The latest data regarding sales transactions over smartphones and tablets have shown massive growth.
The findings of an analysis conducted by Capgemini and IMRG have shown that the sales transacted over mobile commerce have reached a point that they are far hotter than they have ever been.
In fact, the report shows that the current figures are leading 2013 to be a year that is double last year.
The trend revealed by the recent mobile commerce report indicated that it is becoming ever more urgent for retailers to make sure that their websites have been optimized for the screens and navigation available on smartphones and tablets. Soon, this will also include high tech smartwatches with even smaller screens.
The data from the report showed that 23.2 percent of online shopping in the second quarter from mobile commerce.
This is a notable increase when compared to the mobile commerce figure from the same quarter in 2012, which was 11.6 percent. This indicates that it could be highly beneficial for retailers and other companies to recreate a version of their website that is meant specifically for smartphones and tablets. This way, no matter what device the consumer happens to prefer, all of the content will be easily available, improving the experience of the visitor.
That said, there are also some retailers who are approaching mobile commerce with a tactic preferring “responsive” websites. Those are sites that are designed to display themselves properly on whatever screen is used. Though effective, it is an increasingly expensive effort, which can cost anywhere from $5,000 to $25,000 with additional upfront costs based on the specific design itself and the functionality that is desired.
The compatibility of a website with mobile commerce users is very important, as there are only under 3 seconds available in which to make a good impression with a visitor before he or she will become impatient and simply move on to a competitor’s website. Despite the fact that mobile internet connections are tremendously slower than those for most desktops, consumers still expect the same performance speeds from the websites that they visit on their smartphones.
Mobile commerce having an impact on online sales
IMRG, a retail industry association based in the United Kingdom, has released a new report concerning mobile commerce. The report shows that mobile shopping is becoming more common among consumers. This may be due to the fact that mobile commerce firms are beginning to take issues like security and efficiency more seriously. As mobile commerce platforms become more secure, consumers are becoming more likely to use these platforms. Efficient platforms also improve the shopping experience, further encouraging consumers to participate in mobile commerce in the future.
23% of online sales now come from mobile devices
The report shows that mobile commerce now accounts for 23% of online sales in the second quarter of 2013. This is an 11.6% increase over what mobile sales had been during the same period in the previous year. While sales are increasing, the report shows that mobile devices are primarily used to research products rather than purchase them outright. While this means that more consumers are using their mobile devices to enhance their shopping experience, it shows that many have yet to ease into the mobile commerce space.
Survey shows majority of smartphone owners have yet to make a mobile payment
A similar survey was recently released by market research firm Econsultancy that shows 51% of smartphone owners have not made a mobile payment with their device in the past six months. Many of these consumers have expressed interest in mobile commerce, but have chosen not to participate due to security concerns and other issues. Security is currently one of the most significant hurdles barring the aggressive progress of the mobile commerce sector.
Security proves to be a problematic issue for mobile commerce
As mobile commerce platforms become more secure, consumers are likely to show more interest in them. Mobile commerce has become popular for consumers and hackers alike, with the latter being drawn to the sector by the abundance of financial information that is readily available therein. Some platforms have been criticized for their lackluster security features, which have placed financial information at risk of theft and exploitation in the past, but this criticism has helped the mobile commerce sector become more aware of the threats that exist in the digital world.
