Global shopping APP downloads up to 5.7 billion in 2018, up 9.3% from year on

In the context of mobile Internet, mobile shopping APPS attract a large number of users because of their speed and convenience. E-commerce platforms should keep these two points in mind when creating experiences that attract and retain customers.

Shopping app downloads worldwide reached 5.7 billion in 2018, up 9.3 percent from 2017, according to exclusive data from Apptopia, a U.S. app analytics platform.




Shopping app downloads on the Google Play store grew 13.3% year-on-year to 3.3 billion, while downloads on apple’s iOS rose 4.2% to 2.4 billion.

Global Internet users spent 18 billion hours on shopping apps in 2018, up 45 percent from 2016.

Retail and e-commerce applications have the highest retention rates




In the second half of 2018, marketing analytics platform Localytics found that retail and e-commerce applications had the highest user retention rates in all analyzed application categories. Other sub-categories include media and entertainment, business and technology, travel and lifestyle.

One months after the first download, 48% of users are still using retail and e-commerce apps, or have still not deleted apps, exceeding the average app retention rate of 43%. Three months later, the retention rate had dropped to 32%, but it was still above the average retention rate of 29%.




Andrew Lipsman, chief analyst at eMarketer, said: “Users may be more purposeful in downloading shopping apps, and it’s less mysterious what practical features the app will provide to users. The e-commerce platform can take full advantage of this to ensure that once users download their app, they are attracted as much as possible and traded through the app. ”

Localytics also found that consumers spend the least time on retail and e-commerce apps compared to other app categories. This can be explained because shopping apps have a much more specific goal — to sell, while content-driven apps are designed to keep users engaged and engaged.

Retail and e-commerce apps use an average of 8.8 times a month per app, 3.3 minutes per app. All category apps use an average of 13 times a month, 56.3 minutes per app, because media and entertainment apps push up the average time spent on all apps.

Mobile apps are more useful than mobile web pages



Adam Blacker, vice president of Apptopia Insight and Global Alliance, said: “For companies, mobile apps are more valuable than mobile pages, and when a company’s app is installed, it has a place in consumers.” ”

As apps start to run on consumers’ phones, e-commerce sellers can gain attention without sending notifications to users, Blacker said.

“Instead, they can update their app ICONS based on upcoming seasons or important events to stimulate consumers’ curiosity,” he added. The novelty will naturally trigger a moment of consumer curiosity.



This interest is crucial to retaining users, because the more interactive an application is, the more often it will be used again and the less likely it will be uninstalled or deactivated.

Many companies are using mobile devices to attract customers and enhance their in-store experience.

In 2018, for example, two major U.S. entities, retail giants Walmart and Target, added guided maps to their applications, improving the customer experience and optimizing checkout efficiency.

2018 is the year when mobile e-commerce shopping rises sharply. In order to seize the market share of mobile online shopping, all major e-commerce platforms are striving for the number of devices installed for their apps. So who is the winner? Data analytics firm Sensor Tower lists the list of shopping apps for the 2018 global download Top10 (pictured below):

 

 

As you can easily see from the above chart, Wish is the top downloaded shopping App of 2018. Amazon came in second, with more than 134 million App downloads. Aliexpress is a close third, followed by Shopee and Joom.