For ambitious ecommerce brands, choosing a platform like VTEX is a commitment to scalability, flexibility, and a best-in-class customer experience.
As a leader in composable and headless commerce, VTEX empowers you to build a highly customized and powerful ecommerce machine.
However, as you look to deepen customer relationships and open up new revenue channels, a critical question arises: how do you extend this sophisticated experience to a native mobile app?
Mobile apps are a vital engine for retention and growth. App users are more loyal, spend more, and purchase more frequently than their web-only counterparts.
The benefits are clear, from the unmatched engagement of push notifications to the coveted presence on a customer’s home screen.
The challenge, especially for brands on a powerful platform like VTEX, is not why you should launch an app, but how.
This guide will walk you through the complexities of building a mobile app for your VTEX site and introduce a streamlined, efficient solution that leverages the power of your existing platform without the prohibitive costs and timelines of traditional development.
The Challenge: Why Building a VTEX App is Inherently Difficult
VTEX’s greatest strengths — its headless architecture and composable nature — are also what make traditional app development a significant hurdle.
Unlike other platforms that may offer simple app-builder plugins, VTEX is designed for custom, API-driven experiences. This means a simple, one-size-fits-all solution is not feasible.
To build a native mobile app for a VTEX store from scratch, you would need to undertake a massive project involving:
- High Upfront Costs: A custom-built native app that replicates the complex functionality of a VTEX store can cost anywhere from $100,000 to $500,000+.
- Long Development Timelines: The process of designing, developing, testing, and launching a native app can take 6-12 months or even longer.
- Complex API Integration: Your development team would need to build and maintain complex integrations with VTEX’s extensive set of APIs to handle everything from product catalogs and inventory to checkout and customer accounts.
- Ongoing Maintenance: The work doesn’t stop at launch. You would be responsible for ongoing updates, bug fixes, OS compatibility, and security patches, creating a significant and perpetual strain on your technical resources.
Even with a world-class platform like VTEX powering your backend, the frontend app is an entirely separate and resource-intensive undertaking.
For most brands, the cost and complexity of this approach are simply too much.
The Solution: MobiLoud - The Smart Path to a VTEX Mobile App
This is where MobiLoud provides the best solution.
MobiLoud is not a DIY app builder; it is a fully-managed service that turns your existing, high-performing VTEX website into a high-quality native mobile app for iOS and Android.
Instead of rebuilding your entire store from the ground up, MobiLoud leverages the investment you have already made in your VTEX site. The core principle is simple but powerful: if it works on your website, it works in your app.
This approach is uniquely suited for a sophisticated platform like VTEX. All of your custom features, third-party integrations, and unique user experiences are preserved and function seamlessly within the app.
There is no need to manage a separate platform, duplicate content, or compromise on functionality.
MobiLoud bridges the gap: we use your existing website as the foundation, ensuring full feature parity, real-time sync, and compatibility with your entire stack, without any duplication of effort.
By converting your VTEX site into a mobile app, MobiLoud allows you to get to market in weeks, not months, and for a fraction of the cost, all while delivering a professional, feature-complete mobile experience to your customers.
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The Process: How to Turn Your VTEX Site into an App with MobiLoud
MobiLoud’s done-for-you service makes the process of launching your app straightforward and stress-free.
Our team handles all the technical heavy lifting, allowing you to focus on your business.
1. Consultation and Configuration
The process starts with a free consultation where MobiLoud’s app experts will learn about your business and goals.
You can get a free preview of your app to see how it will look and feel. Once you move forward, the team will work with you to configure the app, adding native navigation, a launch screen, and other elements to ensure a high-quality, branded experience.
2. App Build and Preview
MobiLoud’s team handles the entire build process. You don’t need to write a single line of code.
We build your apps for both iOS and Android and provide you with a version to test on your own devices.
3. App Store Submission
The MobiLoud team manages the often-tricky process of submitting your apps to the Apple App Store and Google Play. Our experience ensures that your apps meet all guidelines and are approved without issue.
4. Launch and Ongoing Support
Once your apps are live, MobiLoud provides ongoing support and maintenance. This includes all future updates, bug fixes, and OS compatibility, ensuring your apps remain performant and up-to-date.
You also get a dedicated partner to help you with your app growth and push notification strategy.
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs) for VTEX Site Owners
Will all of my VTEX store’s features and integrations work in the app?
Yes. Because MobiLoud uses your existing website as the foundation for the app, every feature, plugin, and custom integration that works on your site will work perfectly in the app. There are no limitations.
How are payments handled in the app?
Payments are handled through your existing payment gateway and checkout process on your VTEX site. The experience is seamless and secure for the user, and you don’t need to set up any new payment systems.
How do push notifications work?
MobiLoud integrates with OneSignal and Klaviyo for push notifications.
OneSignal, the default option, is free to use and lets you send unlimited push notifications to your users, and even automate them based on user behavior or new product announcements. This is all managed through a simple dashboard.
Is a MobiLoud app better than a Progressive Web App (PWA)?
Yes. While PWAs offer some app-like features, they cannot be published to the App Stores, have limited access to native device features, and have poor support for push notifications on iOS.
A MobiLoud app is a true native app that your customers can download from the App Store and Google Play, providing a superior user experience and much more effective engagement through push notifications.
What is the return on investment (ROI) of a mobile app?
Mobile apps are a powerful retention channel. Data shows that app users typically have a 7x higher lifetime value (LTV) and 3x more repeat visits than mobile web users. With push notification open rates reaching 60-90%, an app provides a direct and highly effective channel to drive repeat purchases and increase customer loyalty.
How do I get customers to download my app?
MobiLoud provides multiple strategies to drive app downloads. These include smart app banners on your website that prompt mobile visitors to download the app, QR codes you can place in physical locations or marketing materials, email campaigns to your existing customer base, exclusive in-app offers and discounts, and social media promotion.
Up to 15-30% of your regular website visitors could become app users when you implement these strategies effectively.
Do I need a mobile app if I already have a mobile-responsive VTEX site?
While a mobile-responsive website is essential, a native mobile app offers significant advantages that a mobile site cannot match.
Apps provide a faster, more seamless user experience, enable unlimited push notifications that drive repeat engagement, offer a permanent presence on your customer's home screen, and deliver substantially higher conversion rates and customer lifetime value.
Think of your app as a retention and loyalty channel that complements your website.
How long does it take to see results from my mobile app?
Many brands see immediate benefits once their app launches. Push notifications can drive traffic and sales from day one. However, the full impact on customer retention and lifetime value builds over time as more customers download the app and engage with it regularly.
Most brands see measurable improvements in repeat purchase rates and customer engagement within the first 3-6 months.
What happens when I update my VTEX site? Do I need to update the app separately?
No. This is one of the biggest advantages of the MobiLoud approach. Because your app is built on your existing website, any changes you make to your VTEX site are automatically reflected in the app in real-time. There is no duplicate work or separate app management required.
Can I customize the look and feel of my app to match my brand?
Absolutely. MobiLoud works with you to ensure your app reflects your brand identity. This includes custom app icons, splash screens, navigation styles, and color schemes. The app will feel like a natural extension of your brand, not a generic template.
Get Started with Your VTEX Mobile App
For brands on a sophisticated platform like VTEX, a mobile app is the logical next step to drive growth and build a stronger connection with customers.
While custom development is a daunting prospect, MobiLoud provides a smart, efficient, and proven path to launching a high-performing mobile app.
By leveraging the power of your existing VTEX site, you can deliver the mobile experience your customers demand, without the cost, complexity, and risk of a traditional app build.
To learn more and see how your VTEX site would look as a native app, you can get a free demo of MobiLoud now.
