Chennai/Hyderabad/Kochi: Despite Myntra and Flipkart’s confidence in their app-only strategy, customers and experts appear to be sceptical about the need to shutdown its website as it will restrict their choice.
“The desktop version is smooth and convenient to shop while the mobile app has minimal selection of products. The images of the product available are small, making it difficult to select any product. In mobile the only convenience is I can shop anywhere but if the e-commerce portal is only app based then it becomes an issue as the desktop version will allow me to open multiple windows and the display will be much better and bigger,” says Atul Khare, Hyderabad-based private sector employee who is an avid user of shopping apps The other issue with the app-only strategy, he said, is the payment takes a lot of time. “And I always prefer have freedom to choosing my device for shopping... They should follow device neutrality.”
Agreeing with Mr Khare, Gaurav Gupta, Senior Director of advisory firm Deloitte India, claims that e-commerce companies are adopting the app-only approach to cut costs involved in maintaining web-based, mobile-based and app-based platforms. “But a smartphone always does not mean a five or six inch screen. It can be smaller also. So moving from a 14-inch screen to a smaller screen will definitely hinder the display and user experience.”
The app-based plan makes sales easier for the company, feels prominent Kerala-based tech writer V.K. Adarsh. “An app does not give that facility and it limits the search options.”
Limiting e-commerce will force the consumer to install the app through which the firm can push its offers, unlike on a website. Though app-based shopping is more comfortable and convenient, a Hyderabad-based student K. Rajasekhar, who often uses e-commerce sites for shopping, prefe-rs to have a second opti-on as he is sceptical abo-ut the safety of mobile payment gateways.
Another e-shopper, Vinaya Kurtkoti feels the app-only model will make it unfriendly with older people because they don’t trust phones and prefer shopping via desktop or laptops.
