The Middle East e-commerce market, which is now considered to be one of the fastest-growing economies in the region, is evolving rapidly. Through the adoption of digital change, the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia has now become a great market for e-commerce app platforms. This guide breaks down the key factors that impact the cost of eCommerce app development, making it easier to understand.
To understand the cost of e-commerce app development, we must first explore e-commerce app development guide entails and how to successfully build an app.
Now, more and more customers prefer online shopping, making businesses embrace the importance of having mobile applications. The demand for simple, easy-to-use, and convenient mobile e-commerce applications has hence become the need of the hour for Saudi businesses.
This blog will discuss the factors affecting the development cost of e-commerce apps in Saudi Arabia and provide useful insight to businesses that seek to capitalize on this promising sector.
Market Overview of E-commerce in Saudi Arabia
Several factors have led to high growth observed in the Saudi Arabian e-commerce business in the last few years. Increased access to the internet, the emergence of online shopping, and the latest features and trends in ecommerce apps make Saudi an ideal place for a digital boom.
Businesses are beginning to understand that mobile applications are crucial for interacting with customers. To enhance users’ satisfaction and boost revenues, e-commerce platforms are significantly investing in creating user-friendly mobile applications with the help of the best white-label ecommerce development company for Saudi Arabian firms.
The Saudi government has been implementing the Vision 2030 project, and e-commerce is among the many industries that this project focuses on. The government has introduced policies and measures to promote digital literacy and upgrade the digital infrastructure. This support system has helped the e-commerce business in Saudi Arabia to grow rapidly.
Key Factors That Affect Cost of eCommerce App Development
E-commerce app development costs are influenced by factors like feature complexity, platform choice (iOS or Android), design, and third-party integrations. Development timelines and ongoing maintenance also affect the overall budget. Careful planning is crucial to managing costs effectively.
1. App Complexity and Features
There is a direct correlation between the development cost of e-commerce app and its features. Three primary categories exist for apps: basic, moderate, and advanced.
Some of the basic app features that are most often added to the basic e-commerce apps are a product list and a clear payment gateway. Some developers may charge extra payment gateway integration costs when you request them to add multiple (including cryptocurrency) payment options, Recommendations based on the user’s preferences and user accounts are some of the features that are offered in moderate apps.
On the other hand, the advanced e-commerce app development service comes with functionalities like omnichannel support, AR/VR, and real-time inventory tracking. It is, however, worth noting that as the number of features developed and the level of complexity goes up, the cost of development also goes up.
2. Platforms: iOS vs. Android vs. Cross-Platform
The development cost of e-commerce app in Saudi Arabia depends on the operating system, which is either iOS, Android, or both.
- For iOS: As Apple strictly regulates and controls the apps in its store and since developing applications for iOS needs specialized tools, the initial ecommerce app features cost more than that of an Android app. However, the average revenue per user (ARPU) is much higher in the Apple App Store.
- For Android: Android is an open-source platform, and hence, there is more flexibility, which results in lower costs for developing Android apps. It is also important to note that the ARPU for the Google Play Store might be lower than that of the Apple App Store.
- For Cross-Platform: Here, an application developer can build an application for both iOS and Android from a single code base, which is cheap. Although this can reduce the development time, it might compromise user experience and performance at times.
3. Development Team Location and Expertise
The location of the development team is a key factor that determines the development cost of e-commerce app in Saudi Arabia.
The local development teams will help in that they are conversant with the local laws and culture, meaning that the project may not incur as many expenses as in other countries. They may, however, be more expensive and have limited access to expert personnel.
Offshore development teams are known to bring efficient solutions at relatively lower e-commerce app pricing in Saudi Arabia, especially when complex skills are needed. Although they may have minor difficulties in communicating in different languages and time zones, their experience and low prices may be an advantage.
However, in-house development requires a huge amount of money at the onset and constant monitoring. Outsourcing is effective for companies who do not wish to invest in internal infrastructure, want to minimize risks and costs, and get easy access to specialized talent.
4. Technology Stack
The overall ecommerce app cost in Saudi Arabia mainly depends on the technological stack. With the development of augmented reality (AR), virtual reality (VR), machine learning (ML), and artificial intelligence (AI), it is possible to enhance functionality and user experience. However, it may require particular expertise and tools, which increases the development cost of the e-commerce app that we intend to build.
5. App Design and User Experience
UI/UX not only enhances the aesthetics of the e-commerce software, but it also proves to be a prudent strategy that is capable of reducing the per-unit cost of developing e-commerce software in Saudi Arabia. A carefully considered UI/UX:
- Reduces development time: This indicates that labor costs can easily be reduced as an understandable and easy-to-use design simplifies the development process.
- Reduces post-launch revisions: A good UX design can prevent costly post-launch changes and adjustments to the app’s interface.
- Increases user retention and satisfaction: Positive word of mouth boosts customers’ loyalty and reduces the frequency of using expensive brand-building advertisements.
Increases conversion rates: Design and develop a good, easy-to-use app so that it can attract more traffic and generate more revenue to cover the cost of development.
6. Third-Party Integrations
Third-party integrations, such as payment services, shipping, and CRM, can significantly influence the cost of e-commerce app development in Saudi Arabia. It adds to the overall cost of the project as such integrations may require special development or a license.
The complexity and specificity of the integrations may also affect the cost of e-commerce apps as well as the time needed to build them. Thus, while designing and estimating the costs of the e-commerce app in Saudi Arabia, it is crucial to give much thought to the need for third-party integration.
7. Security Features
Security measures are critical determinants of development costs, and yet they guarantee the protection of the client’s data. SSL certificates are another requirement to ensure the security of the application’s data when the application sends data to the server.
Security is, however, boosted by the two-factor authentication, which is an added feature. Lastly, data encryption slightly increases the mobile app development cost. Ensuring information security makes encryption a critical factor, along with other important considerations.
Although these measures are useful in building confidence and upholding local laws, they may increase the online shopping app development time and make it a cumbersome process.
Estimated Cost Breakdown for E-commerce App Development
The development cost of e-commerce app in Saudi Arabia may differ in certain aspects, such as complexity, functionality, design, number of developers needed, and geographical location of the app. So, let’s break down the prices depending on three levels of app complexity to give you a ballpark estimate:
Note: These are approximations and may change depending on particular needs. For a more precise estimate, Contact with Cyaniclab
Hidden Costs to Consider
Understanding the hidden ecommerce mobile app development cost after the development of an e-commerce app is very important when designing one in Saudi Arabia. Consider the following important factors:
- Continuous App Maintenance and Update Costs: It is crucial to update apps for security and usability; for apps to work correctly, updates must be frequent. These may include compliance changes, new features, and bug fixes.
- Server and Hosting Fees: You will be charged for the storage of your app, bandwidth, security, and every other aspect that supports the app’s operations.
- Fees for App Stores: The distribution of the apps involves costs that have to be incurred by the developers to the Google Play and Apple App Store in order to have their apps listed and marketed.
- Marketing and User Acquisition: These are the targeted marketing techniques that are required to spread awareness about your app so that users can be attracted to it. Some of the examples of the targeted marketing techniques include the following;
- Compliance with Local Regulations: In order not to aggravate the situation and ensure that everything is fine, one has to respect Saudi Arabia’s regulations for e-commerce. This consists of the proper cultural practices of a specific country, proceeding with all the necessary licenses and data protection regulations.
How to Reduce E-Commerce App Development Costs
To reduce the ecommerce mobile app price, follow these tips:
Prioritize MVP (Minimum Viable Product) Development:
- Start with a basic version of your app that has the necessary functionalities.
- Prioritize improving your app by incorporating input from early users before adding new features.
Use Cross-Platform Development
- Create a single software that is compatible with both Android and iOS smartphones.
- Utilize frameworks like Flutter or React Native to cut down on development expenses and time.
Outsource to Experienced Offshore Teams
- Get the best custom e-commerce app development service from seasoned developers in nations where labor expenses are lower.
- Make sure they comprehend the Saudi Arabian industry and have a track record of developing e-commerce apps.
Leverage Pre-Built Solutions and Open-Source Tools
- To speed up development, make use of libraries and pre-built components.
- Explore free resources that can assist in cutting expenses without sacrificing quality.
Conclusion
So, to sum up, there are a few factors, like the level of complexity of the app, features that are to be incorporated, the type of development team, and their location, that do impact the cost of e-commerce app development in Saudi Arabia significantly.
With these things in mind and choosing the right development partner, it is possible to deal with the budget and develop an e-commerce app.Cyanic Lab is the most suitable for Saudi Arabian firms that need to work with an experienced and reliable custom mobile app development company. Cyanic Lab offers solutions that meet the specific needs of organizations in Saudi Arabia.
Over the years, we have gained a reputation for creating quality, innovative, and easily customizable e-commerce mobile apps. Achieve the goal of digital transformation and effectively address the issues of e-commerce app development with the help of Cyanic Lab. Contact us today!