How to Convert Your Vue Storefront Into a Mobile App

Are you prepared to embrace a mobile-first world for your business? In 2023, having a mobile app is not just a choice; it's essential for growing your reach, increasing conversions, and boosting revenue.

With the increasing prominence of mobile ecommerce, you need to ensure that your store can effectively cater to customers who prefer shopping on their smartphones. However, venturing into mobile apps can be a costly and time-consuming course.

Instead of going for a custom native app, consider using an Vue Storefront mobile app builder to efficiently develop a cost-effective app without compromising on quality.

In this post, we will outline the process of converting your Cue Storefront site into a mobile app.

Why You Need a Mobile App

Mobile's dominance in the ecommerce market has grown steadily over a period of five years, now making up more than 72% of the total market share, up from just over 52%.

This aligns with the general trend of mobile internet usage, which leans more towards mobile with each passing year. Currently, mobile has a market share of over 50% in comparison to desktop and tablet.

In addition, 15% of Americans exclusively rely on smartphones to access the internet. This indicates the future of ecommerce lies with customers who not only prioritize mobile but solely rely on it.

While optimizing your site for mobile is a starting point, it is insufficient. Mobile apps provide an enhanced user experience, leading to improvements in several crucial metrics, including:

 
• Boost in conversion rates
• Higher average order value that
 
• More products viewed per session

Further data demonstrates that users of ecommerce mobile apps are twice as likely to return to the store within 30 days compared to those using mobile browsers.

Mobile apps also provide the full utilization of push notifications, which typically have open rates of 20% and click-through rates of 28% on average.

They also serve as an excellent tool for nurturing loyal, repeat customers.

Do you really "need" to convert your Vue Storefront into a mobile app? Perhaps not. However, a mobile app for your Vue Storefront can yield substantial benefits for your business.

Can You Create Mobile Apps for Vue Storefront?

You cannot directly launch a mobile app from Vue Storefront. It is specifically designed for webstores. However, there are additional options available to create a mobile app using Vue Storefront, such as:

1. A third-party mobile applications builder for Vue Storefront.
2. Tech-enabled assistance to transform your Vue Storefront store into a mobile application.
3. A team of expert engineers to develop Android and iOS apps and connect them to your Vue Storefront shop.

Can I Turn My Vue Storefront Store into an App?

By implementing one of the approaches mentioned above, you can successfully convert your Vue Storefront store into a mobile app.

On the other hand, it is advisable for most shop business owners to not consider the third option of hiring developers for native app development. The main reason behind this is the expensive cost associated with creating mobile apps. Building a native app alone can range from $30,000 to $150,000, and when you consider launching apps for both Android and iOS (which is highly recommended), this cost doubles.

The process of app development is both time-consuming and expensive right from the start. This becomes even more challenging when your developers need to build an API and integrate the back end of your apps with your Vue Storefront store.

Considering your budget constraints, it may not be possible to afford these expenses, and that's not to mention the annual costs of running your app.

The Recurring Cost of Having an App

Launching an app comes with ongoing expenses that many people tend to overlook. The regular upkeep and maintenance, which include OS updates, Vue Storefront updates, bug fixes, and implementing new features and enhancements, typically amount to around 15-20% of the initial cost each year.

Extensive research conducted by David Cost from Rainbow Apparel during their app launch revealed that the yearly cost could go as high as a million dollars.

"If we had unlimited time and money, we would likely opt for a custom native app. However, the annual maintenance costs alone would range from half a million to a million dollars."

- David Cost, VP of Marketing at Rainbow Apparel

Let's take a conservative approach and assume that building apps for both mobile platforms costs $150,000. Based on this estimation, the conservative estimate for updates and maintenance would be $30,000 per year.

For most store owners, this expenditure is too substantial. Managing multiple platforms moving forward, instead of solely focusing on the website, can be quite burdensome, too. It triples the workload whenever you want to make changes to your site, unnecessarily complicating your workflow.

The Best Way to Turn Your Vue Storefront Store into an App

If you're looking for the best option, consider converting your online store on Vue Storefront into an app using a mobile app builder.

By using a mobile app builder designed for Vue Storefront, you can convert your existing website into a mobile app that imitates the functionality of a native app. Users can easily download and install this app on their mobile devices.

With reliable mobile app builders, you can have a mobile app that provides 90-95% of the functionalities offered by a native app. This option is not only cost-effective but also less troublesome. Be mindful that not all choices available in the market are suitable for building high-traffic, business-oriented mobile apps that project a positive image of your brand.

How to Convert Your Vue Storefront Site Into an App

Suppose you're a major brand with large funds available – such as Nike, Target, Zara, and others – you might choose to employ individuals to develop your shopping app right from the beginning.

If you're not in that situation, MobiLoud emerges as the most effective way to build an app. It's easy, affordable, and quick. Plus, the ongoing maintenance of your apps becomes more cost-effective and manageable.

Here's the step-by-step process:

Step One: Preview Your App or Get a Free Consultation

You have two options to initiate the process.

1. You can personally jump in and generate a free-of-charge preview of how your site will look as an app using the MobiLoud builder.
2. Another option is is to schedule a free consultation call and speak with one of our IT pros to discuss your project need and understand the entire process.

In either case, you will observe that 90% of the work required to create your app is already done, as long as your site is optimized for mobile devices.

If you need help optimizing your site, please inform us, and we will be happy to provide help! This step is crucial to make the rest of the process as smooth as possible.

Step Two: Work With Our Team to Build Your App

When you're all set to begin, simply sign up to MobiLoud. We offer a 60-day money-back guarantee on all our plans, and there's no long-term commitment required.

You will collaborate with our team in setting up and designing your app. Keep in mind that the majority of the work is already done. There's no need to start from scratch; just a few adjustments are necessary to achieve the desired look and feel of a native app.

Once you're satisfied, we'll begin building your mobile app. We handle all the technical aspects, so you don't need to write code or have any coding knowledge.

If you'd prefer our team to oversee the entire process from start to finish, we can accommodate that as well. Our comprehensive service package includes everything necessary to configure, design, and publish your app, allowing you to take a completely hands-off approach.

Step Three: Prepare for Launch

When your app development is complete, it's time to prepare for its public release. It's crucial to have a well-organized plan in place to attract people to download your app.

We provide a variety of assets to assist in promoting your app, including resources for app store descriptions, launch announcements for your website and email subscribers, press releases, and more.

You can activate additional features at no extra expense, such as smart app banners and exclusive app discounts, to incentivize your existing customers to use the app for their shopping needs.

Step Four: Launch and Submit Your App to the App Stores

Lastly, we'll submit your apps to the Apple App Store and Google Play Store.

The submission process for these app stores is notoriously challenging, especially for those who are new to owning and developing apps. However, with our extensive experience, we are well-versed in the ins and outs of the process.

Our team takes care of the entire app submission process with Apple and Google. We offer a 100% guarantee of app approval and handle multiple submissions if required. We provide recommendations and implement any necessary changes as needed, so you can leave all the work to us.

Once your app listings are live, you can officially begin receiving downloads and enjoy the many benefits of having your own Vue Storefront mobile app.

Wrapping Up – Why You Should Use MobiLoud to Convert Your Vue Storefront Store into a Mobile App

The mobile revolution is here, and it's shaping the way businesses generate revenue. If it hasn't already, mobile will soon become the driving force behind your earnings.

When it comes to your Vue Storefront store, simply having a mobile-optimized website is no longer sufficient. To fully capitalize on the revenue potential of mobile users, it's crucial to offer your own branded app.

Fortunately, with MobiLoud, turning your Vue Storefront store into a mobile app is now easier and more accessible than ever before. Rather than spending exorbitant amounts on mobile developers, MobiLoud provides a cost-effective and streamlined solution.

Here are some key advantages of using MobiLoud's Vue Storefront app builder:

 
• It costs significantly less than custom app development.
 
• You can launch professional and high-quality apps in a matter of weeks, typically within two weeks.
 
• Your apps will seamlessly incorporate all the features that make your website exceptional, including product collections, payment gateways, plugins, tools, themes, and more.
 
• Changes made on your site will be instantly synchronized across the web, Android, and iOS platforms.
 
• You can rest assured that your apps will be approved for submission to the app stores, as we offer a guarantee for approval.
 
• Our experienced team will provide comprehensive support throughout the entire process, handling the complex tasks so you can focus on other aspects of your business.

With this user-friendly app builder that requires zero coding, you can confidently launch your own shopping apps and position your brand alongside the world's most renowned companies in the app stores.

Contact us now to learn more about how our team can help you launch an app for your Vue Storefront store. Book a free and personalized demo, and one of our knowledgeable IT specialists will walk you through the entire process.