Developing an app and maintaining its security go hand in hand. When it comes to mobile commerce apps then one thing is for sure the security of the app is a must. M-commerce growth has expanded over the last couple of years but that doesn’t mean every app will be successful in the market.
There could be many reasons for m-commerce applications to fail and one of them is the lack of security. Users will not think twice before completely abandoning the m-commerce app if there are any chances of threat.
eCommerce mobile apps have revolutionized the way people shop online. The wide range of products, the convenience of shopping, and comparing before buying are some best advantages of using mobile commerce technology and also the factors that highlight the importance of m-commerce.
When going for the user experience and app designing in the mobile commerce app development, make sure you also add the security of the app in the same list. There may be a security hack that will cost you your users. There are various steps that need to be taken to secure m-commerce applications and we will discuss them later in the blog.
But first, let’s see how to develop an m-commerce app in three easy steps.
How to Develop Ecommerce Commerce Apps?
The mobile commerce app development process is not a short and simple one. It requires a lot of resources and advanced planning. However, the steps that are involved in the whole process can be explained briefly.
Step1. Select the mobile app’s platform for the development process. iOS app development, Android App Development, Windows app development, etc. are some of the options. Android has a massive user base whereas iOS users have a higher conversion rate. Depending on the purpose of the business model, choose the platform.
Step 2. Designing the mobile application is the next step. The mobile commerce app design should include visually appealing designs, simple animation as well as a clear font. Make sure the app does not become complicated with too many features.
Step 3. The app must include the necessary features for shopping, browsing, and saving items to buy later. These are the features that make an app likable by users. Also, if a user cannot buy an item without facing any glitches, he will likely not use the app the second time.
Step 4. Publish your app on the app store and go for pre-launch and post-launch marketing. The promotion of the app is a must once it’s launched so that it gets maximum traction. Make sure you use all the marketing tools available online.
Step 5. Maintain the app by fixing the bugs and introducing new updates as needed. Support and maintenance of the app are equally important so make sure you give it the attention it needs. In the updates, new features can be added to the app that might have been demanded by the users.
So these were the steps for mobile commerce application development. The development part is done but the importance of m-commerce security should be given utmost priority. Let’s see how mobile commerce app developers safeguard their applications.
How to Secure Your ECommerce App?
What is m-commerce without its security? Your customers should have a reason to trust you and that reason is a strong secured app that can protect the customer information. Mobile app security practices should be followed to build an app that is secure at all times. Now that you know how to build your mobile commerce app, here we are listing some of the key security features of the mobile commerce platform.
Filter user data
When a user fills in their data in order to access the app and its features, it becomes important to secure the app. Sometimes the users need to log into their profile to be able to use the major features of the eCommerce app. Not all data is safe and secure. Some users may be entering false data which needs to be stopped. To do so data authentication and filtration have to be done.
Review the codes
Writing codes is a monotonous job and sometimes codes can make mistakes too. The most popular and secure mobile commerce apps have well-reviewed codes that contain no errors. The review of codes should be done by someone else, mostly an expert is preferred for this job.
When the code is seen by an expert then the mistakes can be identified easily. The vulnerable areas of codes are authentication, authorization, database access, cryptography, etc. With code review, these areas and your mobile commerce applications can be made hackproof.
Continuous security
Unlike app designing, security is a continuous process that never ends as long as the app runs. Just like regular updates of the app, the security of the app should also be updated on a regular basis. The types of m-commerce security measures taken today may not be enough for the attacks tomorrow. Therefore constantly updating the security measures of the app will make the app secure and unharmed by threats.
Regular authentication
When a user wants to change their personal data then authentication is needed. The information provided by the users in the first place is quite sensitive so there will be a need to authenticate any changes in the future.
These authentications are a lifesaver when it comes to money transactions. However, keep in mind to not overdo it since users might get annoyed.
Cryptography
Firm cryptography ensures the security of an app but a broken one makes the app prone to cyber-attacks. The crypto-system must be end-to-end secured to prevent the third party from reading sensitive information or codes.
The successful mobile commerce applications include algorithms that cannot be breached by hackers.
Binary protection
Hackers are always on the hunt for apps that can be hacked so that they can create chaos or steal important data. By securing your app with binary protection, you can stop that from happening.
We now know what goes into the development of eCommerce apps and maintaining the security of the app too. Let’s move to the features of a successful eCommerce app.
Development Cost and Future of Mobile Commerce Apps
‘How much does it cost to build an app?’ – this is one of the most asked questions in the app development world. The cost of mobile app development is not fixed and changes depending on factors.
But if you need numbers here then a basic Android m-commerce app would cost between $8,000 to $50,000. The cost of development for the same app in iOS will be high.
If you are going with mobile commerce app development company then the app will be worth your money as the team will be highly skilled and managed.
