobile app development
As we move through 2025, several key trends are shaping the eCommerce mobile app development landscape:
Voice Commerce Integration
Voice search is becoming increasingly popular in mobile commerce. In fact, 27% of searches on mobile devices are now voice-based. Voice-enabled ecommerce market is worth $151.39 billion as of 2025.
AI-Powered Personalization
39% of US consumers state that they have already used generative AI while shopping online. Modern eCommerce mobile app software leverages artificial intelligence to provide highly personalized shopping experiences.
Enhanced Security Features
With mobile payments becoming more prevalent, digital and mobile wallet payments account for 49% of online transactions worldwide.
Choosing the right eCommerce mobile app tools
When considering eCommerce mobile app development, you have several options for eCommerce mobile app tools:
No-Code eCommerce Mobile App Builders
- BuildFire: Plans range from $100 to $500 per month
- AppMySite: Offers retail app builder with seamless Shopify and WooCommerce integration
- Builder.ai: Provides AI-powered app development with expert guidance
- MobiLoud: Converts existing websites into native mobile apps
Custom Development Agencies
For businesses with specific requirements, custom ecommerce mobile app development through specialized agencies remains an option. Custom app development can cost anywhere between $30-50K on average and can take anywhere from 6-9 months for ecommerce apps.
Platform-Specific Solutions
Major eCommerce platforms now offer their own mobile app builder solutions:
- Shopify Mobile: Native integration with Shopify stores
- WooCommerce: Various app builder plugins and integrations
- BigCommerce: Built-in mobile app capabilities
Key features to include in your eCommerce mobile app
When developing your mobile app for eCommerce, ensure you include these essential features:
- Product catalog with search and filtering
- Secure payment gateway integration
- Push notification system
- User account and profile management
- Shopping cart and wishlist functionality
- Order tracking and history
- Customer reviews and ratings
- Social media integration
- Offline browsing capabilities
- Multi-language and currency support
The ROI of eCommerce mobile apps
Investing in an eCommerce mobile app can deliver significant returns. Some brands see as much as 53x ROI from their mobile apps. The ROI comes from:
- Increased purchase frequency among app users
- Higher average order values compared to mobile web
- Improved customer retention through push notifications and loyalty programs
- Reduced customer acquisition costs through owned media channels
Shoppers using their mobile phones spend an average of $104.83 per order, and 15% of consumers using mobile shopping apps use them daily.
Implementation best practices
To maximize the success of your eCommerce mobile app:
Optimize for Mobile-First Design
In March 2025, traffic from mobile devices to eCommerce sites accounted for 75% share. Your app design should prioritize mobile user experience above all else.
Focus on Speed and Performance
Slow websites increase abandonment by 75%. Ensure your app loads quickly and responds instantly to user interactions.
Implement Robust Analytics
Track user behavior, conversion rates, and app performance to continuously optimize the user experience.
Plan for Ongoing Maintenance
Mobile operating systems are updated frequently, sometimes with major UI changes or technical requirements. Budget for ongoing maintenance and updates.
Integrating with customer support
As your mobile app grows, you’ll need robust customer support systems. Consider integrating with platforms like eDesk to manage customer inquiries across multiple channels. Learn more about eCommerce customer support solutions and AI in eCommerce to enhance your customer service capabilities.
For marketplace sellers, check out our guides on how to sell on eBay, Amazon seller customer support, and Shopify customer service apps.
Final words
The impact of mobile eCommerce is growing every day. Mobile commerce is expected to surpass $4 trillion in 2025, with more consumers than ever turning to their phones to browse, shop, and complete purchases.
If your online store is embracing the future and you want to maximize conversions, it’s time to create a top-quality eCommerce mobile app! With the right ecommerce mobile app development approach and tools, you can significantly improve customer engagement, reduce cart abandonment, and drive long-term revenue growth.
Whether you choose a no-code eCommerce mobile app builder or invest in custom development, having a dedicated mobile app in 2025 is no longer optional – it’s essential for staying competitive in the rapidly evolving eCommerce landscape.Book a free demo to learn more about how eDesk can help you make the most of your eCommerce mobile app today.
