Introduction
Companies are turning to mobile solutions to reach more prospects, as a result of the increasing popularity of smartphones. Applications are a turning point for retail professionals. This is the first step toward mobile-friendly websites. Companies looking to improve their visibility can now take advantage of download platforms such as the App Store or Google Play. The greatest benefit of mobile apps is their ability to support your business.
They allow you to notify your customers about company changes through features like push notifications, internal advertisements, and statistics. This blog will show you how mobile app development can help boost your retail business.
What is a retail business?
To make a profit, retail businesses can sell products and services through multiple delivery channels. You can choose to deliver your products online or offline. Let's learn more about the retail supply chain. The major players in the retail supply chain are Distributors, Wholesalers, Retailers, and Consumers. The manufacturer will produce the goods, sell them to distributors, and distributors will resell them back to retailers. Finally, the retailers will resell them back to end-users or consumers. Each stage of the process will see a markup added to the original price. This ensures that each player makes a profit. A product that costs $50 can end up costing consumers $80.
Global retail sales for 2020 will reach 23.36 trillion dollars, while eCommerce retail sales for 2020 will reach 4.13 trillion dollars. These statistics are worth a glance:
What is a Retail App?
An app that allows consumers and retailers to transact business online is called a retail app. It is designed to assist shop owners and retailers in managing all aspects of their business with just one click. It will help you track customers' buying patterns and transactions, manage marketing and campaigns, and manage staff, among other things.
It doesn't matter whether your store is located online, offline, or a combination of both. You only need to choose the right retail app to manage your business. Shopify POS and MailChimp are the best retail apps on the market right now. Let's take a look at the current retail apps.
1. Shopify POS
The Shopify POS is an app for Android and iOS that allows you to make transactions online or in a physical shop, is available for both Android and iOS. You can add products, process orders, and generate receipts. Your store doesn't have to be online. Shopify POS now allows you to download products from your store directly if it has a Shopify account. If not, you can add products to create a store. You can also use the app to scan barcodes, print receipts, create cash drawers, and even read credit cards.
2. MailChimp
Mailchimp, a marketing tool that can help you manage all aspects of your marketing strategy, is a great choice. Mailchimp allows you to create newsletters, mailing lists, automated campaigns, as well as a powerful data analysis module. You can connect to your online store via easy API integration. You can easily design email templates using drag-and-drop. You will need an online store to use it. MailChimp can be found in both app stores and on the internet. It runs on many devices.
3. Xero
Xero is the best app if you want to ensure that all your numbers are accurate. You will be kept informed about your financial performance, cash flows, and other information. You can create invoices, automate order exports, manage accounts, and much more with the app. Xero, an accounting app, will help you keep your revenue transparent.
4. When I work
One store might have N employees. The app "When I Work" helps you keep track of your staff. It allows you to set up staff, track whether staff has checked in, send alerts, and much more. Staff members can view their schedules, change shifts if necessary, set up, get important alerts and check in/out from the store. This will save you time, help you track attendance, and allow your business to grow.
Why use mobile apps in retail business?
Let's look at the pros and cons of mobile apps in the retail business.
Pros:
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Smartphone users are spending more time on their smartphones, so you can use this time to grow your business.
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Apps can help you keep your brand prominent in the marketplace.
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Apps can help you improve customer satisfaction.
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Apps can help you improve your marketing strategies.
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Retail apps can help you increase your customer base if done correctly.
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Apps for mobile devices are more efficient than websites.
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Apps allow you to manage everything from anywhere, at any time.
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Apps will allow you to collect more information from customers, and thus give you the chance to analyze it and understand customer buying habits. Apps can help you identify your business's strengths and weaknesses.
Cons:
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Support and monitoring of the app are essential.
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Smart features will cost you if you want them in your app. The cost of features is higher the more you pay!
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It will be difficult to distinguish yourself from your competitors.
The Chance
Now that you are familiar with the various options on the market, and the pros and disadvantages of retail apps, you can grab the chance. Create an app! List your needs, imagine different verticals that will help you grow your business, then vote for the app type you would like to have in your store. No matter what type of business you're in, your app will simplify your daily tasks. This is your chance to be different from your competition and to give your business an edge.
Conclusion
Retail apps are becoming increasingly common. If you want to grow your business, you should consider creating a custom mobile app for your business or using a third-party solution.
We can help you if you're in retail and are looking for an app that meets your needs or a third-party solution. Get in touch with us today for more information.
