The Client
UK retailer shoezone wanted to build a secure and scalable ecommerce mobile app that could deliver a seamless shopping experience for their customers. Our skilled mobile app developers and UI/UX designer worked closely with this national footwear company to help them develop their retail app.
Investing in digital technology
Over recent years, shoezone has been investing heavily in digital technology, which can be seen in the success of their popular ecommerce website. The retailer wanted to create a mobile app that would enable their customers to easily browse and purchase their products.
In a competitive retail landscape, shoezone recognised they needed to stay current with a secure, user-friendly mobile app for their customers. However, outsourcing a development project wasn’t something they had done in the past. The retailer decided they wanted a local company to assist them with their mobile app development. As they wanted to design the app in-house, cross-teamwork was an important factor in who they selected for their project.
The Project: ecommerce app development
Early 2024, we began discussions with the shoezone team on how best to deliver their project, prioritising safety and consistency with their strong brand identity. Their aim was further expansion into the digital space to complement their popular ecommerce website.
Swipe & Tap was initially asked to quote for a simple list of features for a mobile ecommerce app. Understanding the value of a planning session to get the best output, shoezone agreed to a discovery workshop with our team. This ensured deeper discussions and ideas about how the mobile app could be developed in line with the client’s needs.
During our workshop, we discussed how different types of mobile apps performed, and the challenges of cross-platform apps when compared to fully native apps. As security and performance is very important for shoezone, the retailer settled on native app development for iOS and Android. Native apps offer better performance, security and platform integration when compared to cross-platform apps.
The Solution: secure, scalable mobile retail app
Following the discovery workshop, our skilled development team created a technical specification and quotation. The app specification included ensuring customers could browse, search, filter products, see product details and checkout, including a store locator and push notifications.
Swipe & Tap provided shoezone with a UI/UX designer mentor to mentor their in-house designer, who was designing a mobile app for the very first time. We provided advice in API development discussions, shared best practices, and assisted with the full development of the client’s native iOS and Android App. Once the retailer’s mobile app was built, we also assisted with app store deployment.
The Results: Over 30,000 downloads
The final mobile app for shoezone passed the security penetration testing stage with flying colours. Using our secure by design approach, the app was built to OWASP (Open Worldwide Application Security Project) standards, successfully addressing the most critical software security risks.
Offering an enhanced, personalised digital shopping experience, the new app features wish-lists, an interactive returns portal, exclusive discounts, and loyalty benefits. The app also has improved functionality for browsing on the go, and smooth integration across the retailer’s UK store network.
The Swipe & Tap team are providing ongoing monthly maintenance for shoezone, which includes roadmap development to help shape the future of the app. We’ve made it easy to change and enhance different elements and to add new functionality, keeping the app fresh and current.
Talking about the app, Gary Baines, Head of Digital at shoezone said:
“Swipe & Tap delivered on our requests to make it native, secure and fast, with accessibility to the latest platform updates so we can easily complete upgrades in the future. We took some of the core functionality from the website and rebuilt this for the app. Conversely, the app has also encouraged changes on our website to make that more effective as well.
The new app has delivered a range of benefits including push notifications, increases in notifications, and smoother click and collect functionality. One of the key metrics of success is conversions and early indicators show that it’s converting higher than our website. We’ve also had highly positive reviews on both Google Play and Apple’s App Store.”
