When you create an e-commerce mobile app for your business, you may need your app developer to integrate some third-party tools or software to expand the functionality of your application.
But what these third-party integrations could include?
Well, this blog post will discuss some of the types of integrations you may need for your e-commerce mobile app, but before that, let’s understand how third-party integration works and its benefits.
How third-party integrations work.
Your app developer connects your application (the client) with a third-party tool or software (the server) using scripts or codes, usually a set of APIs. Then, the client and the server can communicate seamlessly.
Benefits of integrating third-party tools/software with your mobile app.
- It saves time and app development costs because you can easily pull tons of powerful features from the client-server just with a single integration. Your developer doesn’t need to build them from scratch.
- The third-party vendors only take care of these features’ security, up-gradation & performance.
- Your app can send or fetch real-time data for better accuracy.
Let’s examine some standard third-party software or tools you may need to integrate with your mobile app.
#1 Payment gateway
Of course, you want your customers to pay online (using your e-commerce mobile app) to place orders with you. To do so, you need a payment gateway.
What’s a payment gateway?
A payment gateway is a technology that helps you accept online customer payments. It also enables your customers to send money using their preferred methods, such as credit cards, debit cards, net banking, etc.
Below are some of the examples of a payment gateway:
- PayPal
- Stripe
- WorldPay
To start accepting payments on your e-commerce app, subscribe to any payment gateways that will provide you with an API for your app maker to integrate with your app.
#2 Accounting system
Accounting may become overwhelming & challenging as your e-commerce business grows. Therefore, it’s vital to have a robust accounting management system integrated with your e-commerce app to make your life easier.
You may have to integrate a third-party accounting system with your e-commerce app to facilitate various financial activities.
There are several accounting management systems that your app developer can integrate with your application. Some of them are below:
- XERO
- Quickbooks
- NetSuite
- Sage Accounting
What are the benefits of integrating an accounting management system?
- Creating and managing invoices
- Tracking sales, expenses, payments
- Online banking and data bank synchronization
- Automatic calculation of taxes
- Security of your sensitive data
#3 Shipping gateway
Shipping is perhaps one of the essential pillars of any e-commerce business. A robust shipping system will always help your business to grow seamlessly.
Your shipping norms can also help your online shoppers to make their buying decisions quickly. Your potential buyers may want to know:
- How quickly you can deliver their orders.
- What are your shipping charges?
- How customers can track their orders online.
What are the benefits that a shipping gateway can provide you with?
- Online tracking of orders.
- Real-time shipping status & location.
- Real-time stock management.
- Fewer human errors & increased efficiency.
- A convenient order processing system
- Timeliness and speed of delivery
Below are some of the standard shipping gateways that provide APIs to integrate with your e-commerce website or mobile application:
- Shippo
- Shipstation
- Sellbrite
- Veeqo
#4 CRM integration
CRM, or Customer Relationship Management system, helps you automate the process of building a customer-oriented business. So, it is another essential tool to integrate with your e-commerce app.
How CRM integration can help you to grow your e-commerce business?
- You get easy access to all the data for each client.
- You get access to the analytical tools to study user behavior.
- CRM enables you to do better inventory planning & forecasting.
- CRM helps you to automate your selling & follow-up processes.
- You can access valuable insights, such as each customer’s buying behavior.
There are several options of CRM software available that your e-commerce app developer can integrate with your mobile application, such as:
- Zoho
- Hubspot
- Capsule
- Copper
#5 Live chat
In this world of tough competition, providing your customers with excellent support is essential. Regarding online customer support, live chat is perhaps one of the most effective yet affordable solutions for integrating with your website or mobile application.
What are the benefits of providing live chat support to your customers?
- It helps to increase your sales.
- It improves customer service and loyalty.
- It helps you to discover customer pain points.
- It offers your customers a faster problem resolution.
- It provides your business with a competitive advantage.
Although your mobile application developer can help you build your live chat system, this may increase your overall app development cost.
If you are on a budget, consider third-party live chat integration.
Several third-party live chat options exist for your app developer to integrate with your application.
- Zendesk
- Zoho
- Chatsdk
- Twilio
#6 Newsletter
A newsletter feature in your mobile app can help you build a loyal customer database. You can inform your loyal customers about different promotions & offers that you may run on your e-commerce app.
Benefits of a newsletter feature:
- It helps you to generate new leads.
- It also helps to maintain communication with existing customers.
- You can turn your leads into customers with the help of effective email marketing.
- Newsletter also helps in brand exposure.
Here are some of the commonly used newsletter tools/software:
- Mailchimp
- Aweber
- GetResponse
- Constant Contact
Again, your app developer can help you integrate any of the abovementioned newsletter tools with your mobile application.