The e-commerce market is growing faster every year. New players are entering, competition is getting fiercer, and customers expect an increasingly seamless shopping experience. As a webshop owner, you face an important question: how do you ensure that customers not only buy once, but also return, spend more, and actively recommend your brand?
The answer may be surprisingly simple: your own mobile app. Not just a technical gadget, but a strategic sales channel that can structurally increase your revenue, customer loyalty, and brand value. In this article, we explain why an app is no longer a luxury, but an essential pillar in your growth strategy.
The power of an app lies in the direct connection with your customer. With social media, you’re dependent on algorithms, and with email, you often end up in an overcrowded inbox. An app, however, has a permanent spot on your customer’s home screen. That’s literally “top of mind.”
Personalized Recommendations With an app, you continuously collect valuable data about customer behavior: which products are viewed, which categories are favorites, and which purchases are repeated. Based on this, you can make personal product recommendations that are truly relevant. This not only increases the chance of a purchase but also makes customers feel understood and valued.
Push Notifications as a Direct Trigger While a newsletter has an average open rate of 20-25%, push notifications are often viewed within minutes. Think of a reminder for an abandoned shopping cart, an exclusive discount, or a notification that a popular product is back in stock. This drastically reduces the number of missed sales.
The Heart of Your Omnichannel Strategy Do you also have a physical store or sell through multiple channels? Then an app becomes the connecting link. Customers can easily switch between online and offline shopping, view their previous purchases, and benefit from special promotions. This creates a seamless brand experience that strengthens loyalty.
Many webshops start their growth via large marketplaces like Amazon, bol.com, or Zalando. That makes sense: these platforms have enormous reach. But there are also downsides.
High Commissions and Margin Pressure Marketplaces often charge 10-20% commission per sale. That adds up, especially for products with low margins. Moreover, you’re dependent on their pricing and ranking policies. A single change in their algorithm can significantly impact your sales.
Full Control Over Your Sales Channel With your own app, you sell directly to the customer, without third-party intervention. You keep your full margin and control which products, promotions, and content you display. No competitors next to your product page, no price comparisons directly below—just your brand in the spotlight.
Ownership of Customer Data Perhaps even more important: through your app, you collect all customer data yourself. You know exactly who your customers are, what they buy, and how often they return. You can use these insights for marketing campaigns, product development, and customer service. On a marketplace, you get this data only partially or not at all.
Building Sustainable Customer Relationships Without intermediaries, you build a direct bond with your customer. You’re not dependent on the whims of large platforms but create a stable, independent sales channel that strengthens your brand identity.
There’s a reason why major retail brands are investing heavily in their apps: conversion rates are significantly higher than via mobile websites.
Higher Conversion Research shows that apps convert on average three times better than mobile websites. This is due to speed, ease of use, and direct access without having to log in repeatedly. The experience is frictionless: one tap and the customer is in your shop.
More Willingness to Buy and Longer Engagement App users show twice as much purchase intent as mobile website visitors. They also remain active up to five times longer. This is because an app provides a familiar and personalized feeling, making customers return more often.
Push Notifications as a Revenue Accelerator The power of direct communication cannot be underestimated. A notification about a flash sale or exclusive offer triggers immediate action. You can also remind customers of a full shopping cart or an offer that’s about to expire—crucial for convincing hesitant buyers.
Measurable Results Higher order values, more repeat purchases, and a permanent spot on your customer’s home screen. While competitors fight for attention via social media and Google Ads, you’re already in your customer’s pocket, ready to make a new sale with one click.
A mobile app is no longer a “nice to have” for webshops that want to grow. It’s a strategic tool that:
In a world where consumers are overwhelmed with online stimuli, your own app is your direct line to the customer. It’s an investment that not only generates revenue but also brand loyalty, customer insights, and long-term relationships.
In short: if you’re serious about the growth and future-proofing of your webshop, now is the time to take the step towards your own app.
Contact us to learn more about the possibilities.