The story of Flipkart has inspired a number of first-generation entrepreneurs to venture into setting up their own E-Commerce operations. Business has boomed for Flipkart and many of their followers since inception in leaps and bounds.
Being a proven ecommerce leader in India, the app can inspires many aspiring online shopping startups that wish to master the niche.
Building an E-Commerce app like Flipkart requires technical expertise. Let’s first look at the methods available to create an app like Flipkart and its development cost
#1. Development from Scratch
You can have complete control over your mobile app when you opt for custom development. While you can take inspiration from Flipkart, you do not end up being an exact clone.
Ideally, you should have a solid idea of what your final product is going to look like. That said, this model of development may not be financially viable for start-ups and small scale business owners as it is extremely capital intensive.
#2. Readymade Software
There are limited customisation opportunities if you opt for readymade software to create your Flipkart clone mobile app. But, it can be a more affordable starting point.
The app can be deployed in a shorter time span, that too, on a budget. The software is available in the form of readymade scripts that allows for quick installation.
Now that you know the two basic methods to create your E-Commerce App like Flipkart, let’s move on to the next step.
Conduct Market Research
By sorting out how you wish to build your app, you have already completed stage one successfully. The next stage is to conduct thorough market research, understand customer’s needs and requirements from the business and then draw up a blueprint to start your project.
At this juncture, you can also decide on the broad categories of goods that you wish to sell through the app platform. Decide if you are going to sell all kinds of products or only specialize in specific types of product niches.
Will you be selling digital or physical products or both? Making these decisions help in researching your market and determine if there is a demand for the same.
Make a list of your competition and if they too are offering similar types of products that can possibly eat into your market share in the future.
On the basis this of this research, you can list your app features and move onto stage three of the development process.
Choose Essential Features
Selecting your features basically determines the scope of your project. Your goal is not just to create an app like Flipkart. You want to make it a standout shopping app where your customers keep coming back for more.
The best way to go about it is to consider an MVP or Minimum Viable Product for the app that contains only the most essential features and functionalities. You can keep building on it even after you have launched your app online.
So, what features should you consider for an MVP?
#1 User Registration
Every app has to have a simple to use customer registration process. You can use the age-old system of an email id / username and password.
You can make the procedure even more convenient by allowing users to register using their Google accounts or social media handles. Complex registration processes tend not to work and your customers will take their business to your competition.
#2. Language Option
Having an E-Commerce app means that you can reach out to a pan country and international audience at the same time. By having options of major regional and international languages ensures that you catch maximum eyeballs.
Going with multiple language versions can translate into greater revenue generation compared to single language offering.
#3. User Interface
Now that your customers are browsing the app, you want to ensure that the interface and navigation are simple to use. Make sure that the app design is user friendly and attractive which will encourage your existing customers to refer the mobile app to others.
This helps your app to gain a solid foothold in the market along with growing the user base simultaneously.
#4. Product Search
Having your product search work at lightning speed is vital to the success of your app. Add multiple options to fine tune the search functioning that should be combined with high-quality indexing.
When customers start getting accurate results, the possibility of conversion becomes more of a reality.
#5. Offer Smart Search Option
Take your search function up a notch by optimising it. This will enable customers to easily and accurately find the products that they are looking for. It can be a great tool to increase conversions too.
Adding add-ons like capturing customer search history along with personalisation can be encouraging for frequent customers on your app.
#6. Advanced Filter
Just like product search, having advanced filter functionality streamlines search results for your customers. Parameters such as locations, category and price details can produce exactly what the customer is looking for in terms of product results.
#7. Augmented Reality View
With augmented reality penetrating sectors like real estate and more, E-Commerce is not far behind in its implementation either. Showing off products in 3D with the help of AR greatly enhances their value to the end customer.
Remember that they cannot really touch or feel the product. Seeing them through a blend of reality and virtual reality can make it a more interactive experience which in turn can boost sales.
#8. One Click to Add to Cart
Buyers today are always impatient. When they have got the products that they want, the idea is to keep adding to the cart.
Having one-click functionality allows them to add products to cart with a single click. With one-click buy option, users can bypass the cart completely to check out and purchase the product.
#9. Wish List
You will find customers coming back to the app and browsing through products that they aspire to purchase at a future date. By introducing a Wish List, they can add these aspirational products that they can purchase at a later date.
Incorporating this feature minimises shopping cart abandonment whilst customers can still remain motivated to buys these items at a later time.
#10. Product Review
To create an E-Commerce app like Flipkart, it is important to have a section where users can leave their comments, reviews and ratings on products that they have purchased.
This is vital as reviews and testimonials play a critical role in influencing prospective buyers in their decision to purchase the products.
These reviews can also be helpful from a business perspective as the feedback can be passed on to the manufacturer to enable product modifications whenever necessary.
#11. Promotion and Discount Code Tools
Apps with a promotion and discount code engine thrive better as it is a great sale booster. Customers are always on the lookout for offers and giving out discounts and promotional offers can induce them to buy more.
While the sentiment is to save on their purchase by buying products at a reasonable price, the idea is to push them to add more to their shopping cart.
#12. Check Out
A quick check out feature is great for busy customers purchasing necessary items on the go. With a profile, delivery and billing details already filled in, the order can be validated instantly without the customer having to go through an elaborate process.
#13. Multiple Payments
A key selling point of an E-Commerce app is to offer multiple payment options to their customers. This is a key feature that can make or break the app.
Keep in mind that you must have the provision to integrate all types of payment such as net banking, NEFT, wallets, and even COD.
#14. Shipping
Having a dedicate section to capture multiple delivery addresses is important for an E-Commerce app. This ensures that the customer does not have to feed in delivery details every time he or she makes a purchase.
#15. Real-time Order Tracking Option
With the purchase complete, the customer must be able to track the delivery in real-time. The app should have provision to do the same that captures the order flow right from placement to final fulfilment.
Being on top of the order delivery status adds to the customer’s overall app experience.
#16. Purchase History
While current orders are important to keep track of, it is also essential that the E-Commerce app has a dedicated section where customers can check their Purchase History. This can include old orders, payment transactions and more.
If they wish to place a complaint, write reviews and feedback post product usage, request a return of the item or generate a refund, this feature should allow them to take it forward with the Customer Support team.
#17. Push Notifications
To create any E-Commerce app that mirrors Flipkart must have a Push Notification featured enabled. This allows the business to keep their customers updated at all times of new products, a rise or drop in prices, special offers, discounts, sale, and even app updates.
#18. Social Integration
Social media not only a tool to engage with your peers socially but can be an effective marketing platform as well. Strategically embedding social media buttons within your app can encourage users to share their purchases within their individual social networks. This automatically advertises your app to a broader audience base.
#19. Security
Since your app will be capturing sensitive customer information including payment details, addresses, and more, having a robust security system in place is absolutely essential.
Layers of encryption can lay your customers’ fear to rest and they can shop with complete peace of mind via your mobile app.
Read Also : 11 Easy Steps to Create a Mobile Application
The E-Commerce App Development Process
Developing an app like Flipkart is a long drawn and complex process. It starts with the basic blueprint and idea and from then on is a continuous process until you deploy it online.
And it does not end here as every mobile app requires constant maintenance and debugging. For your app to be successful in this space, you must ensure that you incorporate the right features and functionalities.
There is ease of navigation, accessibility and other USPs that can make it stand out from competition.
Platforms
Selecting which platforms, you wish to deploy your app is vital. Android is generally the popular choice as more devices in the market support this operating software. You will have a greater opportunity to reach a large customer base by creating an Android version of the app.
iOS devices too are gaining in popularity even though the development process is complex in comparison to Android. The test methods to complete this are more exhaustive and expensive.
However, the demographic inclination of those using iOS devices will be more high-end. This means you can get a significant chunk of revenue generation by launching an iOS version of the mobile app.
Choosing Technology
The right technology stack is vital to getting your app deployed as per your assigned timeline and expectations. Start with the selection of framework, database, back end and front end coding languages for the mobile app.
Recommendations of a tech stack may include the following:
- Programming Language:Java & Kotlin for Android and Swift for iOS
- IDE: Android Studio
- Web Development Language: PHP
- Database: MySQL
UI & UX Design
An attractive interface design drives more customers to engage with your application more often. Visuals, schemes and colours are a big part of the UI and UX of an application. A logo that has been optimised also adds to your brand’s visibility.
Development Team
If your goal is to create a basic E-Commerce app like Flipkart, your development team should constitute of the following members:
- Project Manager
- Backend Developer
- UI and UX designer
- 2 – 4Developers
- Quality Assurance Engineer
However, if your app is moderate to complex, you will need the following team members:
- Team Manager/Project Manager
- UI and UX designer
- 3 – 4developers for each platform
- Quality Assurance Engineer
- 2–3 backend developers
- Admin panel developer
How Much Does It Cost to Create An App Like Flipkart ?
Your app features and functionalities, type, number of platforms, development team, their location are all factors that determine the cost to create an app like Flipkart.
Take a look at time breakdown.
- Design takes approximately 120 to 200 hours
- Back end takes around 130 to 170 hours
- Front-end for Android and iOS application takes 200 to 300 hours
- Non development and meetings take up another 150 to 200 hours
Taking into consideration the complexities of the application, here is a cost estimate
- Basic MVP application: $60,000
- Modern application with a mixed bag of features and a few advanced functionalities: $60,000 to $80,000
- App with advanced features: $80,000 to $120,000
The average rates depending on the location of your development team are:
- Eastern Europe: $50 per hour
- India: $25 per hour
- USA: $150 per hour
Read Also : 15 Best Online Grocery Shopping Apps 2020
Final Thoughts
Your dream of running a successful E-Commerce business like Flipkart can soon be a reality if you have the right idea, the team, tool, and execution in place. With this short guide, you will be on the right track.
That said, the name of the game is to constantly innovate and improve your app to meet audience needs and expectations. That is how you will end up to create a shopping app like Flipkart, worthy of their attention.