Turning FMCG Basket OpenCart Store into a Mobile-First Grocery Experience

If you have ever been to Dubai, you understand that the city is a mixture of cultures. Imagine now, craving your favourite Russian chocolates or the authentic European cheeses, but then struggling to find them in your common supermarkets. That is exactly what FMCG Basket solves.

Along with everyday groceries, they are distributing high-quality Russian and European food items directly to customers in the UAE who desire nothing less than the original. It’s like a connecting bridge; just a few taps away.

But nowadays, people don’t like to browse on desktops. They shop on their phones and with no Mobile App for their OpenCart store, this became a huge issue for FMCG Basket.

The Hurdle: Meeting Shoppers Where They Are

Running a food store on the Internet is a thrilling experience as it comes with challenging problems, and it did not take long before FMCG Basket realised that there are two issues:

• Mobile shoppers were impatient and frustrated. They hate waiting and having to zoom in and out on a site.
• Competitors were increasing. In Dubai, a large number of food stores were already app-first and provided smoother shopping, faster checkout, and push notifications.

The million-dollar question that FMCG Basket asked: “How to give a smooth mobile experience to customers under budget?”

The Turning Point: Partnering with Knowband

This is when FMCG Basket came across the Knowband OpenCart Mobile App Builder Module.

They selected a ready-to-use plugin instead of recruiting developers, waiting several months, and spending lots of money on them. Their website became a Mobile App in a few days.

No coding. No headaches. And now the FMCG Basket App was in customers’ pockets.

How the Knowand’s Opencart Mobile App Builder Helped FMCG 

The OpenCart Mobile App Creator did not just help them to launch their app. It has made it better:

Real-Time Sync: Real-Time Sync: With the help of the Mobile App builder, the FMCG was able to create an application without any coding requirements. Additionally, they didn’t need the product to be uploaded differently as the module has the synchronisation features for Prices, stock, and new arrivals updated in real time.

Push Notifications: The app sends direct information on new promotions, restocking, and product releases right to the phones of customers. Hence, FMCG Basket now stays in touch with its customers and can increase repeat visits without much effort.

Multi-Language and Multi-Currency: The app is multi-language and multi-currency to cater to the international customers of Dubai. This will make sure that all the customers can comfortably shop in their own language and even make payments using their own currency.

Various Payments: FMCG Basket has added multiple safe payment and delivery methods. Hence, customers can select their preferred options and have a more convenient checkout.

Custom Branding: The app reflects FMCG Basket’s unique brand identity with banners, layout, and font. Hence, keeping consistency between the app and the website for a seamless user experience.

Additional Revenue: The app also became an additional revenue, because of Google AdMob integration, which converted user engagement into a steady income for FMCG Basket.

What Changed When the Mobile App Went Live

Here’s what changed within weeks of launch:

• 2x Extra Browsing Time: Customers did not drop off. Hence, they took more time to view products.
• Improvements in conversions: Smooth checkout led to a decrease in the number of abandoned carts.
• Purchases- Returned: Individuals were returning due to push notifications of offers and back-in-stock products.
• The level of trust increased: An official app helped FMCG Basket to become larger, stronger, and trustworthy.
• More for Customers: At last, customers were now able to browse Russian candies, European cheeses, and pantry items anytime, anywhere, even when they are on the road or taking a coffee break.

One of the customers even wrote: “Now I actually feel like I am shopping back home, only with my phone in Dubai!”

The Bigger Picture: Lessons from FMCG Basket’s Success

The journey of FMCG Basket shows this: today, you do not require a huge budget or an army of coders to remain relevant in the mobile-first world.

They did not just launch an app with the Mobile App Builder Plugin by Knowband for their OpenCart store; they created a bridge between the cultures: connecting expats and locals with the real flavours of Europe and Russia with just one swipe.

The transformation of FMCG Basket from just another online store to a pocket-sized grocery destination is evidence that the right help at the right time can redefine the future of a brand.