Convenience is king. Mobile shopping apps have emerged as the new battleground, offering unparalleled convenience and accessibility. With a few swipes and taps, consumers now expect to find what they want. This on-demand culture has fueled the explosive growth of shopping apps.
Boasting an impressive active user base of 1.2 million and 1800+ brands, Namshi has cracked the code on engaging a fashion-forward audience. The leading online fashion retailer, Namshi, demonstrates the power of blending innovative technology with a deep understanding of modern consumer behavior.
As consumers increasingly demand tailored and time-saving experiences, developing a shopping app like Namshi that hits the sweet spot between functionality and engagement becomes imperative for businesses aiming to stay ahead of the curve. Giving more reasons to retailers to adopt mobile eCommerce, Checkout.com’s recent find out into the Middle East’s digital transformation shows,
- 91% of shoppers across MENA bought products online,
- 70% of shoppers across MENA and 80% in GCC prefer a digital payment method.
So, let us explore the strategic roadmap to success in the digital shopping arena. From how to create a shopping app like Namshi to the cost of developing a shopping app, this blog dives into all the nitty-gritty aspects eCommerce businesses must know.
Insights into Namshi Business Model
It is in the hustle of online fashion retail that Namshi has carved out its way toward success. With a deep understanding of the Middle Eastern market and filling the gap between global trends and local taste in fashion, Namshi has come up with a business model that speaks volumes to the fashionable.
As we dissect the phenomenon of Namshi, you will see what strategic choices, putting this e-commerce powerhouse at the very top of the industry.
The Four Ps of the Namshi Business Model
Product:
- Namshi comprises a variety of fashion products, from clothes and shoes to accessories and lifestyle products from international and local brands.
- About their product strategy, it’s a one-stop-shop for fashion, with the promise of a wide selection to provide an offering for every type of customer.
Price:
- Namshi’s competitive pricing strategy is value-driven and focuses on value for money for the customer. Their approach focuses on their target audience’s purchasing power, balancing affordability with the perceived value the products are likely to bring to their lives.
- Namshi provides different prices to suit various budgets and promotional drives to ensure more sales are carried out at times.
Place:
- Namshi has primarily focused on its website and eCommerce mobile app’s user-friendliness for convenience in buying and selling.
- Furthermore, Namshi strategically targets the Middle East market. Thus, it has significant knowledge about the local market and cultural sensibilities. This insight helps it offer a customized shopping experience to its target segment.
Promotion:
- When it comes to marketing, Namshi employs a mix of digital marketing techniques. Their marketing efforts range from content marketing to social media campaigns to even collaborations with influencers, as required, to maximize reach.
Namshi’s Target Audience:
- Namshi targets fashion-conscious customers, especially in the Middle East, targeting Saudi Arabia and the United Arab Emirates.
- Their target audience is young, tech-savvy individuals who love the ease associated with shopping online and want access to worldwide fashion trends.
- Through such a huge diversity of styles and budgets, Namshi caters to a wide consumer base, from fashion trendsetters to classics and timeless pieces.
Unique Selling Proposition (USP):
- Successfully bridging the gap between global trends in fashion and consumer preference within the Middle East market.
- The hassle-free and enjoyable shopping experience on Namshi’s app with hand-picked international and local brands under one roof.
- A strong online presence, coupled with localized content and Arabic language support.
Namshi’s business model, in other words, is driven by the proposition of a digitally destined station for fashion-loving Middle Easterners with a high diversity of products.
Now, that you’ve understood the business model, let’s dive into the feature list to make an app like Namshi.
Features for a Top-Tier Shopping App: Make your own app like Namshi
| Feature Category | Must-Have Features | Description |
| User Experience | Intuitive Navigation | Simplifies browsing with easy-to-use menus and categories. |
| Personalized Recommendations | Offers tailored product suggestions based on user behavior and preferences. | |
| Seamless Checkout Process | Provides a quick and hassle-free purchasing experience. | |
| Advanced Search and Filters | Helps users find products quickly with efficient search and filtering options. | |
| Product Management | Detailed Product Descriptions | Includes comprehensive information, images, and reviews for each product. |
| Inventory Management | Keeps track of stock levels and updates in real-time. | |
| Wish List and Favorites | Allows users to save items for future purchases. | |
| Customer Engagement | Push Notifications | Sends alerts for new arrivals, discounts, and order updates. |
| Customer Reviews and Ratings | Provides social proof and feedback for products. | |
| Loyalty Programs and Rewards | Encourages repeat purchases through incentives and rewards. | |
| Payment Options | Multiple Payment Gateways | Supports various payment methods like credit cards, PayPal, and mobile wallets. |
| Secure Payment Processing | Ensures user data protection and secure transactions. | |
| Order Management | Order Tracking | Allows users to monitor the status of their orders in real-time. |
| Easy Returns and Refunds | Simplifies the process of returning products and getting refunds. | |
| Customer Support | Live Chat Support | Provides instant assistance and resolves queries quickly. |
| FAQ and Help Center | Offers self-service options for common questions and issues. | |
| Marketing and Analytics | Integration with Social Media | Enhances visibility and user engagement through social platforms. |
| Analytics and Reporting | Tracks user behavior and sales data to optimize performance. |
Latest tech-based Features for Shopping App Development like Namshi
- Video-based Shopping: Namshi has a feature called “Namshi Looks” which features 15-second to 3-minute videos, showcasing Fashion, Beauty, and Home products to accelerate purchase decisions. You can think of such features and integrate them into your app to drive more sales.
- Personalized Recommendations: Using AI in eCommerce to create a recommendation engine has become a norm. It analyzes user behavior, browsing histories, and past orders and recommends products that they prefer to buy.
- Voice Search and AI Assistants: Add a futuristic touch by letting your users browse products and shop using their voice just like they talk to AI assistants Siri and Alexa.
- Visual Search: Save users’ time by enabling them to search for products by uploading images they have. Your app can also suggest similar products shown in the image to increase cross-selling.
- AR Try-On: Integrating augmented reality in your shopping app is like bringing the changing room to user homes. Virtual try-on will let users imagine items in place and try clothes to see how they look and fit without stepping out.
- Social Commerce: Instagram and Snapchat are prominent social media for grabbing the attention of fashionistas. And integrating them to show products and engage users is one of the rising trends.
But it’s not just about the users; here are shopping app functionalities that also benefit your business:
- Dynamic Pricing: One of the most talked about features in eCommerce for a reason. Driven by data analysis and AI algorithms, the Dynamic pricing strategy automates adjusting product prices based on the current market demand. So, with this strategy, you can capitalize on high demands.
- Customer Behavior Analysis: Implement AI and ML algorithms to understand your customers better. Combined with data analysis, these technologies will help you gain insights into their preferences, purchase patterns, and trends to enhance your offerings.
- Predictive Analytics: PA in eCommerce is for those brands that want to stay ahead of the game. It enables scrutinizing your data to forecast sales, thus helping you optimize inventory and the entire supply chain cycle.
Explore Potential Technology Stack for Shopping App Development
Building a user-friendly app requires a solid foundation built using the right technologies. Let us dig into underlying technologies that give a look at your app and make the app features function behind the scenes.
Front-End Technologies
To build your shopping app user interface and make it visually appealing, you will need technologies like HTML, CSS3, and JavaScript for web apps. Or else, you can use Flutter, a cross-platform app development framework, to create apps for web and mobile from a single codebase.
Mobile App Development
The world’s smartphone users are majorly divided into iOS and Android. To reach your audience across multiple devices, you can use Kotlin programming language for Android and Swift for iOS. Alternatively, you can take a cross-platform approach with Flutter. Flutter provides a seamless and efficient way to create apps for both iOS and Android, offering a native-like performance and a rich UI.
Back-End Technologies
The back-end technologies are to handle the server-side logic and functionality of your app. To make a shopping app like Namshi, you can use server-side languages like Node.js (with frameworks like Express or Koa) or Python (with Django or Flask).
Databases
Your shopping app will have significant data, including user data, product information, orders, etc. To efficiently store and manage the data, you could use relational databases like MySQL or PostgreSQL or opt for NoSQL databases like MongoDB or DynamoDB. Before selecting a database, you must assess your specific requirements and scalability needs.
Payment Gateways
Based on the digital payment methods used by your target audience, you will be required to integrate payment gateways into your shopping app. MENA’s leading shopping app, Namshi, makes the checkout process smooth with multiple payment options — Tabby, Apple Pay, Visa, MasterCard, and more.
Security and Authentication
To protect data on your shopping app, you can add layers of protection using OAuth for authentication, SSL/TLS for data encryption, and two-factor authentication.
Furthermore, you will need more technologies based on your features, including push notifications, real-time order tracking, and analytical features. The technology stack can vary depending on your requirements, development skills, and scalability needs.
Required Development Team to Make an App like Namshi
Starting an eCommerce business from scratch and creating a shopping app requires a rock-solid development team. But who exactly should be on your team and what skills must they have? So, let’s explore what the development team structure looks like.
Key Professionals to Build Your Shopping App:
- Project Manager: to ensure the team is organized, manage timelines, and coordinate across resources until the project’s closer. With their supervision, you can save time and execute the project smoothly on time, and within budget.
- Software Developers: you will need to hire flutter developers or mobile developers with experience in native or cross-platform development, whichever approach you choose to build your app with.
- UI/UX Designers: user interface and experience designers are the professionals who will make your shopping app user-friendly so that users can easily browse, purchase, and keep coming to shop more.
- Quality Assurance Testers: though developers follow the best practices to write error-free codes, you need quality analysts. They run rigorous testing on app performance, features, and usability to make it bug-free and ensure an uninterrupted experience.
- Business Analysts: to make your shopping app cutting-edge and competitive enough to gain a strategic advantage, have a business analyst by your side. They are expert at analyzing business needs, identifying requirements, and ensuring your app aligns with your goals.
Now, about how to onboard these professionals. So, you have a choice to hire them in-house and bear the cost of recruitment, infrastructure, and software they need, salary, and other perks.
Alternatively, you can partner with an eCommerce app development company. They usually have full-fledged, experienced development teams and offer multiple engagement models. You can hire developers as per your requirements or outsource the entire project, as you wish.
From planning to deploying, the Journey of Shopping App Development
Access a detailed and insightful guide to eCommerce app development here!
How much does it Cost to make a shopping app like Namshi?
The cost of developing a shopping app like Namshi can start from $30000 and go beyond $150000. How the cost calculation works, you may ask. Fundamentally, when planning your shopping app development budget, you must consider the cost-affecting factors. These factors are –
- The number of features,
- Complex functionality,
- The complexity level of user interface and experience,
- Native or cross-platform app development approach,
- Third-party integrations – payment gateways, analytical tools, algorithms, etc.,
- The location of your developers or development company.
Apparently, developing a feature-rich shopping app like Namshi that also leverages AI and ML will cost significantly more than a simple app. However, if you’ve just got an eCommerce idea and want to try it in the market, you can start small.
Starting small means you can develop the app with essential features. You can create MVP- minimum viable product and test it in the market. And if you receive favorable responses from your target audience, you can raise funds and build a fully equipped application like Namshi.
The strategic role of Kody Technolab in your Shopping app success!
As per Deloitte, eCommerce in the Middle East is estimated to reach a market volume of US$50 billion by 2025.
The growth, as per the report, is driven by the across-the-board use of cutting-edge technologies like Artificial Intelligence, Machine Learning, and favorable government initiatives to promote digital economies.
At Kody Technolab Ltd, we empower eCommerce businesses to not only establish their online presence but also offer omnichannel experiences. Our technical geeks help you leverage the technology to drive personalization that aims to increase customer satisfaction and loyalty, driving repeat purchases.
So, grab the market opportunity by creating a modern shopping app that makes shopping interesting and fun for the audience. With Kody Technolab, you can rest assured
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