e-Commerce Mobile App Development Cost in 2021

In the context of increasing online sales, the e-Commerce industry is witnessing the most significant growth of the development of mobile solutions due to the need to satisfy customers' desires. Consumers demand the freedom to buy goods and services anytime, anywhere, even on the go. As a result, many online shoppers prefer e-commerce mobile apps to websites because they offer high speed, convenience, and adaptability. How can retail companies that do business in the digital space benefit from mobile apps?

Are you in the process of creating your own e-commerce application and a beginner in the field? If so, you must hire a professional developer team or an E-commerce App Development Company so that things are not out of your control, especially when you are just starting. Let’s dive into this in-depth analysis of the factors that affect the overall cost of creating a useful Mobile App.

The e-commerce industry is witnessing the most significant growth of the mobile solution development

Why It's Worth Investing in Developing Mobile Apps today?

With over 3.5 billion smartphones and 1.35 billion tablet users worldwide, there's no doubt why companies consider mobile app development a lucrative industry. People use their smartphones every minute. In fact, the average American checks their phone every 12 minutes, and more than 10% of people check their smartphone every four minutes. They mostly spend their time on apps. According to statistics, more than 90% of users use mobile devices to interact with different applications.

• The reasons for choosing a mobile application development are as follows:
• Automate a business with mobile applications.
• The flexibility of mobile applications.
• Communicate with users through mobile applications.
• Virtual sales platform.
• Include a larger target audience and increase profits through mobile apps

There is no doubt that application development is a very potential industry to invest in. With more users, there will be more business growth opportunities.

Now let's find out how much it costs to develop an app!

Criteria for determining the cost of an e-commerce development application

The cost of developing an application is not abstract – it is affected by: deadlines, complexity and features of the project implementation. But the most important factor is Time. Calculating the time spent developing the application is fundamental to the calculation. It can be divided into 2 phases, the Facility Foundation Phase and the Project Implementation Phase:

Facility Foundation Phase

1. Wireframe

One of the aspects that you should deploy first is the wireframe

The wireframe is the aspect of the application that must be deployed first. It's the visual architecture that outlines the application layout, including the physical makeup, the layout of the pages, and more. Typically, multiple wireframes are drafted for a mobile app development project, and the final wireframe is then selected from the collection.

The cost of wireframes depends on the complexity of the application development and the number of pages. Wireframes for apps with 2-3 pages cost less than $500, and frameworks with more than 3 pages can cost up to $1,500 depending on the number of pages.

2. The platform

The cost of building an app depends on the type of app you decide to create using native or hybrid development techniques. Native apps are apps designed for a single platform like iOS or Android. Therefore, if you decide to target both groups of users, you will need to build two separate apps and app development costs will go up.

Hybrid apps, on the other hand, can work on multiple operating systems. That means less money spent on app development since you need to build a single app to a large extent.

If you decide to build a native app, you'll need first to determine which platforms to target. You have a limited budget and don't want to risk money, you can start with an app for a single platform, Android or iOS. The average cost to develop an app is between $50,000 – $170,000, regardless of the platform. Both the cost of developing native Android or iPhone apps is usually higher than developing cross-platform solutions.

Simply because native app development requires two separate source code bases for Android and iOS. Native products, on the other hand, give developers direct access to built-in functions like GPS and camera, allowing them to build more complex applications.

3. Development Costs

This is the aspect where encryption comes into play. Application development costs can mainly be determined by the number of programmers undertaking to write the code. Another major determinant of application development costs is the scope of functionality. The same goes for the type of app, with native apps having the highest development cost of the three.

Depending on how all these parameters are combined, app development can cost anywhere from $1,000 to $100,000. After performing the development phase, it is crucial to perform a comprehensive quality analysis to check for bugs and defects in the development process. The cost of this analysis is mainly determined by the type of application as well as the scope of functionality. The analysis can cost anywhere from $20,000 to $30,000.

The project implementation phase

1. Features And Their Complexity

The functionality of the app will have a significant impact on the cost

The primary equally important determinant of the cost of developing a mobile e-commerce application is the functionality. The functions revolve around coding and specifications. The number of features itself increases the cost of developing an application. However, the complexity of the features plays an even more critical role. Basic features like login and registration take 20 to 25 hours to develop. In comparison, more advanced functions like payment system integration and image analytics require 150 to 250 hours and come with the card at a higher price.

API integration increases the cost of developing mobile apps, and advanced technologies like Machine Learning and Artificial Intelligence add a burden to the budget. Even things users are used to, like geolocation, for example, incur additional costs. In general, you should assess the necessity and feasibility of a feature before spending precious resources on it.

2. Design Cost

The next phase of the app creation process focuses on the aesthetics of the app. Users tend to use apps with more attractive designs. This aspect of e-commerce application creation must be fully funded to maximize the utilization rate.

Since design has many elements, it is essential to proceed creatively with attention to small details. For example, Android e-commerce app developments must be fine-tuned to match the Play Store's design guidelines. In terms of app design, there's no one-size-fits-all template. Design costs for applications also depend on the flexibility and versatility of the plan. The larger the number of OS versions compatible with the design, the greater the design cost. Overall, the average cost of an app design ranges from $2,000 to $35,000.

3. Application Maintenance and Update Cost

Since an app, whether it's Android or iOS, requires regular updates, it's important to keep the maintenance costs in mind. On average, the maintenance cost for an e-commerce application is 20-30% of the initial development cost. This means that if developing your app costs $150,000, maintenance will cost you around $30,000 annually.

4. Additional Cost

They may or may not arise depending on the purpose of your original application:

• The cost of a platform's software license
• Equipment costs
• Cost of social media integration
• Database and server costs
• App store charges
• Live support costs
• Marketing and advertising costs, …

Groove Technology – Cost-Effective Solution for Developing E-commerce Mobile Applications

Groove Technology is a trusted e-commerce solution provider for all industries worldwide.

Every client who contacts us with an e-commerce application development enquiry wants to know how much their application development costs. Experience has shown us that the differences between seemingly different products can be several times less or more depending on the contractor and the development process.

If you are not sure about your capabilities, leave it to professional service providers. That is how to help you look for a cost-effective solution to build your E-commerce for your mobile device. And how much do you think your profits would increase if you had an app? Compare this to the estimated e-commerce mobile app costs simulated above.

Or feeling lost and confused? Please contact us to calculate the details of your project. Groove Technology's team of experts is capable of creating mobile apps to help your business gain more traction and attract customers' attention through the following services:

• Analysis of business needs and requirements
• Mobile application design
• Improved interface usability
• Cross-platform development
• Optimizing legacy solutions
• Mobile testing

Groove Technology is a trusted e-commerce mobile application development solution provider for all industries worldwide. We follow a customer-first work ethic to ensure that all of your needs are met and give you the best return on investment.