App vs. Website: The Best Medium for eCommerce Businesses

In this digital era, there’s no way left other than to take your store online if you want more sales and revenue. When it comes to taking a small business online, most business owners get confused between eCommerce apps and websites. Both options require a significant amount of investment, and that’s why it’s crucial to understand all factors and then decide the best one. As a leading web development company, we can help you choose the right medium to reach your target audience. So, should you invest in a mobile app, an eCommerce website design, or both? This blog is going to share both the pros and cons of mobile apps and eCommerce sites so that you can easily make an informed decision.

The Rise of Mobile Commerce

Before we dive deep into the app vs. website debate, it is important to understand that mobile commerce, or m-commerce, is becoming increasingly important. People today own smartphones in almost every part of the world. They use them for a significant portion of their internet activities. Mobile apps have been extremely effective in this context. Mobile apps were expected to bring in over 935 billion dollars globally in sales by 2022, according to Statista, highlighting their importance in the eCommerce sector.

The eCommerce market is becoming more challenging than ever. Big brothers like Amazon, Walmart, Etsy, etc. are trying hard to keep themselves ahead in the race. In such a competitive market, you should consider everything well and then make informed decisions. It is not that, since giant eCommerce businesses are on the market, you can’t have your own site or app or grow. Many eCommerce startups have grown incredibly in this market and positioned themselves as leaders.

Advantages You Can Enjoy by Having a Mobile App

Mobile applications are specially designed for smartphone and tablet users and offer a tailored experience. Here are some of the major benefits of using mobile apps for eCommerce businesses:

Enhanced User Experience

Mobile eCommerce apps come with an intuitive and user-friendly interface to fit the small displays of mobile devices. Apart from this, users can also enjoy touch gestures, swiping, push notifications, and so on. Mobile eCommerce apps also improve and personalise users’ purchasing experience.

Faster Loading Time

Faster loading time is one of the greatest benefits of investing in eCommerce mobile apps. It takes only a fraction of a second to open a mobile app and then explore the listed products. Users can check your products on the go, wishlist them, or add them to a cart, and then buy them instantly. It not only ensures a smooth user experience but also increases the chance of sales.

Better Security

The eCommerce mobile app development process includes multiple layers of cybersecurity. It is impossible for browsers of websites open in a tab to track or record important information like user credentials, payment details, and more. However, today, some advanced browsers can help us save credentials and update them accordingly.

Personalisation

Modern eCommerce apps are efficient enough to collect and analyse user data to offer personalised recommendations. If your business can understand its users’ requirements and buying patterns, it can offer exactly what your users require, enhancing the overall shopping experience. Modern users appreciate the feeling of being understood and served based on their preferences.

Push Notifications

Mobile apps can send push notifications to users to inform them about special offers, new products, and promotions. Direct communication can inspire users to take action. Push notifications are effective in boosting engagement and increasing sales.

Faster Payments

Compared to websites, mobile eCommerce apps can help process payments faster. In some cases, users do not even need to enter all payment details every time. With the help of payment apps installed on mobile devices, eCommerce apps can process faster payments with a couple of clicks.

Disadvantages of eCommerce Apps

Just like any other technological solution out there, mobile eCommerce apps also have some disadvantages, such as:

Expensive Development Process

The eCommerce mobile app development process requires more resources, effort, and budget. Apart from this, the maintenance stage is also costlier compared to eCommerce website maintenance.

Complicated Bug Identification

Identifying glitches or bugs in the code and fixing them instantly is quite challenging. Sometimes, you need to hire senior and more dedicated developers to figure out the issue. It can increase the cost and time. If there is a bug after the app launches, developers need to fix it as soon as possible; otherwise, it can affect the user experience and reputation.

Limited Features in Cross-Platform Apps

You may have heard that hybrid apps are less costly and let you reach a wider audience base. On the other hand, cross-platform apps have limited features compared to native apps. So, if you are looking for a feature-rich, scalable mobile eCommerce app, you may need to build native apps for individual platforms. It can significantly increase your expenses.

Advantages of eCommerce Websites

While mobile eCommerce applications offer various benefits, websites also have significant strengths in the eCommerce ecosystem. Let’s check out the benefits that you can enjoy from having a dedicated website built by professional website design services in India for your store.

Accessibility

eCommerce websites are easily accessible from any device with a web browser. This is a platform-agnostic solution that allows your business to reach a broader audience. Here, you don’t need to rely on only those users who have installed your eCommerce app.

Better SEO

eCommerce websites created by an expert web design company are easier for search engines to index. It can help your eCommerce business appear higher in search results. You may increase your visibility and bring in organic traffic using SEO techniques.

Lower Development Costs

Developing a responsive web design is cost-effective compared to building and maintaining an eCommerce mobile application. It is particularly beneficial for small businesses with limited constraints.

Easy Updates

Website updates and changes are easier and quicker to make compared to mobile apps, according to expert website designers. After making changes, you may need to wait for days to get approval from the app store. However, with website changes or updates, there is no such waiting period. Websites ensure agility, which is essential for responding to customer feedback and market trends promptly.

Cross-Platform Compatibility

eCommerce websites do not rely on specific operating systems or platforms. Users can easily access an eCommerce site on various devices, such as smartphones, desktop computers, tablets, and even smart TVs.

Quick Installation

Users need to download and install mobile eCommerce applications, but websites are instantly accessible using a web browser. It removes the barrier to initial entry and can ensure higher initial user engagement.

Disadvantages of eCommerce Websites

Without a doubt, eCommerce websites are comparatively cost-effective to build, but they still lack a few features and functionalities that businesses may require to grow.

Slow Loading Speed

Slow loading speed is one of the most common issues that users face with an eCommerce website. It is not that every target market has faster internet speed. The slow loading speed can frustrate your users, and they may leave your site. It can increase the bounce rate and affect conversion.

Interference of Spam Websites

Nowadays, many malware websites are trying hard to track and steal user data. If a user opens a spammy website and then opens your eCommerce site, it can pose a risk to your website. It might result in exposing crucial user data.

Cannot Access Offline

You know browsers don’t save data apart from cache and cookies. And that’s why it is impossible to access websites without the internet. This can seem like a major disadvantage to eCommerce website users.

So, What’s the Best for a Small Business– App or Website?

The eCommerce app vs. website debate often leads to a polarised discussion. The best approach is to combine both mediums. However, a small business may not be able to afford both mediums at the same time.

Amid the tremendous popularity of mobile apps, websites are still an effective tool for small businesses. eCommerce websites are affordable, simple to access, and have a great search engine presence. They remove the need for app downloads, helping small enterprises reach a wider audience. Furthermore, website development is typically less expensive and lets small businesses easily take their business online.

Conclusion

The eCommerce app vs. website debate is not a one-size-fits-all scenario, as businesses have unique requirements. Since each medium has its strengths, the best approach generally combines them to reach a larger audience and create a flexible shopping experience. When making this crucial choice, take your target market, your budget, and the unique features of your company into account. If you find it hard, consult with expert business analysts at the best web design company in India, Logo Design India. This is a leading eCommerce website design company with more than 12 years of experience. Currently, it is equipped with 150+ developers and cutting-edge technologies to deliver next-gen web solutions that can take businesses to the next level.