How to Turn Shopify Store into Mobile App: Step-by-Step Guides

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Having a mobile application for your Shopify store can indubitably help improve customer engagement and increase sales. This is because mobile applications are more personalized, load faster and allow people to shop even when they are not seated with a computer. So, can I turn Shopify store into mobile app? The answer is YES. You can convert Shopify into mobile app by using a Shopify mobile app builder.

In this guide, BSS Commerce Shopify will offer you detailed instructions on how to convert your Shopify store to mobile app and what strategies and tactics to consider choosing the best Shopify mobile application builder.

Now, don’t hesitate again. Let’s begin!

Benefits of Having a Mobile App for Shopify Store

Mobile commerce has gained popularity, as mobile devices generate around 63% of total internet traffic. To add on, a sizable proportion of the population today is made up of those who access the internet using smartphones only. These statistics imply that the future generation of eCommerce will focus more on serving mobile-first or more so, mobile-only users.

Changing your Shopify store to a mobile application can greatly improve the experience measured by the users of your shop leading to better conversion rates, higher average order values, as well as more products viewed per session.

Below are its specific benefits:

1. Improved User Experience with Mobile App. Users will appreciate the ease of use and interactive nature of the mobile application as compared to a mobile site. The application is designed in a way that fits only to phones, thus minimizing annoyances and distractions.

2. Increased User Engagement and Retention Rates. A good experience leads to better retention rates. If the customers are satisfied with their shopping experience from your mobile application, chances are they will come back for more. The ability to launch the app from the home screen with a single tap and the persistent presence of the brand increase the lifetime value of the client.

3. Exclusive Sales Portal. With the mobile app development, you acquire an exclusive sales portal that is not reliant on other sources such as Google or Facebook. You push your brand through constantly communicating to the customers via push notifications making and wanting them to order and use your products more often.

4. App Store Listing. Showcasing your application on both the iOS and Android platforms provides a measure of social proof and trustworthiness to the users. It also provides another avenue for acquiring customers as it targets those who are looking for your particular app in the app stores. In addition, app store listings create strong authority backlinks, which help to improve your website’s ranking and bring more organic search traffic to it.

5. Upgraded Options for Mobile Payments. When one involves such payment systems as mobile wallets, tapping features, or even one-click payments like Apple Pay or Google Pay, it is made easier for the online shoppers without any added stress on the turning rates. New and returning customers are guaranteed safety in preserving their modes of payment making it easier to make another order.

How to Turn Shopify Store into Mobile App in 5 Steps

Now that you understand the benefits and have chosen a Shopify mobile app builder, let us proceed to outline the steps necessary to convert your Shopify store into a mobile application:

Step 1: Optimize your website for mobile compatibility

Before converting your Shopify store into an application, it’s important to check whether your existing Shopify store has a mobile-friendly design. This means that the site should be responsive, load quickly, and provide a good experience when used on a smartphone or tablet.

Furthermore, the application that you design will use the design and the content of the mobile version of the website. It will effectively replicate the design of your site – incorporating some elements of a mobile user interface such as native navigation and a tab menu.

To avoid the situation where the users always see a blank screen or an unattractive interface, it is important to make sure that the users are able to view the website optimally in the mobile devices. Owners of Shopify stores will be able to test their store’s performance on all mobile devices and check whether the store looks good while working properly.

Step 2: Choose a Shopify app that turn your Shopify storefront into a mobile app

To choose a trustworthy Shopify application, Shopify store owners need to focus on transforming online stores into mobile applications. Numerous alternatives can be found in the Shopify App Store. It is advisable to examine user reviews, evaluate features, and take into account aspects such as cost and customer service prior to reaching a conclusion. Notable app development options include Tapcart, Plobal Apps, and Mobile App Builder.

Read more: Top 8 Shopify Mobile App Builders

Besides, you can reference the heading below about tips to choose the right Shopify mobile app builder.

Step 3: Customize the user interface (UI) components of your Shopify mobile app

After selecting a Shopify app builder, you should then begin carrying out any possible improvements on the user interface (UI) components of your mobile application. Thanks to this process, you will be able to arrange the structure of the app, choose colors and font types that suit your target audience and add your brand logo along with other images. Most Shopify app builders have what is known as a construction functionality where users can build their apps with ease, without any form of coding.

Here are some examples of how you can customize UI components in your Shopify mobile app:

Buttons

Shape: Change the buttons shape from classic rectangles for circles, ovals or any other customized shapes.
Color: Change button colors to the idea palette for filling in the brand visual or specific hierarchy.
Typography: Change font family, size and weight in a way that goes well with the brand.
Effects: Responsive feedback e.g. visual or tactile cues through h. effects, animations or even haptic feedbacks.

Text Fields and Labels

Layout: Literature and text place adjustments for reading and writing purposes.
Typography: Some typefaces do not work especially in small mobile devices that best describes the brand’s look.

Images and Icons

Quality: Provide images and icons that are advisable to be used at high resolution.
Style: Appropriate images and icons that can be aesthetically looking to the brand should be chosen.
Accessibility: Images should be accompanied by alternative texts for other users who are not able to see the illustrated images.

Navigation

Menu Styles: Try different styles of menus, for instance, little bacon icons, tab bar menus or a drawer at the side of the screen.
Gestures: Employ simple swipe and pinching for navigation among other gestures.
Breadcrumbs: Include breadcrumbs to show the user where they are in the app.

Progress Indicators

Types: Implement appropriate types of progress indicators like progress bars, activity or loading indicators, or spinners.
Customization: Modify the design of progress indicators and their action sequences in relation to the applications design.

Dialog Boxes and Alerts

Layout: Create dialog boxes and alert boxes that are understandable and readable amongst small screen devices.
Content: Short and precise text message is to be conveyed.
Actions: Reaction from users is to be facilitated by intuitive buttons that are informative and to the point.

Themes

Dark Mode: Implement a dark mode option to improve readability in low-light conditions and reduce eye strain.
Color Schemes: Create multiple color schemes to allow users to personalize the app’s appearance.

Step 4: Complete the configuration of your shopping mobile app and conduct testing

Shopify store owners can establish the configuration of your application by linking it to your Shopify store. This process includes the integration of your product catalog, the setup of payment gateways, and the activation of features such as push notifications and user authentication.

Therefore, Shopify store owners need to conduct comprehensive testing of your application across various devices to verify its proper functionality, accurate product display, and seamless user experience. Additionally, assess the checkout process, navigation, and any other features you have incorporated.

Step 5: Publish and promote your apps

Once you are satisfied with the design and capabilities achieved within your Shopify mobile application, you may now proceed with the completion of the remaining steps for publishing it. Follow the procedures established by the application development environment for app submission to the relevant app stores; that is, the App Store for iOS or the Play Store for Android.

Besides, all submission policy and procedures must be adhered to. When the app is up and running, make sure that you do some marketing through your website, social media platform, email marketing, or any other way you use to reach your audience. Encourage your users to install and use the app by explaining its benefits and distinguishing features.

Bonus Tips: How to Choose the Right Shopify Mobile App Builder

To enhance accessibility for store owners, Shopify mobile app builders have been developed. These tools allow modification of a Shopify shop into a mobile application at much lower rates than custom app design. Nevertheless, while most app builders are useful, they do not all have the same quality; hence it is important to identify the one that will serve best your needs.

How can you determine the most suitable Shopify mobile app builder?

Consider the following key factors:

1. Customer support: Locate a provider who assures excellent support and assistance during the entire process of development of the application. Evaluate criteria such as how soon replies are made, whether live chat or phone support is available, and the history of the provider in resolving customer issues promptly and effectively.

2. Features: When optimizing the application, take into account capabilities provided by the application builder so that they correspond to your needs. Look for basic features such as the ability to synchronize product catalogs, push notifications, real time analytics, in apps purchases, user login, social media connectivity and any other features crucial for the business.

3. User-friendliness interface: You can save a considerable amount of time and discouragement with the help of a well-designed application builder. Go for a solution that offers simple designs and facilitates the customization of applications through drag and drop features without much struggle. An intuitive builder will let you change your application easily without much technical know-how or writing any codes.

4. Integration capabilities: Look into the app builder’s capacity to incorporate with the other tools and systems that you employ in running your business, such as the payment processing gateways, inventory control systems, CRM, email marketing systems and other applications. This is to ensure that there are no disruptions between businesses due to various systems used and the data present in them.

5. User experience and design: The application should possess an aesthetic appeal, be fluid in its functioning as well as be designed keeping the mobile usage in mind. Seek solutions that permit flexibility in design so as to build an application that is in line with the customer’s brand and can excite the end users.

6. Native iOS and Android applications: These applications are highly efficient, allow for utilization of specific device features, and provide consistent experience to users across platforms. The app development tool that you choose should also be able to support the design of the Applications separately for the I-phone and the Android phone.

7. Language support: With online Shopify stores having a wide reach in terms of clients or having the strategy of targeting other markets, then adding support for different languages is vital for that application. Look for an application development solution that makes it easy to localize and translate the content of your app into other languages.

Wrapping Up

That’s all about how to turn Shopify store into mobile app. Thanks to adhering to the procedures detailed in this guide, you can effectively convert your Shopify store into an engaging mobile application.

Keep in mind that a thoughtfully designed mobile application can greatly improve customer experience, boost brand recognition, and elevate sales. Therefore, take the initiative to create a mobile app that distinguishes your Shopify store from its competitors.

Thanks for reading!