What should your mobile app offer that your eCommerce website doesn’t?

By Gaurav Parvadiya | Last Updated On November 19th, 2025

An eCommerce mobile app is no longer optional, it’s the growth engine modern brands need. Your website may bring in traffic, but apps drive loyalty, speed, and repeat sales. Mobile commerce hit $3.4 trillion in 2023, with 70% of eCommerce traffic on phones. If you’re still web-only, you’re leaving money on the table.

Intro: The Growth You’re Missing By Only Having An eCommerce Website

Your eCommerce website gets visitors and sales like any other store, but recent consumer behavior has show web stores alone do not suffice in this mobile-first world. “A website is simplistic compared to a mobile application; it comes with more functionalities, features, and capabilities than a site offers” (Shopify). It was estimated by Statista that in 2023 alone, mobile commerce sales were projected to exceed $3.4 trillion, meaning that 70 percent of eCommerce traffic was on mobile devices.

If you seek to increase customer loyalty, conversions, and eclipse your competitors, it is crucial to understand what your app can help you achieve that is not possible by your website. This eCommerce site is one of many that can be created in minutes using Twinr’s no-code platform.

Why eCommerce Website is Not Enough

A website is a digital storefront, but it lacks the mobile app’s unique features that drive better customer satisfaction (personalized and instant). According to McKinsey, brands specializing in hyper-personalized customer experiences have a revenue retention 20% higher than the average. Mobile apps form the core of hyper-personalized customer experiences.This is where your site falls short, and where a mobile app fulfills those gaps:

  • Minimal Engagement Options: Abandoned cart emails and push notifications about flash sales can’t happen as instantly on a site, and a page refresh is needed to get the most current data.
  • Clunky, Slower Checkouts: Payment details stored securely within the app allows purchases and reorders to happen with the click of a button—this is essential for minimizing cart abandonment.
  • Personalization is Formidable: Without an integrated mobile app, offers, discounts, or product recommendations become problematic.
  • No Internet, No Service: Your customers can’t browse or purchase anything, which is a sales opportunity lost.
  • No Integrated Channel for Loyalty and Rewards: An app makes these programs more effective as customer retention and lifetime value increases.

According to Statista, mobile apps are becoming a larger source of revenue for eCommerce brands worldwide and those that developed custom apps see sales grow by as much as 30% alongside a 20% rise in repeat customers—this is all positive proof that a dedicated app is a growth accelerators.

Which Features Should Be Beyond The Reach Of The App Version Of Your Website?

Personalization And Loyalty: The Lifetime Customer Value Approach

Mobile apps offer deep personalization— custom product suggestions based on browsing, loyalty customer exclusive offers and rewards, and much more. Loyalty app rewards (like Yotpo or Smile.io), which are integrated into the app, adds more reason to purchase multiple times. Unlike websites, apps remember users even when offline, which boosts brand recall, and increases their lifetime value (LTV).

Push Notifications For Improved Customer Engagement

It has been empirically shown that push notifications improve engagement 4x to 10x (CleverTap) and improve overall sales by up to 20%. Communicating flash sale orders and personalized offers personalized right to your customers’ devices create urgency and impact. Your website will never have the capability to send a notice like that in the same timeframe or personalization.

Simple, And Easy To Complete Checkout Process

Many people abandon their carts due to the slow and lengthy purchasing processes. Mobile apps have been shown to offer purchase friction-free experiences by enabling, the purchase of a product with complex payment info, reorder by a tap, and instant access to the order history. According to Shopify, mobile shoppers who use quick reorder features spend up to 30% more than users that only browse.

Speed Architecture and Web Access

App offline browsing functionality: Clients using offline browsing features can peruse catalogs without an internet connection. Integration improves speed and access: Google states 1 second in load time can reduce conversions by 7 percent. Apps streamline access providing your internet store 24/7 availability.

Gamification, Loyalty and Rewards

Use in-app schemes and gamification features to incentivize repeat sales. Median.co claims loyalty points and loyalty content can improve repeat visitors by 25 percent and over. Apps are better at delivering these=s than any other loyalty system.

Your eCommerce App Should Have The Following Fundamental Features

1. Rewarding and Personalized Recommendations

Use and optimize profiles with customer data to prepare custom suggestions and automated reward point systems.

2. Saved Preferences and One-Tap Reordering

Allow effortless reordering with stored custom preferences.

3. Real-time Offer Notifications

Boost conversions by offering exclusive discounts, prioritized promos, or in-app specials Users without interest are more likely to engage and interact with the app.

4. Real-time Push Notifications and Messages

Maximize revenue by offering real-time order, promotion or abandoned cart alerts.

5. Offline Searching and Browsing

Change casual visitors into buyers by allowing them to browse freely through cached products.

6. Customer Support and Live Chat Integration

Increase customer satisfaction by decreasing churn, then offer assistance via in-app chat.

7. Integration for Advocacy and Rewards Programs

Incorporate systems to extend program sponsorship to users who complete repeat purchases.

Why A Dedicated Mobile App Is Your Secret Weapon in eCommerce

Increase first-time visitors and persistent purchases for apps in customer-eable markets.

Enhance user engagement with personalized rewards, daily life, and gamified interactions.

It’s easier to stand out in markets flooded with competition. A dedicated mobile app improves user experience.

Shopify found that 25% more frequent shopping sessions and 40% higher revenue growth are directly linked to using an app. Mobile-specific features are no longer optional, they are essential.

How Twinr Simplifies Creating Your eCommerce Twinr App in Minutes

Providing an affordable app doesn’t need to be complex. Twinr’s no-code route enables easy conversion from existing websites to PWAs in minutes. With no predefined app, you pay no extra development costs.

Why go with Twinr?

  • Platform-agnostic: Works with Shopify, WooCommerce, Wix, Magento and many others.
  • Live Sync and Real-time Updates: Any changes on the website will reflect on the app automatically.
  • Engagement tools: Push, analytics, and loyalty on one dashboard.
  • Scalable & Affordable: No setup costs, flat-rate pricing, pay only for what you use.

Onboarding is done in days rather than months and can be completed with no technical skills.

CTA:

If you want to take your eCommerce store to the next level, what are you waiting for?

Build your custom Twinr mobile app in no time and experience all the features. [Get started now]

In conclusion, your website is now easier to use with the mobile app parent.

Your website was the backbone of your eCommerce strategy, however, mobile apps in 2023 provide features your site can’t. Exclusive rewards, offline access, more engaging purchases, and personalized experiences mean higher customer lifetime value, increased brand loyalty, and increased revenue.

Don’t leave growth to chance. Building a complex app based on your business needs on Twinr is the easiest and most cost effective option as it is no-code and tremendously developed. Control your customer experience by meeting them where they are: in their pocket.

 

Frequently Asked Questions

Q1: What features do I need in an app to compete better than my website

Push notifications, reorder, personalized suggestions, offline loyalty, loyalty, and effortless buy.

Q2: Can I use my loyalty program in the app?

Yes, customer purchase plugins will help Twinr to reward seamlessly.

Q3: Is it costly and difficult to develop my application?

With Twinr, it isn’t. No-code, swift, and inexpensive— start with us and save easy for the traditional costs! You’ll have your app in days.

Q4: Is it possible for an app to get approved for Google and Apple app stores?

Yes, we do. Twinr supports companies in meeting the Apple and Google standards, while also guaranteeing approval.

Q5: What are the ways an app increases customer retention?

With straight talking, instant messages, and special offers, the app optimizes your retention rate and promotes brand loyalty for repeated sales.

Don’t leave growth to chance. Book a demo and launch your custom mobile app with Twinr : no code, no delays, just results.

Gaurav Parvadiya

Gaurav is the founder and CEO of Twinr, a tech entrepreneur with a decade of experience and a passion for SaaS. With a Master's degree in Computer Science, he specializes in no-code development, driving innovation in the mobile app industry. When he's not busy growing the company, you'll find him writing about tech, growth, software development, e-commerce, and occasionally sneaking in a game of badminton.