More people use their phones for e-commerce than their computers, so if your Shopify store is only available for desktop, you are missing out on a lot of potential customers. The ultimate goal for many online retailers is to have a dedicated app available in Android or Apple app stores, with all the mobile shopping capabilities.

WHY HAVE AN APP?

Having your Shopify store optimized for mobile users is the industry standard. People expect you to have a mobile version of your website that they can access from their phones. For many, a mobile-friendly website is probably enough, and Shopify already includes mobile-friendly features for its' users.

Applications are slightly different: they are downloaded from a market such as Android and IOS app stores and remain on your client's device until they are uninstalled. They're ideal for certain features you just can't find on a website. In particular, if your business requires users to return frequently, or to access store information, an application might be a better option. For example, let's say your company offers online conferences or 30-minute courses that your customers can access anywhere. Having an application instead of just a mobile site will allow your customers to save videos they like to access offline, create collections and playlists, and so on.

With the Shopify Buy integration, your customers will be able to purchase additional videos within the app with a fully streamlined process. If you already have an app, but don't have an e-commerce store, Shopify integration is a way to monetize the content you already have, and add the ability to make purchases within the app. Shopify offers you the latest in online store management, including the ability to expand through other sales channels.

HOW TO OPTIMIZE FOR MOBILE?

The Mobile Software Development Kit available through Shopify allows you to connect a mobile application to your Shopify store using a few lines of code. Your customers will be able to browse through your application and easily purchase directly, while synchronizing all their inventory and operations as usual. It uses a mechanism similar to the Buy button that you can put anywhere online, which means you can choose the products and collections you want to display, customize the checkout experience and fully integrate the shopping functions into the aesthetics of your application.

ADD THE MOBILE APP SALES CHANNEL

One of the main benefits of Shopify is integration. By adding each of the places you sell as a "sales channel" you can find out how each of them is through your Shopify administrator. You'll be able to see how many of your sales (and what) come from your application, compared to Amazon sales, Facebook sales, your direct site, etc. With this type of data, you'll be better equipped to market smarter and put your resources where they have the greatest impact.

Looking for an application developer for your Shopify store? We are experts in Shopify Plus. This means that we know all the details of application development for Shopify store owners. Contact us for more information on custom e-commerce solutions for your Shopify store!