Do you want a great mobile app?
Your eCommerce app might perform well if you have a perfect app development strategy. However, that is only half of the battle fought. If you really want your app to thrive, you need to have a killer app design.
Whether you are designing the app yourself or partnering with an eCommerce development company, we will give you some advice to make your app look like it has already won the game.
This guide also serves as a great reference for designers who are working on multiple projects at the same time.
Applications that are not designed well will simply not succeed. You might be able to stop users for a while, but ultimately they will get frustrated and bounce back.
Follow the eCommerce design tips below to make sure that this doesn’t happen to you. So, let’s get started…
18 Effective Strategies to Enhance the Design of Commerce-Focused Mobile Apps
A well-designed commerce-oriented mobile app enhances user engagement, increases conversions, and builds customer loyalty. Here’s how you can optimize the design of your app:
1. Simplify Onboarding
A long or complicated sign-up process can deter potential users. To provide a frictionless experience, enable social media logins (Google, Apple, Facebook) and provide a guest checkout for first-time users. Keep forms simple by collecting only necessary information, and if onboarding requires multiple steps, provide a progress bar so users remain aware of their progress.
2. Intuitive Navigation
Smooth navigation helps find the intended elements with minimal frustration. Implement a bottom navigation bar for major elements such as Home, Cart, and Profile, whereas secondary content should be accessible only through a hamburger menu. Implement touch targets that are at least 48×48 pixels large for accessibility, and incorporate a “Back to Top” option for uncluttered browsing of a very long product list.
3. Smart Search & Filters
Users should be able to find the products with ease. Improve searching functionality by providing predictive search results and natural language processing (NLP) support to understand searches more accurately. Offer robust filtering and sorting features based on price, rating, brand, and category. In addition to these, offer the option of a voice search mode for browsing freely.
4. High-Quality Images & Videos
As e-commerce is very visual in nature, product images with high resolution and zoom-in capabilities are a necessity. Take it up a notch by adding 360° product views and short demonstration videos or GIFs. Augmented Reality (AR) features like “Try Before You Buy” for fashion or interior décor can really increase user confidence in buying.
5. Consistent Branding
Strong branding builds trust and recognition. Ensure that there is consistency on every page by adhering to the same color palette, font, and button types. Your logo needs to be noticed but not in your face, and your branded icons should resonate with the overall tone of your app. Also, keep your product description, notifications, and marketing messages consistent in their tone and voice.
6. Whitespace & Clean Layouts
A cluttered interface is confusing and pushes users away. Use liberal whitespace to create a clean, well-structured design. The text should be legible, at least 16px in font size. Structure content with clear headings, subheadings, and bullet points to improve the information hierarchy. Avoid covering screens with lots of CTAs (Call-to-Actions) that confuse individuals.
7. Personalized Recommendations
AI-driven personalization has the power to greatly enhance the user experience and boost conversions. Remind users what they viewed recently to encourage them to go back to products they were considering. Implement machine learning algorithms to offer “Frequently Bought Together” recommendations and offer product suggestions based on browsing behavior. Personalized push notifications, such as “Your favorite product is back in stock!” can also boost sales.
8. Wishlist & Save for Later
Not all users buy at once, so having a wishlist component can help with retention. Allow users to save items without requiring them to log in. Send soft reminders when wishlist items go on sale or are in low stock. Also, offers social share functionality so users can share their wishlists with others and friends and family.
9. Social Proof & Reviews
Users trust reviews from their peers over marketing content. Highlight user-generated content (UGC) such as photos and videos posted by previous customers. Highlight the best reviews in a “Top Reviews” section. “Best Seller” or “Trending Product” badges are indicative of a product being hot right now, conveying urgency and confidence. A Q&A facility allows users to ask and receive questions regarding products straight from fellow customers or shop staff.
10. One-Click Checkout
One of the most prominent causes of cart abandonment is the tedious checkout process. Streamline it by enabling address autofill and payment method saving. Provide one-tap checkout options like Apple Pay, Google Pay, or PayPal. If there are multiple steps in the checkout process, include a progress bar to inform users of how far they have progressed. Modifying cart items should be simple and not require starting over.
11. Multiple Payment Methods
Offering multiple payment methods can increase conversions. Ensure that your app supports credit/debit cards, digital wallets (PayPal, Apple Pay, Google Pay), and Buy Now, Pay Later (BNPL) services like Klarna or Afterpay. If relevant to your audience, add support for cryptocurrency payments. Include QR code payments for easy mobile payments as well.
12. Transparent Pricing & Fees
Surprise checkout fees can discourage purchases. Show the final price, taxes, and shipping fees prominently on product pages. Provide estimated shipping times prior to checkout to make believable promises. Advertise special offers like “Free Shipping on orders over $50” to incentivize bigger orders. Automatically apply available discount codes to make it simple for customers.
13. Optimize Loading Speed
Surprise checkout fees can discourage purchases. Show the final price, taxes, and shipping fees prominently on product pages. Provide estimated shipping times prior to checkout to make believable promises. Advertise special offers like “Free Shipping on orders over $50” to incentivize bigger orders. Automatically apply available discount codes to make it simple for customers.
14. Offline Mode
Users may not always have a reliable internet connection, so offering offline browsing will make the product more accessible. Be sure to offer caching so previously loaded pages can be browsed without an internet connection. Progressive Web App technology can be utilized in order to provide offline support. A downloadable PDF catalog can also be given for offline browsing of product listings.
15. Secure Authentication
Security is the pillar of the reliability of your commerce app. Use a biometric login like fingerprint or Face ID for a quick, secure experience. Two-factor authentication (2FA) provides an added layer of protection. OAuth login providers like Google or Apple decrease password dependency and minimize security exposure. Password reset must be easy and convenient through email or OTP verification. A reliable Magento development company can help implement secure authentication methods such as biometric login, two-factor authentication (2FA), and OAuth-based logins to safeguard user data and build trust.
16. Trust Signals
Customers need to be assured before purchase. Showcase security certificates and SSL badges on payment pages clearly and visibly. Have return and refund policies prominently displayed to remove doubts. Display trusted payment partner logos (Visa, Mastercard, PayPal) to bolster credibility. Highlight guarantees such as “100% Secure Payment” or “Satisfaction Guaranteed” to enhance buyer confidence.
17. Order Tracking & Notifications
Post-purchase communication is imperative when it comes to retaining customers. Provide order tracking in real-time with clean status messages. Trigger push notifications upon shipment, for out-for-delivery, and in case of delay. The users should get automatic SMS and email alerts, along with the estimated date of delivery. A separate “Track My Order” section of the app provides customers with an ongoing view of the order status at any time.
18. Seamless Support
Good customer support can either make or destroy a purchasing experience. Offer real-time support via live chat to solve issues quickly. AI-based chatbots can resolve basic questions and respond in real-time. A well-indexed help center containing FAQs, video guides, and troubleshooting sections can minimize support inquiries. Offer a “Request a Call Back” feature to valued customers for individualized assistance.
Final Thoughts
Enhancing the design of a commerce-driven mobile app means taking a user-centric approach. By prioritizing user experience, performance, security, and trust, you can deliver a seamless shopping experience that fosters engagement and optimizes conversions. If you’re launching a new e-commerce app or optimizing an existing one, using these eCommerce design tips will keep you competitive in the competitive mobile commerce environment.
