The desktop-first era is over
Mobile devices now account for over 60% of all e-commerce traffic globally. In Israel, the number is even higher. Yet many retailers treat their mobile experience as a smaller version of their desktop website. That costs real revenue.
Why responsive websites aren't enough
Mobile shoppers behave differently from desktop shoppers. Sessions are shorter (4 minutes vs. 10), navigation is thumb-zone constrained, sessions get interrupted, and users expect saved payment methods instead of typing credit card numbers on small screens.
What mobile-first commerce requires
Dedicated mobile apps. Apps outperform mobile websites on every metric: 3x higher conversion, 2x longer sessions, 4x higher repeat purchase rate. Our work with Espresso Club and WeShoes demonstrates this — both saw significant increases in repeat purchases after launching dedicated apps.
Streamlined checkout. The ideal mobile checkout takes three taps: review cart, confirm shipping, pay with biometrics. Implement Apple Pay, Google Pay, and one-tap reorder for returning customers.
Personalized product discovery. Mobile screens show fewer products. Use browsing history, purchase patterns, and contextual data to surface the most relevant products. AI-powered recommendations typically increase mobile conversion by 15-25%.
Performance optimization. Page load times over 3 seconds lose 53% of mobile visitors. Optimize images, implement lazy loading, and use CDNs with edge locations in Israel.
Frequently asked questions
Should we build an app in addition to our mobile website? If you have repeat customers, yes. Apps convert at 3x higher rates for returning users. The investment typically pays for itself within 6-12 months.
What does a mobile commerce app cost? MVP with core features: $80K-150K. Full-featured with personalization and loyalty: $200K-400K.
Ready to build a mobile commerce experience? We've built e-commerce apps for leading Israeli retailers.