Increasing numbers of consumers are opting for online shopping and mobile commerce over traditional mall shopping, indicating a growing trend towards borderless e-commerce. It is projected that the global online retail market will reach $7.385 trillion by 2025, highlighting the profitability of online businesses. In today’s competitive e-commerce market, providing excellent customer service and a well-designed interface are crucial factors that can set a business apart. Neglecting UI/UX design can lead to poor sales performance, as even small details can make a big difference in the customer experience. To help boost conversion rates and create a user-centered UX, we will offer 6 UI/UX tips in this article.
Ensure that all important components are placed within the easily accessible area for the thumb.
The trend of increasingly larger smartphones in the market has led to the need for proper positioning of on-screen elements to guide users towards specific actions. Poor placement can cause inconvenience to customers during their journey. Even people with long fingers find it challenging to reach the top of the screen when using the phone with one hand. Hence, it is advisable to position critical features towards the bottom of the screen to ensure easy access. For instance, functions like add-to-cart or payment processing buttons should be placed within the comfortable reach zone.
The graphic has remained almost unchanged for a decade, and yet the practice of positioning the hamburger menu and search bar at the top of mobile pages remains prevalent. While the menu dominates the lower part of applications, pages displayed on mobile browsers do not always adhere to the principle of placing frequently used options within the thumb’s reach.
Understanding the “accessibility of elements for the thumb” principle is crucial in designing effective product pages, searches, and filters. However, this does not imply that all available options should always be concentrated at the bottom of the screen. It is essential to identify the most popular navigation paths and ensure they are easily accessible for one-handed operation without requiring the user to adjust the phone’s position.
Provide assistance and minimize annoyance for inexperienced users.
One of the crucial factors for enhancing the user interface of an e-commerce application is to ensure a pleasant and hassle-free shopping experience. Simplifying the process by reducing the number of options can be effective in guiding users through the process without overwhelming them. The “paradox of choice” phenomenon is a common experience where the availability of numerous choices can have both positive and negative impacts on the usability of the interface.
However, it is essential not to oversimplify the process as too little information can result in a lack of understanding, while providing no choice can lead to users feeling limited and disinterested. While microinteractions and prompts can add value to the user experience, some features have become expected, and their absence can cause frustration among users. A common cause of user frustration is the lack of clarity on the next steps to take, such as the absence of feedback like “Added to Cart” or “Added to Favorites” after clicking the corresponding buttons, resulting in confusion and repetition of actions.
Minimize the length of registration and checkout procedures.
It’s important to avoid requesting personal information from clients until it’s necessary for the checkout process, and even then, it’s best to keep it concise and only ask for essential details that can fit on a smartphone screen without scrolling. Most people find lengthy signup and checkout procedures frustrating, particularly when using mobile applications, which can result in abandoned carts and lost profits.
Social networks can be a useful tool to simplify the process, allowing customers to register and sign in to the app with just one click using their Google or Facebook profile. This saves time and can be appreciated by customers.
To ensure a seamless payment experience, autocomplete fields should be utilized, enabling users to quickly modify their orders by changing product numbers and sizes before completing the purchase. Implementing autofill fields can also help increase conversion rates.
Consistency in the app’s design.
One of the most commonly suggested design tips for mobile apps is maintaining consistency throughout all elements. This includes visual consistency, where typefaces, color schemes, and interactive elements should look similar on all app screens. It also includes functional consistency, where interactive design elements should work the same way across different screens, such as buttons. Additionally, external consistency is crucial, ensuring that all products, such as the website, mobile app, and other products, have similar design patterns.
Consistency in design is essential as it creates a logical structure, prioritizes content, and highlights critical elements in the design. It also makes the app predictable, meaning users do not need to learn new ways of interacting with it. The simpler the interface, the easier it is for users to find the desired product, resulting in a smoother shopping experience.
The rule of three taps.
When creating a mobile eCommerce app, it’s crucial to ensure that the UX structure allows users to find their desired product in no more than three taps. This guideline is referred to as the “three-tap rule.” To comply with this standard, you can arrange your products by categories, sub-categories, and then specific products. You can also implement tags to group your products into specific categories, such as “Valentine’s Day” or “Bachelorette Party.”
In addition, the search bar is a vital element of the mobile app or website’s UX design, enabling users to find what they’re looking for more quickly. Consider implementing Smart Search to suggest possible matches as users type their query. This not only saves users time and enhances their experience but also promotes popular products.
The most critical aspect is navigation in mobile app design.
To enhance your eCommerce mobile app, it’s essential to perfect navigation patterns that can guide users to make purchases smoothly and without confusion. Users should be able to navigate through your website or app easily and complete all necessary tasks without any assistance or explanation. A helpful tip to improve navigation is to use standard elements instead of trying to be creative. It’s also crucial to make navigation options visible and easily accessible. For instance, if you use a side menu, users should see the menu option clearly. You can also use different colors to highlight and prioritize navigation options, such as marking high-priority options with lighter shades.
Overcoming obstacles in the design of mobile eCommerce applications
According to research, a single mistake in the app can cause 76% of users to switch to a competitor, which means you need to avoid any errors. These top six UX design tips are a good starting point, but there are many other ways to improve the user experience. At Applover, we are well aware that experimenting with new design features and testing them for efficiency can have multiple benefits.
To create a compelling UI, it is essential to understand how customers use and experience your app. The most effective and unique UI elements create positive emotions and eliminate negative ones.
Designing an eCommerce app can be challenging, but by following these important UX/UI design tips, you have everything you need to design an app that looks fantastic and has high conversion rates.