How to Turn Your Centra Website into a Mobile App

As we enter 2025, mobile commerce has become a priority for eCommerce businesses.

Despite mobile devices now driving more than 50% of online sales, many brands are still failing to fully capitalize on this critical channel.

Developing a dedicated mobile app for your Centra site is an opportunity to elevate your mobile customer experience, and simultaneously improve conversion rates, increase order value, and boost retention, to drive long-term revenue.

In this guide, we'll outline how to create a mobile app for your Centra site, and explain why MobiLoud offers the most effective approach to mobile app development.

If you're on the fence about whether or not to build a mobile app for your store, check out our eCommerce App Revenue Calculator, to see how much new revenue you can generate from an app.

Can You Build Mobile Apps With Centra?

While Centra excels at creating mobile-responsive websites, transforming your site into a genuine native mobile application presents a significant technical challenge.

Web development platforms like Centra are designed to create browser-based experiences using web technologies like HTML, CSS, and JavaScript.

However, to create an application that operates natively on mobile operating systems like Android and iOS, you'll typically require a completely different programming approach and language. Mobile operating systems have unique architectural requirements that go beyond standard web technologies.

This technical limitation doesn't mean you must abandon your Centra website. Instead, you'll need to explore alternative strategies to bridge the gap between your web platform and a true mobile app experience.

In the following sections, we'll explore the best solutions to this challenge.

Three Ways to Build a Centra Mobile App

If you're using Centra to power your website, and want to create a mobile app, you essentially have three potential approaches:

1. Custom App Development from Scratch
2. Use a Template-Based App Builder
3. Converting Your Existing Centra Site into an App with MobiLoud

Let's explore these options in detail.

1: Build a Custom App from Scratch

The traditional route involves building a completely original mobile application from the ground up. This approach requires:

• Separate development for iOS and Android platforms.
• Hiring specialized, high-cost developers.
• Creating a custom API to synchronize website and app data.

The financial and time investment is substantial:

• Potential costs ranging from hundreds of thousands of dollars, to potentially a million plus.
• Development timelines exceeding one year.
• Significant ongoing expenses for maintaining a dedicated development team.

Even using cross-platform frameworks like React Native or Flutter won't dramatically reduce initial costs, with minimum investments around $50,000 minimum for the first version of your app.

2: Template-Based App Builders

No-code app builders offer a seemingly quick and affordable solution, promising:

• Rapid market entry.
• Pre-designed templates.
• Minimal technical expertise required.

However, these platforms come with significant limitations:

• Inability to fully replicate your website functionality.
• Restricted customization options.
• Generic, uninspiring design aesthetics.
• Separate app management workflow.
• Poor integration with platforms like Centra.

While cost-effective, template builders substantially constrain your app's potential and user experience.

3: Convert Your Centra Site to an App With MobiLoud

The most innovative approach involves transforming your existing Centra website into a native mobile app using a website to app service like MobiLoud.

MobiLoud offers a full-service solution that:

• Converts your entire web store into Android and iOS apps.
• Requires no coding or development work from your team.
• Leverages your existing features and design to build your apps.
• Fully syncs with your website.
• Adds mobile-specific features to make your app look and feel fully native.

This method provides all mobile app advantages - enhanced user experience, device presence, push notification - while avoiding the risks and limitations of alternative development strategies.

You can essentially replicate the big-brand mobile app playbook without the astronomical costs and technical challenges.

Why MobiLoud is the Best Way to Convert a Centra Site into an App

Your current eCommerce site is already 90% of the way to being a mobile app.

You've crafted a high-performance website that's lightning-fast, mobile-responsive, and optimized for conversions. It's essentially an app waiting to be unleashed.

Rather than starting from scratch, a direct conversion approach can seamlessly transform your existing Centra site into native mobile apps, preserving everything that makes your website exceptional, while giving you the full benefits of a mobile app.

Here’s why MobiLoud is your best way forward to build a Centra mobile app.

Done-for-you service

We provide a complete solution to launch your app and start driving revenue, without requiring you to write a single line of code.

Our expert team handles the intricate process of converting your website's functionality into a native mobile app. You just sit and wait.

A fraction of the cost of custom development

We've eliminated the traditional complexities and expenses associated with app development, making mobile apps accessible for all businesses.

For just a few hundred dollars monthly, you receive a comprehensive package:

• Full Centra store conversion.
• iOS and Android apps.
• Unlimited push notifications.
• Complete handling of App Store submission.
• Ongoing updates and maintenance.
• Expert marketing support.

Compared to traditional development costs starting at $250,000, we're leveling the playing field for emerging brands.

Rapid deployment - 4 weeks, not months

The app transformation happens swiftly.

In the first two weeks, we set up your app, optimizing your existing design for a native mobile experience.

In weeks three and four, we conduct a thorough testing protocol, and get your apps ready for submission to the App Stores.

At the end of the month, your apps are ready for launch.

In just a month (potentially less), you'll be ready to engage customers through their preferred channel

Immediate and measurable business impact

The mobile app's effect on business metrics is rapid and significant.

Here are some figures that our customers see from launching their apps:

• Triple website visit frequency
• 15-20% increase in average order value
• 7x boost in customer lifetime value
• Potential ROI of 53x or higher

With a quick launch and minimal investment, a positive return is virtually guaranteed.

Everything on your site just works

Your mobile application functions perfectly within your existing technological infrastructure, requiring no additional API development or complex integrations.

Every single element of your digital storefront transfers smoothly and elegantly into the mobile environment.

From your product catalog and curated collections to the cart and checkout processes, account management systems, and loyalty programs, everything maintains the same functionality as your website.

Even third-party marketing tools and analytics platforms will transition seamlessly, maintaining their full capabilities within the app environment.

App builders lack the ability to fully replicate your website's functionality, while custom development require expensive and fragile custom integrations.

There are no compromises with MobiLoud, no lost features, and no additional complexity. Just a straightforward, powerful extension of your current online store.

Your app updates with your website

Your app requires no separate codebase to manage.

Other solutions add a massive amount of overhead and maintenance, slowing down your operations.

MobiLoud apps updates automatically when you update your website, keeping your workflow streamlined and your team lean.

All the features of million-dollar mobile apps

Your app will be indistinguishable from million-dollar solutions, with all the features of high-level shopping apps:

• Native user experience elements
• Unlimited push notifications
• Automated cart recovery
• Exclusive app experiences
• Conversion rate optimization tools
• Instant synchronization

There’s no reason why your app can’t be as successful as an app from any of the world’s largest retail brands.

Zero risk

Start with a 30-day trial to visualize your branded app's potential.

Start utilizing push notifications, get feedback from your team, and only proceed when you're fully confident.

The investment barrier is minimal - even a small revenue increase can justify the app's cost.

A Five-Step Process for Transforming Your Centra Store into a Mobile App

From initial concept to final launch, creating your mobile app is a streamlined, manageable process that takes you from vision to reality in just five comprehensive steps.

Step 1: Initial Setup

The journey begins with a simple onboarding process.

You'll provide your website URL, share essential brand assets including logos, color schemes, and app icons through a simple online form.

During an introductory call, you can communicate any unique requirements or a specific vision for your mobile application.

These initial inputs serve as the blueprint for your app's development.

Step 2: App Configuration

Once we've gathered your brand details, our development team springs into action.

We simultaneously craft native applications for both Android and iOS platforms, including native features like push notifications.

Every aspect of the app is made to mirror your website's existing functionality, ensuring a seamless and familiar user experience across platforms.

Step 3: Testing and Quality Assurance

Within a few weeks, we'll provide you with preview versions of your apps.

This stage allows you to personally explore the app, test features, and experience the interface exactly as your customers will.

Your direct feedback is invaluable, enabling us to refine and enhance the app's performance.

Simultaneously, our internal team conducts exhaustive testing on our own. We'll test everything from fundamental interactions to complex, unexpected user scenarios.

We rigorously test the app's performance across multiple device types and screen sizes, proactively identifying and resolving any potential issues before moving forward.

Step 4: App Store Submission

We handle the entire App Store submission process for both Apple and Google Play.

This involves creating compelling screenshots, crafting optimized descriptions to improve discoverability, and navigating the complex technical requirements of each app store.

We manage all communications and iterations with review teams, ensuring a smooth path to approval.

Step 5: Launch and Growth

After incorporating any final refinements from feedback or store review processes, we help you coordinate a synchronized launch across both platforms.

We'll collaborate with you to develop a strategic launch plan, providing recommendations for how to best promote your new app to your audience.

We'll help you implement engagement tools like push notifications and promotional banners, enabling you to immediately start building and expanding your app's user base.

The goal is not just to launch an app, but to create a dynamic, growing mobile channel for your business.

Our approach transforms the potentially complex process of mobile app development into a clear, manageable journey - bringing your digital vision to life with minimal stress and maximum impact.

Convert Your Centra Site into a Mobile App Now

More than 2,000 brands, including major names like JACK&JONES, buybuyBABY, John Varvatos, and ESTÉE LAUDER, have already used MobiLoud to create apps, grow their mobile revenue and deepen their customer relationships.

Will you be an early adopter, positioning your brand alongside industry leaders, or will you be left behind as competitors capture mobile market share?

By taking action now, you can positioning your brand in app stores, and on your users' devices, within just four weeks.

This is an immediate opportunity to expand your digital reach and create a more engaging customer experience on mobile.

Take the first step toward mobile commerce innovation. Schedule a complimentary consultation today and discover how to convert your Centra website into a powerful, revenue-generating mobile application that can dramatically enhance your customer relationships and business performance.

Book a free consultation now and learn more about how to convert your Centra website into a powerful, revenue-generating mobile application.