For B2B brands managing complex sales operations, choosing a platform like OroCommerce is a commitment to handling the intricacies that standard ecommerce platforms can't touch.
However, as your buyers increasingly conduct business from their phones, a critical question arises: how do you extend this complex B2B experience to a native mobile app?
Mobile apps are a vital channel for B2B retention and growth. Gartner forecast in 2020 that 80% of B2B sales interactions would move to digital channels by 2025, a shift that's now reality, with most happening on mobile devices.
The challenge, especially for companies on a platform like OroCommerce, is not why you should launch an app, but how.
Traditionally, the path to a native app is expensive and technically complex. But it doesn't have to be.
This guide will walk you through why building a mobile app for an OroCommerce website is hard, and introduce a faster, more efficient way to launch a premium iOS and Android app.
The Challenge: The High Cost of Replicating Your OroCommerce Storefront
OroCommerce is a powerful platform. It manages intricate logic that standard ecommerce platforms simply can't touch. But that same complexity makes building a native app hard.
The Complexity Trap
To build a custom native app for an OroCommerce site (using Swift for iOS and Kotlin for Android, or even React Native), you essentially have to rebuild your entire frontend logic.
You are recreating every workflow, every custom pricing rule, every approval process, and every integration you have spent years perfecting on your website.
This is also where most “template” app builders fall down. They can handle simple catalogs and checkout flows, but they struggle with the real-world B2B complexity OroCommerce is built for: account hierarchies, custom pricing rules, approvals, role-based experiences, and specialized workflows.
A custom agency build at this level of complexity often runs into the low-to-mid six figures upfront, plus significant ongoing maintenance costs to keep the app in sync with your web updates.
And a rebuild often discards years of UX and conversion optimizations you’ve already tested on your mobile site.
The "PWA Gap"
OroCommerce offers a Progressive Web App (PWA) solution, notably the Field Sales App.
PWAs are excellent technology. They can make your mobile experience faster and offline-capable. But they have a common limitation: discoverability and adoption.
PWAs technically can be installed, but the install flow is less visible than app store distribution. And while PWAs can support push notifications on many platforms, the user journey requires the user to install first, then opt in, which can reduce opt-in rates compared to a native app.
Ultimately, the easiest “always-there” experience is still a store-installed app with one-tap access from the home screen and native engagement channels like push notifications.
The Ongoing Maintenance Burden
If you do choose the custom route, you are signing up for a perpetual dual-maintenance burden.
Every time you update a pricing rule or add a new feature to your OroCommerce-powered site, you have to pay developers to duplicate that change in your iOS and Android apps.
You effectively double your technical debt overnight.
The Solution: A Native App Powered by Your OroCommerce Site
This is where MobiLoud changes the equation. MobiLoud is not a DIY app builder, and it is not a custom development agency.
We are a fully managed service that turns your existing OroCommerce website into premium native mobile apps for iOS and Android.
Keep Your Stack, Get The App
The core philosophy of MobiLoud is simple: Your website is the app.
Instead of rebuilding your logic in a new codebase, MobiLoud uses your existing OroCommerce site as the foundation of the app.
We add native navigation, a native tab bar, splash screens, and native push notification infrastructure on top of your existing mobile web experience.
Because the app is powered by your website, the same storefront, workflows, and business rules carry over into the app. And if anything needs an in-app tweak, our team handles it.
- Complex B2B pricing tiers? They work instantly.
- Custom approval workflows? They function as they do on the site.
- Third-party integrations and extensions? They are already there.
If you change a banner or update a price on your site, it updates in the app in real-time.
Why MobiLoud is Ideal for B2B OroCommerce Brands
Your app won't replace your website for SEO traffic or new customer acquisition. Its job is to serve your whales, your high-volume, repeat B2B buyers who order weekly or monthly.
An app puts your logo on their home screen, always one tap away. No typing URLs, and less friction getting back to the ordering flow.
The Power of Push Notifications
This is the game-changer for B2B. With a PWA or mobile site, you have to wait for the customer to come to you. With a native app, you can reach out to them.
- Order Updates: "Your order #12345 has shipped."
- Reorder Reminders: "Time to restock for Q3?"
- Account Alerts: "Your invoice is ready for approval."
These notifications drive users back into the app instantly. Unlike email, which often gets buried or filtered, push notifications are seen by most users who have the app installed and have opted in.
The MobilLoud Process: Transforming Your B2B Site into a Native App
MobiLoud is designed to be a light lift for your team. You bring your existing site. We turn it into a polished iOS and Android app and manage it end-to-end.
Step 1: Get a Free App Preview
We start by showing you a real preview based on your site. You’ll be able to see how your storefront looks and feels in an app format, and we’ll walk you through how launch works.
This is also where we flag anything that matters for your setup, like authentication, account pages, checkout, and any custom flows.
Step 2: Configuration and Design
Next, we apply your branding and shape the in-app experience. That includes your icon and visual identity, plus the navigation structure customers will use (menus, tabs, entry points).
If anything on the site needs small tweaks to feel more “app-like” on a phone, we’ll guide those adjustments.
Step 3: Build, QA, and Submit
We produce the iOS and Android builds, test across devices, and prepare everything required for the App Store and Google Play.
We also handle back-and-forth with reviewers so you’re not stuck dealing with the process.
Step 4: Launch and Keep It Running
Once the apps are live, MobiLoud continues as your managed service.
We handle maintenance, OS compatibility updates, and support for the native app experience so mobile doesn’t become another product your team has to own.
Frequently Asked Questions
Will my custom OroCommerce features work in the app?
Yes. Because MobiLoud uses your existing website as the engine of the app, your custom features, plugins, and workflows carry over without rebuilding. If anything needs an app-specific adjustment, our team handles it.
Is this just a PWA?
No. While we leverage web technologies, you get a fully native binary (.IPA for iOS and .AAB for Android). Your app is distributed through the App Store and Google Play, giving you access to native features like push notifications.
How do I manage the app?
You don't. You manage your website. Any changes you make to your OroCommerce site (products, content, pricing) reflect automatically in the app. There is no separate dashboard to update content.
Can I send push notifications?
Absolutely. We provide a dashboard for sending push notifications. You can send manual broadcasts or set up automated flows (like abandoned cart recovery) to drive revenue on autopilot.
Ready to Launch Your OroCommerce Website’s Native App?
Your B2B customers are already waiting for a better mobile experience. You don't need to spend six months and six figures to give it to them.
MobiLoud is the solution that respects the complexity of your OroCommerce build while delivering a premium, native mobile experience. It is the efficient, scalable way to future-proof your B2B sales channels.
Book a free consultation today to see how your site would look as a native app.
