Mobile apps are essential for multi-channel retail, as they allow you to reach and engage your customers across different devices and platforms. However, creating mobile apps that deliver a consistent and seamless experience can be challenging. In this article, you will learn how to create mobile apps for multi-channel retail using some best practices and tools.
Before you start developing your mobile app, you need to define your goals and audience. What are the main objectives of your app? How will it support your overall retail strategy? Who are your target customers and what are their preferences and behaviors? These questions will help you design your app with a clear purpose and value proposition.
In my experience in Brazilian retail, before creating an app, you should understand and delve into existing apps in the segment. In Brazil, many cell phones do not have large memory capacity, so the app will compete with banking apps, photo apps, meaning only a few apps will remain installed. Occupying little memory space, being easily accessible, and above all, being attractive, meaning the app must provide some benefit to the consumer. Thus, you will be able to create an app that will be used by many customers
Start by identifying your business goals. Are you aiming to increase sales, improve customer engagement, or provide a seamless shopping experience across all channels? Once you have defined your goals, you can determine the key performance indicators (KPIs) to measure your app’s success. Next, define your target audience. Consider factors such as their age, gender, location, shopping habits, and tech-savviness. Understanding your audience will help you design an app that meets their needs and expectations. For instance, if your target audience is tech-savvy millennials, your app should have a modern design and incorporate the latest technology trends.
Next, you need to choose your app type and features. There are three main types of mobile apps: native, web, and hybrid. Native apps are built for a specific operating system, such as iOS or Android, and offer the best performance and functionality. Web apps are accessed through a browser and are easier to maintain and update. Hybrid apps combine elements of both native and web apps, and can leverage some native features while being cross-platform. Depending on your budget, time, and resources, you can choose the app type that suits your needs.
The features of your app should reflect your goals and audience, as well as the specificities of your retail sector. For example, you may want to include features such as product catalogs, shopping carts, payment options, loyalty programs, push notifications, location-based services, augmented reality, or social media integration.
A native app can provide a superior user experience and performance, but it requires more resources to develop and maintain. A web app or a hybrid app could be a cost-effective alternative, offering broader accessibility across different platforms. When it comes to features, consider functionalities that enhance the shopping experience and align with your customers’ shopping habits. This could include a user-friendly interface, secure payment options, personalised recommendations, customer reviews, and seamless integration with your physical stores if applicable. Consider features that leverage the advantages of mobile devices, such as location-based services, push notifications, and camera integration for augmented reality experiences.
Designing an app to be both usable and accessible is of the utmost importance. You should strive to create an app that is easy to use, navigate, and understand, as well as accessible to people with different abilities and needs. To achieve this, you should use simple and intuitive layouts, menus, and icons. Additionally, you should optimize your app for different screen sizes and orientations, as well as use clear and consistent fonts, colors, and images. Providing feedback and error messages is also essential, as well as following accessibility guidelines and standards. Finally, you should test your app with real users and collect feedback.
Start by following best practices for mobile UX design, a clean and intuitive interface, ensuring easy navigation, and keeping touch targets large enough for comfortable use. Prioritise features and information based on their importance to the user, and keep the number of actions required to a minimum. For accessibility, make sure your app is usable for people with various abilities and disabilities. Try providing alternative text for images, ensuring sufficient colour contrast for visibility, offering text resizing options, and including captions for audio content. Consider different cultural contexts if your app will be used internationally. Regularly test your app with diverse user groups and use their feedback to make improvements.
Developing your app necessitates the use of the right tools and frameworks. You can either hire a professional developer or opt for a DIY app builder platform. While a professional developer can provide more customization and meet specific requirements, it may be more expensive and require more time. DIY app builder platforms can help you create an app without coding, but may be limited in some areas and incur costs. Popular tools and frameworks for mobile app development include Android Studio, Xcode, React Native, Ionic, Appy Pie, and AppInstitute. Android Studio is a native app development tool for Android devices, while Xcode is a native tool for iOS devices. React Native is a hybrid framework based on JavaScript and React, while Ionic is another hybrid framework using web technologies such as HTML, CSS, and JavaScript. Appy Pie and AppInstitute are DIY app builder platforms that offer templates, features, and integrations; the latter specializes in retail apps.
The final step is to launch and promote your app. You need to submit it to the app stores, such as Google Play and Apple App Store, and follow their guidelines and policies. To market your app, create a landing page and website for it, use social media, email, and SMS to spread the word, offer incentives, discounts, and rewards for app users, showcase its features and benefits in your store and online, and collect and display reviews and ratings from your app users. Doing all this will increase your chances of success in multi-channel retail. By creating mobile apps that are aligned with your goals and audience, you can enhance customer experience, loyalty, and sales.