Many ecommerce websites today are starting to utilize responsive design so they can make sure that the content on their sites are available to consumers no matter what type of device they might be using. Up until relatively recently, when many people would access websites, particularly ecommerce sites, from their mobile phones and tablets, they would simply go to the traditional site that they would find through their laptop and desktop computers. However, those sites did not actually fit those other devices properly, which led to a lot of scrolling, confusion, and lost sales overall.
Responsive design is changing all of that though, and ecommerce websites are seeing how valuable it can be. To get around the problem of awkward web design in mobile sites in the past, companies were building their own second sites specifically for mobile users. This was time consuming and expensive. Enter responsive design, which really was a game changer in the field. With this type of site, users only have to build the content a single time. The site is able to alter the way it looks, making it useful on the screens of all of those other devices, whether someone is on a phone or a tablet.
Users Love the Experience
No user likes dealing with small photos and descriptions on their phones. They don’t like trying to figure out where the shopping cart is, and they don’t like pressing buttons that they don’t want to push just because everything is crammed into such a small space. To get around this problem in the past, some companies would develop apps that people could download. As helpful as they could be, this was just an additional hassle. You want your ecommerce site to be as easy as possible for your users. Adaptive, or responsive, design is the key to success, and it can reduce page abandonments.
It is likely that those online retailers who move on to the responsive design will have more conversions simply because it is easier and far less frustrating for buyers to use the site.
Get Started Sooner Rather than Later
Implementing a responsive design for your already existing ecommerce website is not easy. It takes someone with the knowhow to recreate the site, and it takes time. Those who are just now starting out with a brand new business should make sure that they implement it from the beginning though.
Up and Running
When you do have the code up and running, you will find that the responsive design is much easier for you to handle when it comes to updates. A single update to the code ensures that the change is seen on all of those devices. You only have to add new content once, which saves time when compared with having a separate mobile site. This ensures everyone always has the right and most up to date information whether they are sitting with their laptop or are at work shopping on their phone.
One of the fears that some people have when implementing responsive design for their ecommerce sites is that it could take longer for the pages to load. While it is true that it entails adding code to the CSS pages and it could cause them to take longer to load, the variance is generally quite small. You and your customers should not notice much of a difference at all, and the benefits here far outweigh the costs.
If you feel that your ecommerce website might benefit from using responsive design, it might be time to speak with someone who can make the changes for you if you don’t have the ability to do so on your own.
Resource: http://www.pfsweb.com/blog/5-things-to-know-about-responsive-design-and-ecommerce/