The first official WooCommerce Android app is now in open beta. The companion mobile app allows users to manage their WooCommerce stores on the go. Store owners who want to test the unreleased version of the mobile app can sign up with the Google Play Store. The WooCommerce app requires Jetpack to connect stores to the app.
The beta introduces a basic set of features for managing orders, viewing store stats, and receiving sales notifications, including the following:
- Check basic orders and revenue statistics with time period selection.
- View orders list in chronological order, with status and total value.
- Review individual orders with all the standard details, and contact customers.
- Perform basic order fulfillment.
- Get notifications about orders and reviews, and the ability to moderate them.
- View a list of the top-selling products on your store.
The app’s real-time order alerts even include an optional “cha-ching” sounds for new orders.
Over the past few years, the WooCommerce community has demonstrated a demand for mobile apps on both platforms. A suggestion for an Android app received 533 upvotes on the WooCommerce ideas board. There is also a motley assortment of unofficial WooCommerce store management apps available on the Google Play Store. Some of the more popular ones include StorePep WooCommerce App, WooCommerce Mobile Admin, Admin app for WooCommerce, and Dashly – WooCommerce Dashboard.
None of the third-party mobile apps seem to be very highly rated, nor are they consistent with the WooCommerce branding. A cursory glance at the reviews for these apps shows that most of them are slow, buggy, and not very well supported. However, they have temporarily fulfilled a need in the absence of an official app from WooCommerce.
Considering the options currently available, an official WooCommerce app will be a welcome addition to the tools available for store owners. An iOS app is also in the works. At the end of July, the WooCommerce development team put out a call for testing the first iOS Beta. Anyone interested to test the apps can check out the Woo Halo site and register to be part of the testing group.
“The WooCommerce app requires Jetpack to connect stores to the app.”
R.I.P. WooCommerce…