How Startups Can Compete with Amazon’s App Experience

[Aarti Jangid]

Amazon sets the bar high with its fast, seamless, and personalized shopping app. But startups don’t have Amazon’s budget or infrastructure—so how can they realistically compete? Should they focus on niche markets, superior customer support, or unique app features to stand out?

I’m asking the community: if you’ve worked on ecommerce app development (click here) for smaller businesses, what strategies or approaches have actually worked against giants like Amazon?

[Carl Bidwell]

Great question, Aarti! Startups can’t outspend Amazon, but they can outsmart it in specific areas. From my experience building ecommerce apps for smaller businesses, three things work well:

1. Go niche & go deep – Own a category where you can offer expertise, storytelling, and curated products Amazon can’t replicate.
2. Humanize support – Fast, friendly, and personal service builds loyalty much faster than Amazon’s scale-driven approach.
3. Delight with micro-experiences – Simple UX wins (one-click reorders, tailored recommendations, community features) create a sense of belonging that users don’t feel on Amazon.

In short, don’t try to be Amazon, focus on being what Amazon can’t be. For more helpful information you should follow: Atlassian Community