E-commerce is growing, in every part of the world and Saudi Arabia is not an exception. It is anticipated that the e-commerce market in the United Arab Emirates will reach $8 billion by 2025, making it one of the fastest-growing e-commerce markets globally.
The market is estimated to reach USD 9378.6 million in volume by 2028, with a compound annual growth rate (CAGR) of 8.7% between 2024 and 2028.
And, do you know Haraj is the Number 1 Platform in Saudi Arabia for e-commerce and shopping?
Because of Haraj’s growing popularity, numerous entrepreneurs have been inspired to invest in developing an app similar to Haraj as a result of the app's enormous popularity and attention in the UAE & Saudi Arabia.
If you're also willing to tap into this growing market and want to create an app like Haraj, then you might be wondering how much it costs.
In this blog, we will explain everything you need to know about developing a mobile app like Haraj along with its costs. Let's dig down.
What is the Haraj App? An Ultimate Overview!
Haraj is a well-known Saudi Arabian online marketplace through which users can purchase and sell a variety of goods, from cars to household goods and much more.
Founded in 2007, Haraj is a leading e-commerce business situated in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia. Originally a car-focused online marketplace, it eventually expanded into the real estate market and evolved into a one-stop shop for almost everything. And, as of right now, this marketplace gets over half a million visits every day. The platform functions as a thriving virtual community that connects buyers and sellers in a secure setting to enable easy and secure transactions.
Furthermore, the market for e-commerce platforms worldwide is anticipated to rise, and you will surely be getting the potential financial gain from introducing a platform similar to Haraj.
Well, let’s dig in & find out more about the features, cost to start your eCommerce business app like Haraj, and everything else in between.
Must-Have Features of an eCommerce app like Haraj App!
Buyer Side Features of an eCommerce app like Haraj
1. User Registration/Login: User registration and login are the essentials in any app and so does this marketplace. By logging in, users can maintain a secure profile, save preferences, and enhance their shopping experience with personalized product suggestions and promotions.
2. Profile Management: Profile management enables buyers to update and manage their personal information, such as contact details, shipping addresses, and payment options.
3. Advanced Search Filters: Advanced search filters help users to search for the product easily with the keywords and even by using the image. It even allows users to refine their search results based on various criteria such as price, brand, condition, location, and more. This feature makes it easier for buyers to find exactly what they are looking for, saving time and improving their shopping experience.
4. Comprehensive Product Details: This feature provides buyers with detailed information about products including specifications, high-quality images, availability, pricing, and seller information. Comprehensive product details help buyers make informed purchasing decisions.
5. Secure Payment Gateway: A secure payment gateway is crucial for protecting financial transactions and leads to enhanced customer trust and satisfaction. It ensures that all payments are encrypted and securely processed, reducing the risk of fraud and unauthorized access to sensitive financial information.
Also Read: 7 Profitable Business Ideas in Saudi Arabia!
6. Order Tracking: Order tracking allows buyers to monitor the status of their purchases from the moment they place an order to delivery. This feature enhances buyer confidence and satisfaction by providing transparency and updates on shipment progress.
7. Rating and Reviews: In marketplaces, trust is a very important factor, and ratings and reviews, further boost it. This feature helps buyers to read and post reviews and ratings, which fosters trust and credibility within the marketplace by allowing users to share their experiences and help others make better purchasing decisions.
8. Customer Support Chat: Customer support chat facilitates real-time communication between buyers and customer service teams. This feature helps resolve queries and issues quickly, enhancing customer satisfaction and support.
9. Push Notifications: Push notifications are used to keep users informed about new products, special offers, order updates, and more. This feature ensures that buyers do not miss important updates and leads to improved engagement with the app.
10. Social Sharing: Social sharing allows users to share their favorite products or purchases with friends and family via social media platforms. It not only boosts customer satisfaction but also increases your product visibility and can draw more customers to the app.
Seller-side features of an eCommerce app like Haraj
1. Seller Registration/Login: It helps sellers to create and manage their accounts. Through this, sellers can manage their sales, interact with customers, and track their performance.
2. Profile and Store Management: Sellers can manage their online presence through profile and store management features. It includes updating store information, branding, managing their products, etc.
3. Product Upload and Management: This functionality allows sellers to upload and categorize their products, including setting prices, descriptions, and images. Sellers get access to real-time inventory alerts and a dashboard to manage it effectively.
4. Order Management: Order management is another crucial feature of marketplace apps like Haraj. It helps sellers to process, fulfill, and manage orders efficiently. It includes viewing incoming orders, updating order statuses, and managing returns for streamlined operations.
5. Sales Analytics and Reporting: This feature provides sellers with insights into their sales performance through data analytics and reporting tools. It helps sellers to make informed business decisions and strategize future sales.
6. Real-time Notifications: Real-time notifications alert sellers about important events like new orders, stock depletions, and customer messages. It allows sellers to respond promptly to business needs while ensuring smoother operations and higher customer satisfaction.
7. Secure Payment Processing: Secure payment processing ensures that all transactions are encrypted and handled safely, protecting both buyers and sellers from potential fraud.
8. Performance Dashboard: A performance dashboard offers sellers a comprehensive visual overview of all their business activities, including sales trends, customer behavior, total sales, other crucial financial metrics, and much more. It helps sellers track their progress over time and make the right decisions.
Factors Affecting the Cost of Development of the Haraj App!
Tech Stack
The very first thing that affects the cost of development to build a marketplace app like the Haraj app is the platform and tech stack you are choosing. Whether you want to develop an app on iOS, Android, or both, the development cost will vary. The tech stack comprises the programming languages, frameworks, libraries, and tools used to build the app, which also has an effect on the total development time, complexity, and cost.
For example, developing a native app for both iOS and Android typically requires more resources compared to building a single cross-platform app using frameworks like React Native or Flutter.
Features & Functionality of the App
Another crucial factor that impacts the total marketplace app development is the total number of features and platform compatibility. It not only lengthens the development timeline but also increases the cost of creating a buying and selling marketplace app like Haraj.
For instance, the simple marketplace with simple features such as user login, basic search, payment gateway, and product information will cost less. But, on the other hand - a marketplace app with unique features such as voice recognition, advanced search, interactive dashboard, real-time tracking, and customer support enhances the total development cost.
Designing Customizations
The UI/UX design is another crucial thing that impacts the overall development costs of developing an app like Haraj. It includes factors such as UI/UX complexity, customization and branding, responsive design, accessibility, localization, and testing.
Apps with complex interfaces, extensive customization, and advanced features may require more development time and resources, which will add to the costs. Additionally, ensuring responsiveness across various devices, and implementing accessibility features, can also lead to higher development expenses.
Third-party Integrations
Third-party connectors enhance an app's functionality and performance, but they incur a separate fee that is added to the overall app development cost. In this case, synchronizing third-party APIs with an app requires paying an API fee or the expense of an additional development effort.
While building an online e-commerce market app like Haraj, you'll also need some APIs, such as payments and in-app navigation. The cost of developing an app will therefore change depending on which API you integrate.
Location of the development team
Your eCommerce development company's location will also affect the cost of developing an app like Haraj. Hiring dedicated developers cost can vary widely depending on the region due to differences in hourly developer rates and the overall cost of living.
Hourly developer rates in the United States can range from $100 to $250 or more, depending on the expertise and experience of the developers and the complexity of the project. In Canada and Western European countries, hourly rates may vary from $80 to $150. On the other hand, in countries like India, Ukraine, or the Philippines, hourly rates are generally lower, ranging from $25 to $80.
How Much Does it Cost to Create a Marketplace App like Haraj?
As we've already mentioned, a number of factors, such as the project's scope, feature set, technology selection, and many others, affect development costs.
If you want to know the true cost, contact a mobile app development company in Saudi Arabia like Sufalam Technologies. We will thoroughly understand your business requirements, help you with choosing the right type for your eCommerce app, and provide you with a comprehensive quote as well.
Why Choose Sufalam Technologies?
Sufalam Technologies can be your go-to partner for organizations looking to create an app like Haraj. Our unmatched proficiency in the realm of digital marketplaces places us in a unique position to bring your inspiring concepts to life.
Our team comprises experienced developers and creative designers who have a comprehensive understanding of user interaction tactics, cutting-edge technologies, and the dynamics of the marketplace to create stunning marketplace apps like Haraj.
We will provide you with a comprehensive quote based on the understanding of the price involved in developing an app similar to Haraj. As a specialized eCommerce app development company, we make sure that every project is given a unique approach and that our development procedure is precisely matched to your company's goals and the needs of the market.
To discuss this further, book a free consultation and get a free quote as well to develop an app similar to Haraj. We are looking forward to hearing back from you!
Frequently Asked Questions
How much time does it take to create an app similar to Haraj?
Depending on the requirements, complexity, and scope of the project, the timeframe to build an app like Haraj can range from six to more months. Having an experienced development team and adhering to agile processes, leads to high-quality solutions on time.
Is it better to create a cross-platform or native app?
Native apps offer a far better user experience when it comes to eCommerce app development, but they require customized development for both iOS and Android. This process is often costly, whereas cross-platform apps are much cheaper but have limited performance customization capabilities.
