How Salesforce Commerce Merchants Can Launch a Mobile App (Without Rebuilding or Replatforming)

Mobile commerce isn’t the future – it’s here, right now. More than 70% of ecommerce traffic is on mobile, making mobile apps an essential retention tool for any ecommerce business.

If your Salesforce Commerce Cloud store doesn’t offer an app, you risk losing loyal customers to competitors who benefit from push notifications, saved log-ins, and simplified checkout processes available through native apps.

Customers now expect personalized, instant shopping experiences. And apps provide exactly that.

Fortunately, launching a powerful native app doesn’t have to mean rebuilding everything from scratch (or abandoning Salesforce to settle for a less sophisticated platform). There are ways for Salesforce Commerce Cloud merchants to harness their current stack, preserving all the customizations, integrations, and workflows they've already optimized, without taking on a massive project in the process.

In this guide, we'll explore exactly how you can achieve this efficiently and with minimal risk, ensuring your brand stays competitive in mobile-first markets.

Unique Pain Points for Salesforce Commerce Store Owners

Here are several specific challenges Salesforce Commerce Cloud merchants face when it comes to launching a mobile app:

Limited Compatible App Builders

App builders are a great way for ecommerce brands to ship apps fast, for a low cost, without hiring developers.

But most no-code app builders primarily cater to Shopify sites (with a few also supporting WooCommerce/Magento/BigCommerce).

Finding app builders compatible with Salesforce Commerce Cloud’s APIs (SCAPI/OCAPI) can be particularly challenging, limiting available options and increasing complexity.

Feature Parity

Most Salesforce Commerce brands are on the platform because of SFCC’s ability to build unique, intricate features.

You may have custom bundles, loyalty program integrations, detailed A/B testing, specialized payment flows, and other tweaks that you rely on. And you need these to carry over to your mobile apps.

The question is if these unique web features will still work seamlessly in the app.

Rebuild Fatigue

Your team has already dedicated substantial resources to developing your web experience.

Does building a mobile app mean starting all over again for iOS and Android?

The idea of rewriting APIs or screens for mobile feels redundant, expensive, and exhausting.

Scalability & Update Concerns

Updates to the SFCC platform can inadvertently disrupt mobile apps. A small change can throw a wrench into the integration between your website and app, breaking your app (or sending the platforms out of sync).

This can be costly, in terms of lost sales, brand damage, or the cost of calling in developers to re-build the integration.

Total Cost of Ownership

Maintenance for native apps can quickly escalate into significant recurring expenses (often reaching six figures annually). This is especially true if each web-based change needs extra work to replicate across both iOS and Android platforms.

The Three Main Paths to an App

Salesforce Commerce Cloud merchants generally have three options to launch a mobile app.

Let’s look at these options now.

1. Wrapper / Site-to-App Converter (e.g., MobiLoud)

What It Is: A lightweight native shell that renders your existing live storefront.

Launch Timeline: Typically 3–6 weeks.

Pros:

• 100% feature parity with existing website.
• Single codebase maintenance.
• Built-in push notifications and deep linking.
• UX mirrors your mobile web, ideal if your existing UX is already strong.

Cons: Limited native customization.

Best Fit: Brands prioritizing speed and minimal development effort.

Want to see what’s possible? MobiLoud has helped 20+ Salesforce brands, including Jack & Jones and John Varvatos, build mobile apps for minimal cost and overhead (without sacrificing any features from their website).

See it for yourself: Get a Free Preview of Your App Now.

2. Headless Native Build (e.g., React Native / Flutter)

What It Is: A fully native app developed using technologies like React Native or Flutter, integrated with SFCC's SCAPI.

Timeline: 4–6 months.

Pros:

• High performance and full native capabilities.
• Customized user flows and offline access.

Cons:

• Significant upfront build and API costs.
• Continuous maintenance of dual-stack environments.

Best Fit: Large teams pursuing highly customized user experiences.

3. Composable PWA + Capacitor

What It Is: Your storefront built as a Progressive Web App (PWA) and wrapped in Capacitor for native distribution.

Timeline: 2–3 months.

Pros:

• Unified JavaScript codebase.
• Moderate access to native device APIs.

Cons:

• Performance slightly lower than fully native apps.
• Some native OS feature limitations.
• Requires dev resources.

Best Fit: Merchants already moving toward a composable storefront architecture.

Why MobiLoud Is the Best Way to Build Your App

MobiLoud is the most efficient and strategic path for Salesforce Commerce Cloud merchants to launch mobile apps (without sacrificing functionality, speed, or future scalability).

MobiLoud is a fully-managed service that turns your existing SFCC site into a high-performance iOS and Android app in just a few weeks. 

Unlike DIY app builders or complex native development, there's no need to rebuild or replicate your storefront. Everything you've already invested in (your custom features, integrations, and design) works out of the box.

What sets MobiLoud apart:

• Full Feature Parity: Your app mirrors your live SFCC site, including advanced features like custom checkout flows, loyalty programs, and more.
• No Duplicated Work: Updates to your website reflect instantly in your app. No double maintenance, no additional engineering required.
• Fully Compatible: MobiLoud supports any website, on any tech stack. This includes complex Salesforce environments, including headless setups and bespoke workflows.
• Push Notifications: Unlock the power of direct customer engagement with built-in push support. MobiLoud sets up everything – from Firebase/APNS keys to segmentation and campaigns. There’s also an option for Done-For-You push services if you need ongoing execution.
• Predictable, Flat Pricing: No revenue sharing or variable fees. Transparent pricing based on usage means you always know your costs, with support, updates, and app maintenance included.
• Fast, Reliable Launch: Your app is typically live in 4–6 weeks, with the MobiLoud team handling setup, store submissions, testing, and optimization. We’ve done this 2,000+ times – you’re in experienced hands.
• Long-Term Strategic Support: You’re not left to figure things out on your own. Our team stays engaged post-launch to help drive adoption, retention, and ROI through proactive support and growth consulting.

MobiLoud is more than a wrapper. It’s a high-touch mobile app partner.

For Salesforce Commerce merchants looking to launch fast, avoid redundant dev work, and drive measurable results, there’s no better option.

See your app in action: Get a Free Preview Now

Decision Framework for Salesforce Teams

Struggling to decide on the best strategy for your mobile app?

Here’s a framework for Salesforce Commerce Cloud merchants to consider to make the right decision:

• Audit Mobile Web UX: Ensure pages load quickly (<2 seconds) and evaluate current average order value (AOV). If performance is strong, a wrapper solution can deliver significant benefits quickly.
• Identify Essential Native Features: Clearly list features only achievable with native apps, like offline functionality or barcode scanning.
• Estimate Engineering Resources: Determine if you have adequate internal mobile development resources for a complex, native build (typically 1–2 dedicated engineers for at least six months).
• Project ROI & Timeline: Calculate potential revenue uplift from enhanced mobile experiences (push notifications, saved logins) against the costs and delays associated with longer development cycles.
• Run Proof-of-Concept: Quickly validate performance and compatibility with solutions like MobiLoud, comparing key performance indicators (KPIs) against other prototypes.

Implementation Roadmap (for the MobiLoud Path)

Let’s say you go with MobiLoud, to convert your Salesforce Commerce site into an app. What will the process look like? How much work will it take to launch?

Here’s how the roadmap shakes out.

Week 0 – Kickoff & Setup

We start with a brief kickoff call and onboarding form. You’ll share your website URL and a few brand assets, as well as any specific requirements for your app. Then we take over.

Week 1 – App Configuration

Our team configures your app to match your website’s navigation, design, and functionality, ensuring full feature parity. 

Your checkout flows, loyalty programs, and third-party integrations all work the same in your app as they do on your website. 

On the app side, we build several native functions, such as push notifications and native nav UI, to make your app feel more custom.

Weeks 2–3 – Preview & Testing

You’ll receive test versions of your app through TestFlight and Play Console. We walk through your app together to validate key journeys like login, cart, and checkout. 

You provide feedback.. We refine until everything works exactly as expected.

Week 4 – Quality Assurance

Our QA team performs thorough testing across devices, screen sizes, and edge cases. We catch and resolve any issues before submission, ensuring a polished, stable experience.

Weeks 5–6 – Store Submission & Launch

We handle the full submission process to both Apple App Store and Google Play. This includes screenshot generation, metadata optimization, and ongoing reviewer communication. 

Once approved, your app goes live. We help you coordinate the launch, activate your push strategy, and monitor early performance.

Post-Launch – Growth Support

After launch, we stay closely involved. From push notification campaigns and analytics support to app marketing and CRO consultation, we’re here to help you grow your app into a high-performing retention and revenue channel.

Final Takeaways

Salesforce Commerce Cloud merchants don't need to reinvent their ecommerce platform to capture the benefits of a native mobile app. 

A web to app solution like MobiLoud significantly reduces engineering complexity while preserving all the customizations, integrations, and web architecture you've already built.

Ready to see it in action? Get a free preview of your app to see it in action. All we need is your site’s URL – and we’ll show you a fully interactive version of your Salesforce Commerce Cloud storefront as a mobile app.