Many stats suggest that Woocommerce has nearly 40% of the world’s ecommerce market share.
That’s a phenomenal number of websites built using the platform, and it goes to show that even though it’s free and open-source, it’s also very robust and flexible.
Along with Shopify, Woocommerce has made ecommerce much more readily available to SMEs and startups, as well as larger, more established companies.
However, have you ever thought about taking your Woocommerce store to the next level – with your very own custom mobile app?
At StudioRav we have experience of building large and successful Woocommerce stores with thousands of products, and also making thousands of pounds of revenue monthly.
Why Woocommerce?
Woocommerce is the preferred ecommerce platform for many due to a number of reasons:
- It’s free and open-source
- Has hundreds of plugins available for it
- Very easy to use and learn
- You can build large stores with it
- Very well supported
- You can completely customise it
This adaptability empowers companies to create distinct and engaging online shopping environments, making Woocommerce a go-to choice for a wide range of businesses worldwide.
Our Recent Woocommerce Mobile App Project
We recently completed a project where we converted a clients Woocommerce website into a mobile application.
This was a really interesting project for many reasons:
Help a client create a new sales channel
First of all it was a great opportunity to help our client sell more online. As a wholesaler, they already had a good number of customers, but most of them were offline. By building this app it provided a new way for their customers to engage with them.
Develop our mobile application skills
The world of websites has rapidly changed in recent years to become heavily mobile-focused. This is understandable because the majority of traffic our client websites receive is through mobile. This project gave us the chance to work more on mobile application development.
Improve our knowledge of Woocommerce
We’ve done so many different types of customisations with Woocommerce from plugin installation and configuration, custom coding, API integrations and more! However, this project allowed us to look at how to improve the connection between a Woocommerce database and a mobile app.
Step-by-Step Guide to Converting Woocommerce into a Mobile App
Website Preparations
Updating your WooCommerce website: The first crucial step in the process of converting your Woocommerce website into a mobile app is to ensure that your website is running on the latest versions of Woocommerce and WordPress.
Regular updates are vital to keep your site secure, improve performance, and access the latest features and functionalities.
With the integration of an app, outdated software can cause security flaws and compatibility problems.
Therefore, make it a priority to perform routine updates, and also consider updating any plugins or themes you use.
Ensuring mobile responsiveness: Mobile responsiveness can be vital to a successful mobile app conversion. Since your website’s design is intended for desktop viewing, it may not automatically translate well to mobile devices.
To address this, focus on making your website mobile-friendly. Ensure that all website elements, including images, text, buttons, and menus, adapt seamlessly to different screen sizes and orientations.
This might involve using responsive design principles or even opting for a mobile-first design approach.
To find and fix any problems with mobile responsiveness, you must test your website across a range of mobile devices and browsers.
Designing a Mobile API UI
Choosing a mobile-first design approach: When converting your Woocommerce website to a mobile app, prioritise a mobile-first design approach.
This involves focusing on core mobile features, considering device constraints, and ensuring an optimised user experience for smaller screens and touch interfaces, ultimately enhancing user satisfaction and engagement.
Adapting your website’s design for mobile: Maintain brand consistency while adapting your website’s design for the mobile app format.
This includes layout redesign, image resizing, simplified navigation menus, and mobile-friendly content optimisation.
Ensure intuitive placement of touch-friendly user interface (UI) elements to create a seamless transition from your website to the app, allowing customers to recognise and interact with your brand effortlessly.
Prioritising user experience (UX) and user interface (UI) design: For a successful mobile app, Make sure to prioritise good quality UX and UI design. Create an intuitive, visually appealing interface that smoothly guides users through their shopping journey.
Emphasise smooth navigation, intuitive product search, easy checkout, and mobile-friendly gestures to replicate and enhance your website’s functionality in a mobile context.
Using a mobile app framework: If you want to speed up development of your mobile app then a specialist framework could be the answer. These will include ready-made templates and easy to use builders to help visually create your app. We found these to be an ideal solution when converting your Woocommerce website into a mobile app.
Connecting APIs to Your Mobile App
Connecting APIs to your mobile app is a pivotal stage in the process of converting your Woocommerce website into a mobile application.
This involves creating tailored Application Programming Interfaces (APIs) for your ecommerce store, defining endpoints for crucial functionalities, and prioritising security and documentation.
Selecting the best platform for developing mobile apps is essential since it affects the app’s functionality and compatibility with various hardware and operating systems.
Integrating these APIs with your app establishes real-time communication, ensuring synchronised data for product listings, pricing, inventory, and customer accounts.
To give customers a simple and secure buying experience and ultimately increase the success of your mobile commerce enterprise, thorough testing and optimisation are crucial.
Woocommerce has a REST API built-in and this is what is used to speak to your mobile app.
We can help connect the main endpoints to your app and ensure product data and updates are seamlessly created.
Getting Listed on Google Play and iOS
Getting your Woocommerce mobile app listed on Google Play and iOS App Store involves several critical steps.
Firstly, compliance with the strict app store guidelines and requirements is essential to avoid rejections or delays in listing. This entails aligning your app with content policies, user privacy standards, and functionality criteria.
Secondly, preparing compelling app assets and metadata, such as eye-catching icons, screenshots, and informative descriptions, is vital for attracting and informing potential users while optimising your app’s visibility.
Lastly, the submission and approval process involves creating developer accounts, completing submission forms, and undergoing a review process, during which administrators assess your app’s compliance, quality, and functionality.
Successfully navigating these steps not only makes your app accessible to a broader audience but also enhances its potential for downloads and user engagement.
If you need help with getting your app listed on Google Play Store or the Apple App Store just get in touch with us and we’ll do our best to help.
Optional: App Management and Support
Opting for optional app management and support services after launching your Woocommerce mobile app is essential for its sustained success.
App maintenance and updates ensure its continued functionality, fixing bugs and introducing new features, as well as keeping it compatible with evolving mobile platforms.
Performance monitoring allows you to track user engagement, identify issues, and enhance the overall user experience.
Providing responsive customer support not only resolves immediate concerns but also builds trust and gathers valuable user feedback for future improvements.
These measures collectively contribute to long-term user satisfaction, loyalty, and the ongoing growth of your mobile commerce venture.
Advantages of Creating a Mobile App from Your Woocommerce Website
There are several compelling advantages to turning your Woocommerce website into a mobile application.
First of all, it elevates the user experience by providing a responsive and intuitive platform optimised for mobile devices, resulting in greater customer satisfaction.
Secondly, it fosters increased customer engagement and loyalty through direct communication via push notifications, simplifying shopping and personalised experiences.
Thirdly, mobile apps allow you to harness the unique features of mobile devices, enabling innovative marketing strategies and setting your brand apart.
This transformation holds the potential for substantial sales and revenue growth, thanks to improved conversion rates, customer loyalty, and targeted marketing opportunities, making it a strategic move in the evolving landscape of ecommerce.
Wrapping Up!
A Woocommerce mobile app represents a crucial asset in the contemporary ecommerce landscape, offering enhanced user experiences, increased customer engagement, and substantial revenue potential.
Embracing mobile commerce is a strategic necessity to remain competitive in a world where consumers rely on mobile devices for shopping.
At StudioRav, we stand ready to guide and assist you throughout this journey.
With our expertise in WooCommerce mobile app development and ongoing support, we’re committed to helping you leverage the power of mobile commerce to drive growth and success for your business.
Take the first step towards a thriving mobile presence by partnering with us, and together, we’ll navigate the exciting terrain of e-commerce’s mobile future.