How to Convert Salesforce B2B Commerce Into A Mobile App
Enhancing your revenue and expanding your customer base can be achieved by converting your Salesforce B2B Commerce store into a mobile app.
Because of the increasing popularity of mobile ecommerce, businesses must adapt to evolving consumer preferences. Instead of investing in a costly custom native app, there is an alternative solution: using a Salesforce B2B Commerce mobile app builder.
By making use of a tool like this, you can effortlessly create a fully functional and top-notch mobile app for your Salesforce B2B Commerce store without straining your budget.
Read further to learn how!
Why You Need a Mobile App
In just five years, the mobile sector has experienced a remarkable surge, capturing a substantial 72% share of the ecommerce market, compared to a little over 52% previously.
The trend of mobile internet usage continues to grow, with mobile devices taking a larger share each year. At present, mobile dominates the market with over 50% market share in comparison to desktop and tablet usage.
Interestingly, 15% of Americans currently rely solely on smartphones for their internet access. This indicates a significant shift in ecommerce towards customers who are not just mobile-first, but exclusively reliant on mobile devices.
While optimizing your website for mobile is a good starting point, it's insufficient. Mobile apps deliver a superior user experience on mobile devices, resulting in improvements across several important metrics, including:
- Enhanced conversion rates
- Increased average order value
- Greater number of products viewed per session
Additional data reveals that users of ecommerce mobile applications are twice as likely to return to the store within a 30-day timeframe when compared to those who rely on mobile browsers.
Mobile apps also provide the advantage of making full use of mobile push notifications, which boast an average open rate of 20% and a click-through rate of 28%.
They also offer a valuable tool for nurturing and retaining loyal, repeat customers.
Is it necessary to transform your Salesforce B2B Commerce store into a mobile app? Perhaps not, but a Salesforce B2B Commerce mobile app can bring significant advantages for your business.
Can You Create Mobile Apps for Salesforce B2B Commerce?
Publishing a mobile app directly from Salesforce B2B Commerce is not supported. Salesforce B2B Commerce is primarily focused on webstores. However, if you wish to develop a mobile app using Salesforce B2B Commerce, there are ways to fill the gap. Consider the following possibilities:
- Opt for a third-party builder specifically designed for Salesforce B2B Commerce mobile apps.
- Engage a tech-enabled service that can convert your Salesforce B2B Commerce store into a mobile app.
- Collaborate with a team of developers who can create Android and iOS apps and establish a connection with your Salesforce B2B Commerce store.
Can I Turn My Salesforce B2B Commerce Store into an App?
Turning your Salesforce B2B Commerce store into a mobile app can be achieved through various methods.
It's advisable, though, for most store owners to dismiss the third option, which involves hiring developers to create native apps. The primary reason for this is the high cost associated with mobile app development. Building a native app alone can range from $30,000 to $150,000, and that's only for one operating system. Keep in mind that you'll need to multiply this cost by two to cover both Android and iOS platforms (which is recommended).
Developing an app is a time-consuming, intricate, and expensive process in the first place. It becomes even more challenging when your developers have to build an API and establish a connection between the back end of your apps and your Salesforce B2B Commerce store.
Considering these factors, you may not have the budget to pursue this option. And that's not even taking into account the annual expenses involved in maintaining your app.
The Recurring Cost of Having an App
Many individuals overlook the ongoing expenses associated with launching an app. The continuous maintenance and upkeep, including operating system updates, Salesforce B2B Commerce updates, bug fixes, and implementing new features and enhancements, typically account for around 15-20% of the initial cost each year.
However, these costs can even escalate further. In-depth research conducted by David Cost from Rainbow Apparel during their app launch revealed that the yearly expenses could amount to as much as one million dollars.
"If we had unlimited time and financial resources, we would likely opt for a custom native app. Nevertheless, the annual maintenance costs for such an endeavor range from half a million to a million dollars."
- David Cost, Vice President of Marketing, Rainbow Apparel
Let's assume that building apps for both mobile platforms incurs a cost of $150,000. Based on this estimate, the annual expenses for updates and maintenance would be approximately $30,000.
Such a sum proves to be excessively burdensome for most store owners to bear. Not to mention the considerable challenges that arise when managing multiple platforms going forward, in contrast to solely maintaining a website. This significantly increases the workload whenever modifications to the site needed, adding unnecessary complexities to their workflow.
The Best Way to Turn Your Salesforce B2B Commerce Store into an App
The recommended approach is to convert your Salesforce B2B Commerce store into an app using a mobile app builder specifically designed for Salesforce B2B Commerce.
By using a Salesforce B2B Commerce mobile app builder, you can transform your Salesforce B2B Commerce website into a mobile app that closely emulates the functionality of a native app. Users can effortlessly download and install this app on their mobile devices.
Top-tier mobile app builders deliver a mobile app that offers 90-95% of the functionalities of a native app, but at a reduced price and with minimal complexity.
But keep in mind, not every option available is suitable for creating high-traffic, professional mobile apps that present your brand in a favorable light.
How to Convert Your Salesforce B2B Commerce Site Into an App
Major brands - like Nike, Target and Zara - may opt to onboard experts to build their shopping app entirely from scratch.
If you don't have the same budget, MobiLoud is the ideal solution for app building. It's a simple, affordable, and efficient way to build an app. Plus, it offers cost-effective and hassle-free app maintenance.
Here's a step-by-step breakdown of the process.
Step One: Preview Your App or Get a Free Consultation
There are two ways to begin.
- You can dive right in to create a free sneak peak of your site as an app using the MobiLoud builder.
- Or you have another option to book a free consultation call with one of our IT specialists. They will guide you through your project and provide an overview of the entire process.
No matter which option you choose, you'll discover that 90% of the app development work is already completed if your site is optimized for mobile devices.
If you require assistance in optimizing your site, simply let us know, and we'll gladly provide the support you need. This step is crucial to ensure a seamless experience throughout the remainder of the process.
Step Two: Work With Our Team to Build Your App
Once you're ready to kickstart your app building, simply sign up to MobiLoud. All plans include a 60-day money-back guarantee, and you won't be tied to a long-term commitment.
After completing the sign up process, our team will assist you in configuring and designing your app. Note that the majority of the work has already been done. You won't need to create an entirely new user interface from scratch; just a few adjustments to achieve a native app look and feel.
Upon design approval, we'll initiate the process of building your mobile app. All the technical work is managed by our team, eliminating the need for you to write code or have coding expertise.
If you would like our team to oversee the entire process, we can certainly make that happen. Our comprehensive package includes everything necessary to configure, design, and publish your app, giving you the opportunity to be completely hands-off.
Step Three: Prepare for Launch
When your app is all set and ready to go, it's time to gear up for its launch to the public. It's essential to have a solid plan in place to attract users and prompt them to download your app.
We provide assets for app store descriptions, launch announcements for your website and email list, press releases, and more.
You can also use additional features at no extra charge, such as smart app banners and app-exclusive discounts, to incentivize your current customers to make purchases via the app.
Step Four: Launch and Submit Your App to the App Stores
We'll then take care of launching your apps on the Apple App Store and Google Play Store.
The submission process for these app stores is notoriously challenging, especially for individuals and developers who are new to the app scene. However, our team has years of experience, having gone through the process numerous times and acquiring in-depth knowledge of its ins and outs.
Our team handles the entire app submission process with Apple and Google. We provide a 100% guarantee that your app will be approved, and if needed, we can handle multiple submissions and suggest and implement any necessary changes.
You can sit back and relax while we do all the work!
Once your app listings are live, you can officially start attracting downloads and begin enjoying the advantages of having your own Salesforce B2B Commerce mobile app.
Wrapping Up – Why You Should Use MobiLoud to Convert Your Salesforce B2B Commerce Store into a Mobile App
Chances are, most of your current earnings are driven by mobile users, and if they aren't already, they will be soon.
Securing a mobile-friendly website for your Salesforce B2B Commerce store is not enough. To maximize your earnings from mobile users, having your own branded app is a good idea.
Fortunately, turning your Salesforce B2B Commerce store into a mobile app is now easier than ever, if you choose the right approach. Instead of spending a substantial amount of money on mobile developers, MobiLoud offers a highly accessible and user-friendly solution.
Here are a few of the key advantages you'll enjoy by using MobiLoud's Salesforce B2B Commerce app builder:
- It costs a mere fraction of what custom app development would.
- You can launch professional, top-quality apps in less than two weeks.
- Your apps will encompass everything that makes your website exceptional, from product collections to payment gateways, plugins, tools, themes, and more.
- Everything remains in sync across web, Android, and iOS. Any changes you make on your site will be immediately reflected in your apps.
- You don't need to worry about submitting your apps to the app stores – we guarantee approval.
- Our team will be there for you every step of the way, handling all the challenging aspects so you can focus on your business.
Our simple app builder, which requires no coding, empowers you to launch your own shopping apps and compete with the biggest brands in the app stores.
Reach out to us today to learn more about how we can help you launch an app for your Salesforce B2B Commerce store. Book a free, personalized demo, and one of our app experts will guide you through the entire process.