New report highlights the performance of mobile shopping in European countries
Mobile commerce is experiencing a promising period of success in Europe, according to a new report from yStats. The report shows that countries in Western Europe boast of high degrees of smartphone and tablet penetration, which is creating a favorable environment for mobile payments to thrive within. Mobile devices have become part of people’s lives in these countries and many are becoming more comfortable with the notion of mobile shopping. The report notes that Sweden and the United Kingdom are among the countries that have the highest mobile shopper penetration in the world.
Germany and Austria are seeing a great deal of mobile shopping activity
In Central Europe, Germany is currently considered the leader when it comes to mobile penetration. High degrees of smartphone and tablet ownership have lead to an increase in mobile commerce sales throughout the country. Mobile sales accounted for more than 10% of all online retail sales in 2013. Austria is experiencing similar success, with nearly one third of its online shoppers making a purchase from a mobile device.
UK currently leads the way when it comes to mobile commerce sales
The UK currently leads other Western European countries in terms of mobile retail activity and e-commerce sales. Sales from tablets are growing significantly faster than sales from smartphones in the United Kingdom. Tablets are becoming favorable because of their larger screens and somewhat higher processing power. These devices provide a more enjoyable shopping experience for some consumers, which is why they are beginning to see more mobile commerce activity than smartphones.
Europe may establish itself as a favorable market for mobile payments and shopping in the near future
Europe may soon become the premiere battleground for the mobile commerce industry. Currently, the Asian-Pacific is considered one of the most active and attractive markets when it comes to mobile payments and retail, but European brands are beginning to become more mobile-centric. As consumers become more comfortable with the idea of mobile shopping and payments, Europe is likely to continue finding success in the mobile commerce field.
The holidays add more momentum to mobile commerce
Consumers in Europe may be getting a head start on their holiday shopping. Many people have been flooding retail sites on their mobile devices in order to get some of their holiday shopping done early. While retailers have not yet begun to provide the special offers that have become common for the holidays, many of these companies are offering some special discounts to those that participate in mobile commerce. A new report from Adobe predicts that mobile commerce will have a major impact on this year’s holiday season.
Report highlights the growth of mobile sales and online traffic
According to the Adobe Digital Index 2013 Online Shopping Forecast, approximately 12.4% of all online sales in eleven European countries are expected to come from smartphones and tablets. This is a 68% increase over what had been reported in the previous year. Smartphones are expected to be the platform through which the majority of mobile sales are made, with tablets following closely behind. The report suggests that December 9, 2013, will be the highest grossing online shopping day, with the following week being the highest grossing week for retailers in Europe.
Consumers favor convenience of mobile commerce
Mobile commerce is cited as one of the caused behind this growth in online sales and online retail traffic. Consumers have become enthralled with the concept of mobile commerce because of the convenience that it represents. Mobile shopping allows consumers to avoid visiting physical stores, thereby avoiding crowds and expediting the shopping experience. Mobile commerce has proven so convenient that many consumers are opting to get their shopping done before the holidays even begin. These people are willing to forgo the special deals being offered by retailers during the holiday season in order to get their shopping done ahead of time.
Retailers continue to bolster their mobile platforms
Mobile commerce is expected to have a prominent impact on the retail industries in Austria, France, Germany, Denmark, and the United Kingdom, as well as other countries. The 2012 holiday season showcased the power that mobile commerce has over consumers, and retailers have spent much of 2013 preparing their mobile platforms in order to take advantage of the continued growth of mobile commerce among consumers.
