In this fast-moving and competitive world, it is essential for businesses to adopt an omnichannel approach. The number of mobile shoppers has grown immensely, making it important for businesses to complement their websites and build e-commerce apps of their own.
If you already have a WooCommerce website, you can simply turn it into an app. However, irrespective of your method of development, it is important to allocate the assets strategically. This can save you a lot of precious resources that can be invested elsewhere.
So, continue reading and find out how much time and money you should ideally spend on WooCommerce app development. Get tips on building your app on a budget in record time and go from idea to app in minutes.
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Stages of app development and cost-time distribution
The cost and timeline of app development may depend on a range of factors such as the complexity of design and features, scope of the project, availability of resources, app development methods, and so on.
However, you can break down the different stages of e-commerce app development and get a broad idea of the cost and duration requirements of your project. Go through the breakdown below and learn how much time and money you may have to spend:
1. Planning
This is the stage of mobile app market research. At this stage, you may have to hire researchers or business analysts who can understand your business, competitors, and customers to plan the scope and flow of your app. You can also create prototypes and wireframes for the app after studying the business, market, and competitors.
- Cost: 2,000 – 5,000 US dollars
- Time: 2 – 4 weeks
2. Designing
Once the app is planned, you will need UI and UX designers who are familiar with design concepts. The designer must study your brand story, competitors’ designs, and shopper preferences to create interfaces that are intuitive and effective. You may need distinct design experts for UI and UX, as well as for iOS and Android platforms.
- Cost: 5,000 – 10,000 US dollars
- Time: 4 – 6 weeks
3. Developing
After design, comes the core process of app development. In this stage, you will have to invest in app developers and the software stack required for development. Depending on the project and methodology, you may require separate teams and tech stack for Android and iOS. You can either choose to create an app that works independently or in sync with your e-commerce website.
- Cost: 20,000 – 50,000+ US dollars
- Time: 3 – 6 months
4. Testing
Once the app is developed, you will have to engage another set of engineers to test the app for functionality and ease of use. This may again require you to invest in a set of testing tools and software. Additionally, you can also engage a focus group of potential customers and marketing experts to give feedback on the overall experience of the app.
- Cost: 5,000 – 10,000 US dollars
- Time: 4 – 8 weeks
5. Publishing
After the above four steps, you’ll be ready to publish your app on the top app stores. For this, you will have to pay the enrolment fee for signing up for the developer programs of the app stores. Additionally, you may have to spend some amount on marketing, branding, positioning, app store ads, optimization, etc. Continued app improvements and maintenance will also require some investment of time and money.
- Cost: 1,000 – 5,000 US dollars
- Time: 1 – 2 weeks
Suggested Read: How to convert your Wix website into an app?
As evident by the breakdown above, average app development costs can reach around 100,000 US dollars or even more for complex projects. Moreover, it can take around a year or so to create an elementary version of your app.
While this may be feasible for some businesses, small and mid-level stores may find it challenging to allocate such hefty resources. Continue reading and find out how you can tackle that and build your app on an unbelievable timeline and budget.
How to develop an app on a strict budget and timeline?
Nowadays almost every business knows about the importance of apps. However, what stops them from pursuing app development is the cumbersome and elongated process paired with the outrageous costs of app development.
AppMySite understands this and offers a no-code app generator platform that enables you to make apps quickly on your own. You can avoid hiring a huge team of coders and experts and build your own app like a professional.
Whether you wish to create an app from scratch or turn an existing website into an app, you can do it on your own or invite a team to collaborate on your projects. AppMySite offers several affordable plans that suit all kinds of businesses. It is the best solution for building apps on a strict timeline and budget and you can try it for free.