How to Build an E-commerce Chat for iOS App with Swift

Published On December 17th, 2024 Tech Talks

In this article, you’ll learn how to build an ecommerce chat app for iOS using MirrorFly’s swift chat SDKs. At the end of this guide, you will be able to connect the sellers, buyers, and other stakeholders in your online marketplace business via in-app chat.

n completing the steps instructed, you will now have a completely built iOS chat app for Ecommerce that is similar to the below screenshot:

ios chat app for ecommerce

Prerequisites

To create an ecommerce app in iOS using swift, you will need, you will need 

  • Development Environment: Xcode 13+
  • Programming Language: Swift 5.0+
  • Platform: iOS 13+
  • In App SDKs: MirrorFly Video SDKs

Note: If you’d like to build the swift ecommerce chat on our sample app, you can check out our GitHub repositories.

Steps to integrate MirrorFly chat SDKs for e-commerce apps in iOS with Swift

Step 1: Create a New Xcode Project

  • Launch Xcode on your device
  • Create a new project or open an existing project
  • From the Template grids, choose SingleView App
ios ecommerce chat app
  • A form page will open. Fill in all the required fields and configure your project. 

Step 2: Get the MirrorFly License Key

A license key is needed for the server to authenticate your SDK. To acquire one, you’ll need an account with MirrorFly

  • Signup with MirrorFly and complete the account setup process
  • After verification, log in to your MirrorFly Account
  • From the Account Overview page, download the iOS SDK file
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Step 3: MirrorFly SDK Integration

  1. Add the following ChatSDK pod to your Podfile. If the pod hasn’t been initialized yet, create a Podfile by executing the pod init command.
pod 'MirrorFlySDK', '5.12.0'

2. Add the below-given pod hook code block at the end of the pod file and thus, finally install the pods by executing the pod install command.

post_install do |installer|
installer.pods_project.targets.each do |target|
target.build_configurations.each do |config|
config.build_settings['IPHONEOS_DEPLOYMENT_TARGET'] = '12.1'
config.build_settings['ENABLE_BITCODE'] = 'NO'
config.build_settings['APPLICATION_EXTENSION_API_ONLY'] = 'No'
config.build_settings['EXCLUDED_ARCHS[sdk=iphonesimulators*]'] = 'arm64'
config.build_settings['BUILD_LIBRARY_FOR_DISTRIBUTION'] = 'YES'
end
end
end

3. Now, disable the bitcode for your project

Goto Project -> Build Settings -> Filter the term `Bitcode` -> and select No from the dropdown

4. Initiate and add the pod hook block at the end of the pod file as mentioned below. And then, continue to install the pods.

post_install do |installer|
  installer.pods_project.targets.each do |target|
    target.build_configurations.each do |config|
      config.build_settings['IPHONEOS_DEPLOYMENT_TARGET'] = '12.1'
      config.build_settings['ENABLE_BITCODE'] = 'NO'
      config.build_settings['APPLICATION_EXTENSION_API_ONLY'] = 'No'
      config.build_settings['BUILD_LIBRARY_FOR_DISTRIBUTION'] = 'YES'
    end
  end
end

5.  Configure The Capabilities For Your E-commerce Chat App 

  • Go to Project
  • Click on Target  
  • Choose Signing & Capabilities
  • Click ‘+’ at the top left corner 
  • Search for the capabilities: App groups and Background Mode
  • Right under Background Mode, you need to enable the below capabilities:
    • Audio, Airplay, and Picture in Picture
    • Remote notifications
    • Background fetch

Step 4: Configure the MirrorFly SDK Server & Data 

  • In this step, you need to add the details including the License key (downloaded in Step 1), and configure the server. This action will take you a step closer to adding chat functionality for user messaging in your ecommerce app. 
  • Add the necessary server information to the AppDelegate class.
let LICENSE_KEY = "xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx"

Step 5: Initialization of Chat SDK

  • Further, use the AppDelegate class within the didFinishLaunchingWithOptions method.
ChatSDK.Builder.setAppGroupContainerID(containerID: CONTAINER_ID)

      .setLicenseKey(key: LICENSE_KEY)
      .isTrialLicense(isTrial: true)
      .setDomainBaseUrl(baseUrl: BASE_URL)
      .buildAndInitialize()

Step 6: User Registration

To register a user in the sandbox mode or in the live mode, use the below method in the ChatSDK.Builder class

try! ChatManager.registerApiService(for:  USER_IDENTIFIER ) { isSuccess, flyError, flyData in
        var data = flyData
        if isSuccess {
         // This is your Password
           guard let password = data["password"] as? String else{
               return
           }
           // This is your Username
           guard let username = data["username"] as? String else{
               return
           }
        }else{
            let error = data.getMessage()
            print("#chatSDK \(error)")
        }
    }

Step 7: Connect the Chat SDK to the MirrorFly Server

A server connection is needed to send or receive messages within your Ecommerce Chat App. To establish the connection, use the below method:

ChatManager.connect()

Step 8: Disconnect the Chat Server

To disconnect the connection between the chat server and the SDK, you need to call the below method:

ChatManager.disconnect()

Step 9: Add One-to-One Chat 

Send one-to-one Chat:

You need to use the below method to send one-to-one messages:

FlyMessenger.sendTextMessage(TO_JID, TEXT) { isSuccess,error,chatMessage in
     if isSuccess {
        // Update the UI
     }else{
        // Handle the error
     }
 }

Receive One-to-one Messages

To see other incoming messages, you need to set the delegate in your ViewController’s viewDidAppear method and confirm the MessageEventsDelegate class.

  ChatManager.shared.messageEventsDelegate = self

After setting up the delegate, you will start receiving incoming messages from other SDK users.

func onMessageReceived(message: ChatMessage, chatJid: String) {
      // Message received from chatJid, content is message.messageTextContent
}

Step 10: Add Group Chat Feature For Messaging On Your E-commerce Chat App

You can create groups for the stakeholders in your business to drive more engagement and transactions. The following steps will guide you through. 

Prepare the Group Chat jid

To prepare the group JID. FlyUtils.getGroupJid(groupId : String), the SDK provides the below utility method.

FlyUtils.getGroupJid(groupId : String)

Group Creation

In order to create a group, you need to call the below method

GroupManager.shared.createGroup(groupName: "ABCXYZ", participantJidList: [jids], groupImageFileUrl: "", completionHandler: { [self] isSuccess, flyError, flyData in
    if isSuccess {
        // Update the UI
    } else{
        // failure case of the group creation
    }
})

Create the Group Profile

From the server or local, you need to get a group profile using the below method.

GroupManager.shared.getGroupProfile(groupJid: groupId, fetchFromServer: fromServer, completionHandler: { isSuccess, flyError, flyData in
    if isSuccess {
        let data =  (flyData.getData() as?
        ProfileDetails)
        // Update the UI
    } else{
        // failure case of get group profile
    }
})

Get the Participants List

You need to call the below method to get the group members from the server

GroupManager.shared.getParticipants(groupJID: groupId)

Add Participants to a Group

You need to call the below method to add new particpants to a group in your eCommerce chat app. 

GroupManager.shared.addParticipantToGroup(groupId: groupId, newUserJidList: selectedItemArray) { isSuccess, flyError, flyData in
    if isSuccess {
       // Update the UI
    } else{
       // failure cases
    }

Remove Participants from a Group 

Call the below method to remove a participant from your ecommerce chat app group

GroupManager.shared.removeParticipantFromGroup(groupId: groupId, removeGroupMemberJid: userJid) { isSuccess, flyError, flyData in
    if isSuccess {
        // Update UI
    } else{
        // failure cases
    }
}

Get Groups 

In order to get the groups from local or server, you need to call the below method

GroupManager.shared.getGroups(fetchFromServer: true) { isSuccess, flyError, flyData in
    var data  = flyData
    if isSuccess {
        // Update UI
    } else{
        // failure cases
    }
}

Call the below method to add or update the group image

GroupManager.shared.updateGroupProfileImage(groupJid: groupId, groupProfileImageUrl: selectPath, completionHandler: { isSuccess, flyError, flyData in
    if isSuccess {
       // Update UI
    } else{
       // failure case
    }
})

Removal of Group Image

Call the below method to remove the group image using swift in your ecommerce app

GroupManager.shared.removeGroupProfileImage(groupJid: groupId, completionHandler: { isSuccess, flyError, flyData in
    if isSuccess {
        // Updat UI in success case
    } else{
        // failure case
    }
})

Group Name Update

In order to update a group image, you need to call the below method

GroupManager.shared.updateGroupName(groupJid: groupId, groupName: "Changing Group Name wXyZ 123", completionHandler: { isSuccess, flyError, flyData in
    if isSuccess {
        // Update UI
    } else{
        // failure case
    }
})

Give Admin Control to a Participant in your eCommerce Chat App 

Call the below method to make a participant an admin.

GroupManager.shared.makeAdmin(groupJid: groupId, userJid: userJid, completionHandler: { isSuccess, flyError, flyData in
    if isSuccess {
        // update UI
    } else{
        // failure case
    }
})

Exit from Group

For a participant to exit from a group, you need to call the below method:

GroupManager.shared.leaveFromGroup(groupJid: groupId, userJid: userJid, completionHandler: { isSuccess, flyError, flyData in
    if isSuccess {
        // update UI
    } else{
        // failure case
    }
})

Delete a Group 

To delete a group in your Ecommerce Chat App, call the below method.

GroupManager.shared.deleteGroup(groupJid: groupId, completionHandler: { isSuccess, flyError, flyData in
    if isSuccess {
        // update UI
    } else{
        // failure case
    }
})

Congratulations!

You’ve successfully built an iOS ecommerce chat app using MirrorFly’s SDKs. Your app is now capable of connecting people across your marketplace business via instant group messages. 

To learn more about personalizing the theme, color, style, and fonts of your in-app chat, you can check out our guide to customizing in-app chat with MirrorFly UI Kit. Besides this, if you are interested in building a self-managed chat solution, talk to our experts.

Comment below what other features you’d like to add to your app. My team and I will work on it shortly and get back to you with interesting in-app chat guides. Until then, happy coding!

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Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ)

How do I implement chat in iOS Swift?

You can add chat to iOS by using Swift or simply integrate in-app chat made with the native Swift platform for iOS from providers like MirrorFly, ApphiTect, Apptha, etc. By integrating in-app chat from third-party providers, you can easily implement chat functionalities and enriched features into your iOS apps.

Is Flutter better than Swift?

Both Flutter and Swift have unique advantages in their own way. Flutter is an open-source application developed by Google to support cross-platform applications. Swift is an open-source application developed by Apple to support native apps such as MacOS, iOS, watchOS, and so on. If you are planning to build a native iOS platform, Swift provides enhanced performance.

Can Firebase work on iOS?

Yes, Firebase works fine with iOS, macOS, watchOS, and TVOS. Firebase finds it difficult to work only with app clips. In order to integrate Firebase into your app, you have to register your app with the Firebase project.

Will Flutter replace Swift?

Both Flutter and Swift have their own unique advantages and are used for different purposes. Meanwhile, Flutter replacing Swift or Swift replacing Flutter might not be possible in the near future. In the long run, it depends on the unique and constantly upgraded features of both platforms.

What are the messaging apps for e-commerce?

Here are some of the popular messaging apps for e-commerce sites: Gorgias, Livechat, Intercom, Drift, Tawk.to, Freshdesk, Zendesk Chat, Olark, etc. Apart from these apps, e-commerce sites are nowadays moving into in-app chat APIs from providers like MirrorFly, ApphiTect, Twilio, Sendbird, etc.

How do you integrate chat into a web application?

You can integrate chat into a web application in two ways. One is to build your own chat app from scratch, spending more money, development time, and effort. The second is to easily integrate in-app chat APIs from third-party providers like MirrorFly, ApphiTect, etc.

Here are the steps to integrate in-app chat APIs.

1. Setup your account.
2. Download APIs and SDKs.
3. Integrate with your web app.

Rajeshwari

Rajeshwari is a skilled digital marketer, passionate about SEO and exploring the latest trends and tech innovations in communication and Chat APIs. With a keen eye for detail, she helps brands improve their online visibility, and she is always eager to stay ahead in the evolving digital landscape.

6 Comments "How to Build an E-commerce Chat for iOS App with Swift"

  1. 注册以获取 says:

    Your article helped me a lot, is there any more related content? Thanks!

  2. Joju says:

    Reading your article helped me a lot and I agree with you. But I still have some doubts, can you clarify for me? I’ll keep an eye out for your answers.

  3. Scarlett says:

    Hello! This is Scarlett Conner. I live in Europe and am building an online shopping app that will sell clothing to customers around the world. I’m planning to add chat features to my app where my clients can discuss the cost and transaction details. How safe are your APIs for global users?

    1. Vigneshwar says:

      Hi Ms. Conner. Your business sounds interesting! Our APIs are built with end-to-end encryption protocols like AES-256 and TLS/SSL. This makes our APIs stand out in terms of safety. Above that, our chat features are built with complete adherence to industry regulations like GDPR, HIPAA and ISO. So, well without any doubt, we call our chat APIs completely safe for online shopping conversations.

  4. Marlon says:

    Hi, I am Marlon Cox. I’d like to know why group jid is used and not group id in step to prepare a group ID

    1. Vigneshwar says:

      Hello Mr. Cox. Almost every SDK method accepts jid as an input parameter and treats id as a string. This is why, we’ve called groupjid method. The FlyUtils.getGroupJid() uses the [com.contusflysdk.api.ChatConnectionManager.initialize] method to convert any string input in the groupid to jid parameters. For more details, get in touch with our experts now!

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