With the number of new portable and mobile devices being used to access the web on the rise, web developers have to be able to cater for all of these to create successful e-commerce sites. This guest post explores some of the main features of e-commerce sites that need to be cross-compatible and ubiquitous across devices to ensure success, showing why full Mobile Development Training, iPhone App Training and knowing how to fully make the most of Dreamweaver & jQuery Mobile Web Design Training are all vital for adapting to today’s latest platforms. 

Customers no longer stay confined to desktop and laptop computers. The trend is to be permanently connected through a host of mobile devices like smart phones and tablet computers. Hence the age old concept of designing websites specifically for computer screens has to be discarded for sites that can be customised for all types of mobile devices. Online businesses may have to spend more and make adjustments in website design to ensure that the customer’s click on the website is not a wasted effort simply because the site did not look readable, or did not offer all the features clearly visible on a computer screen. The only way to maximize sales is to catch the client with his first click, by extending all the options of the e-commerce site to all possible mobile devices.

Ecommerce functions for mobile devices must include at least the following:

• Login- Every user or customer must be able to login to an existing or new account from any device, be it a smart phone, laptop, tablet or kiosk in a commercial place. Multi-device logins need to offer all the features possible like registration that can be used by new customers, forgotten password or user ID, and security checks. The idea is to make the site as functional on a mobile device as it is on a computer. Modular websites can integrate user login features in their mobile apps with their standard site format, as has been done with leading e-commerce sites like Amazon.

• Products on sale- E-commerce sites also need to ensure that customers can easily scroll through an entire product catalog from their mobile device. Formatting the product details for specific devices according to their screen size helps in making the right impression- the functionality of course remain the same. Each mobile device must be able to display clearly, product details like price, product features, promotional offers and other useful information like product comparisons, reviews, and ratings. This functionality can be achieved only through an ecommerce system that can incorporate features of all devices.

• Browsing and searching- the feature most used on the internet is search-for products and services available. Search engines place a vast range of options in front of the user and this makes mobile searches even more convenient since users can search even while inside stores, to get the best of what they are looking for. But mobile devices need to be customized for search as well.

•  Shopping Cart- The most decisive call to action comes with the shopping cart in every e-commerce business. The shopping cart needs to be conspicuous on every page of the website on any mobile device, not just on a desktop computer. Lack of visibility of the cart might lead to an opportunity for sale getting lost. Mobile devices can be used to gradually add products to the cart and finally the checkout may take place later.

• Checking out- E-commerce websites need to have simplified checkout processes to make shopping online a happy experience for customers. The checkout steps and navigating through the site to reach that stage from a mobile device, must be smooth sailing and hassle free or else the customer might just dump a shopping cart full of orders, causing damage to the business.

• Customer service- Every online shopping experience from any mobile device becomes easier if customer service is easily available. Customer queries and doubts must be clearly then and there and irrespective of the mobile device being used, the query must be visible to the customer service staff.

This post has been submitted by Neil from eMobileScan, who are a dedicated B2B supplier of the latest handheld technology like the Motorola ES400 and the Zebra GK420T which allows them their customers to reduce costs and improve efficiency.

If you would like to read more about cross device and cross browser development considerations, then have a read of our article asking What is Responsive Web Design?

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ecommerce, jquery for mobile, jQuery mobile, Mobile Development, mobile phone, mobile shopping, mobile web design course, mobile web design dreamweaver, mobile web design training uk, mobile web design using dreamweaver and jquery, mobile websites, new mobile technology, web design for mobile

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