How much does it cost to develop an eCommerce app?

There is no one fixed price for developing eCommerce development solutions. The cost varies from factors such as: The scope of your project : Including the amount and complexity of the app's features. Enterprise ecommerce development, custom eCommerce software development and tailor-made features, like AR shopping try-on or AI-based recommendation systems, might significantly increase the overall development cost. Therefore, you should always take advantage of the product discovery phase: a deliberate choice of the app's core features is critical to the efficiency and profitability of your eCommerce app. The choice of eCommerce app development platform : Depending on your customers' needs, you can go for native Android, iOS, or cross-platform development. Developing one native application is usually cheaper than creating a cross-platform solution. However, cross-platform frameworks (such as Flutter or React Native) allow brands to use the shared codebase to quickly develop, scale and effortlessly maintain multiple Android, iOS, web and desktop eCommerce apps. In other words: if you plan to reach wider audiences faster and cheaper, cross-platform might be a way to go. eCommerce app testing, post-delivery maintenance and technical support : Remember to include testing, maintenance and technical support in the development budget. These three steps are essential for your users' satisfaction and hence, sooner or later, will affect your business growth. Ensure easy-to-maintain, effortless UX/UI solutions, good technical documentation, thorough QA testing, and keep technical debt under control at all times.

How long does it take to build eCommerce software?

Again, the timeline of the eCommerce software development process depends on the scale and complexity of our client's vision. Miquido is a fully agile company, meaning that we always adjust our processes to your needs. If you develop eCommerce software with our team from scratch, it is safe to assume a similar methodology and time frames: Workshops (1 day - 5 weeks) : Depending on the clarity of your idea, you can choose from 4 types of Miquido workshops: product discovery or MVP definition workshops (1-2 days), design sprint (5 days) and complex product bootcamp to build the eCommerce app from scratch (4-5 weeks). UX/UI Design (4 - 6 weeks) : Usually, the design phase at Miquido covers the stages such as defining the product scope, preparing the design system, design validation and smooth handoff to the production team. Development (3 - 5 months) : At Miquido, we aim to deliver your eCommerce software's minimum viable product (MVP) within 3-5 months. Of course, any unplanned changes, a non-standard size of the application, or team outsourcing may cause a delay in your scheduled app development time. If you want to learn more about how long it takes to develop an app , please read our article.

When should I outsource eCommerce app development?

Outsourcing eCommerce development services can be an excellent option for businesses that lack the resources or expertise to build their in-house development team. Here are some situations when hiring an eCommerce app development company can also be a good choice: Time constraints : Developing an eCommerce app from scratch can take a lot of time and effort, which may not be feasible for businesses with tight deadlines. Cost constraints : Building an in-house team can be costly, especially if you need to hire eCommerce developers. Need for flexibility : Outsourcing usually is more flexible as you can hire developers for the project's duration only. Access to the latest technologies : Outsourcing allows you to access the latest technologies, tools, and techniques that may not be available to you in-house. Ultimately, the decision to outsource eCommerce app development depends on your business needs, budget, and timeline.

Which technologies are used in eCommerce?

eCommerce is a diverse industry that covers many target groups and business models, such as B2B, B2C or marketplaces. The specific technologies used in eCommerce vary depending on the business's size or the company's needs and goals and include: eCommerce platforms : Shopify, WooCommerce, Magento, and BigCommerce Payment gateways : PayPal, Stripe or Square Customer Relationship Management (CRM) systems : Salesforce, HubSpot Analytics tools : Google Analytics, Kissmetrics, and Mixpanel Marketing automation tools : HubSpot, Marketo, and Pardot Artificial Intelligence (AI) and Machine Learning (ML): IBM Watson, AWS AI services, and Google Cloud AI eCommerce mobile app development frameworks : React Native, Flutter, Swift, Kotlin.

What AI solutions can I implement into my eCommerce software?

AI and enterprise eCommerce development solutions should prioritise improving the customer experience, optimising sales, and streamlining user journeys. The worth to mention examples of AI solutions for eCommerce are: Personalised recommendation engines : AI algorithms, such as Amazon Personalize or Dynamic Yield, analyse customer behaviour and purchase history to improve customer satisfaction and sales Chatbots : AI-powered chatbots provide instant customer support, answer frequently asked questions, and assist with product search and checkout Fraud detection : AI algorithms can identify and prevent fraudulent transactions, help reduce chargebacks, and protect the business from financial losses Predictive analytics : AI tools like IBM Watson Analytics or DataRobot can analyse customer behaviour and historical data to predict future demand and optimise inventory management or pricing strategies.

HelloFresh: Mobile platform launched in three months

Sourcing the ingredients for global product expansion

Introduction

About project

Mixing the perfect product recipe is always harder when you are a pioneer. That was the reality for HelloFresh, which entered the market back when meal-kit delivery was an unproven concept and traditional grocery shopping was still the default. While their product vision was clear, their initial iOS app faced stability challenges. They needed a partner to help them scale fast and conquer a rapidly developing niche.

Miquido stepped in to deliver a fully functional Android MVP in just three months. Following the success of that launch, our role evolved into a 2.5-year partnership focused on scaling HelloFresh's entire development organization. Goal? Sourcing the ingredients for long-term international expansion.

By migrating their backend architecture from a PHP monolith to Golang microservices, we helped power an international expansion across 16 countries. Today, HelloFresh is the world’s leading meal-kit company, serving over 1 million active daily subscribers.

Services

Web Development Mobile Development UX/UI Design Product Management Team Scaling Android Development Backend Architecture

Industry

Foodtech and QuickCommerce

Project type

Mobile platform launch

Team Scale

Duration

Ongoing since MVP launch in 3 months

Tech stack

Mobile

Android

Backend

PHP transitioning to Golang

Web

React

1st

meal-kit company in the world

10M

downloads on Play Store

active daily subscribers

countries on one platform

Project Challenges

01. Overcoming initial technical hurdles

The initial iOS app required optimization to meet global scalability standards. This situation raised the stakes for the upcoming Android launch, which targeted a larger audience. HelloFresh needed a partner capable of delivering stable architecture rapidly.

02. Launching within tight timelines

When Hellofresh was developing their solution, quick commerce was gaining momentum. Meal-kit delivery was moving from a novelty to a major market category. An Android product in the market within a strict three-month window was a must to secure the company's future position.

03. Upgrading the backend architecture

The legacy architecture suited early operations but lacked the modularity required for rapid international feature development. Every new market entry placed pressure on the core foundation. The system HelloFresh operated on required a scalable structure to support global expansion.

04. Scaling the development team

HelloFresh needed to grow its development team significantly within a year. At that pace, coordination risks and onboarding debt were major exposures. Managing that growth without degrading delivery required an adaptable operational model, one that Miquido was able to provide as a mobile development company.

Solutions

01. Delivering the Android MVP

Our team delivered a fully operational Android application within the designated three-month window. The product provided a stable, brand-consistent experience. This way, HelloFresh was able to scale user acquisition from day one, quickly growing and expanding internationally.

02. Migrating to microservices architecture

We migrated the core system to microservices. This gave HelloFresh the modularity to deploy features independently and enter new markets efficiently. The migration directly supported the rapid pace of international business growth.

03. Enhancing user experience design

Our design team optimized user flows and interface elements across platforms. This work improved overall usability and visual consistency. The design engagement started after the MVP and expanded as organizational confidence grew.

04. Scaling the engineering collaboration

The initial MVP engagement evolved into a comprehensive engineering partnership. At peak operations, 32 developers supported the project across various configurations. Teams worked embedded or led independent feature development alongside HelloFresh engineers.

Results

From a single-market pilot to a global foodtech leader

01. Achieving global market leadership

HelloFresh became the global category leader, reaching 1 million active daily subscribers. The Android platform served as the foundation for this growth. The product proved the business concept and supported rapid international expansion across 16 countries.

02. Securing high user acquisition

The Android app exceeded 10 million downloads on Google Play. This milestone provides clear evidence of sustained user acquisition and long-term retention rather than a temporary launch spike.

03. Expanding international market reach

HelloFresh expanded its operations to 16 countries using the shared architecture built during the engagement. The modular system allowed for localized deployment without requiring full-stack rebuilds.

04. Cultivating a long-term partnership

The operational trust expanded from the initial Android MVP into design, backend architecture, and mixed team management. Over a 2.5-year period, the engagement grew consistently because the technical delivery held up.