The Anatomy of a Retail App
Mobile commerce continues to grow exponentially in Asia. For retail marketers, that means they must develop an effective and transactional mobile presence.
Mobile commerce continues to grow exponentially in Asia. For retail marketers, that means they must develop an effective and transactional mobile presence.
China is leading the way when it comes to mobile retail, according to Mintel’s latest report, which found that a whopping 94 percent of those surveyed own a smartphone and regularly use it to make purchases, redeem coupons, and send gifts.
But despite the overall optimistic outlook for the growth of mobile retail in Asia, Mintel has some words of caution for retailers themselves, claiming they lack full commitment to new and innovative applications of online technology.
The numbers speak for themselves – mobile-commerce spending in China is set to pass $50 billion this year, yet some retailers are finding it hard to know where to start when it comes to developing an effective, transactional mobile presence.
Aside from establishing a presence on one of China’s hugely popular social apps such as WeChat or Weibo, one of the quickest and most cost-effective ways for retailers to make a mark and engage their mobile customers is to develop a branded app that allows them to browse-and-buy where and when they choose to.
There are a number of specific issues to consider when it comes to developing apps for the Chinese/Asian market:
Practical
Behavioral
Technical
While there are clearly a number of points to consider that are unique to the market in Asia, key aspects of app development and promotion are universal, essential, and valid across the globe.
This infographic examines the anatomy of a retail app and gives insight into what retailers need to do to ensure it is successful: