Tag: mobile commerce industry

The mobile field shouldn’t be taken lightly

Mobile commerce is quickly proving that it is much more than a passing novelty. Mobile technologies like smartphones and tablets are playing a larger role in people’s daily lives. As such, they are beginning to demand services that are specifically tailored for mobile life. Retailers and other businesses are beginning to accommodate this demand, but many are running afoul of serious security issues that could have a catastrophic effect on the mobile space as a whole.

One of the most significant problems that the mobile space faces in terms of security is an overabundant lack of awareness from consumers and businesses alike. Both parties are somewhat oblivious to matters of security, especially when it comes to mobile technology and mobile-centric services. For businesses, this lack of awareness is largely due to decades spent in a world without mobile technology. Consumers are somewhat uninterested in mobile security, wanting instead for their devices and their favorite brands to handle the behind-the-scenes issues without every making their efforts visible.

Lack of awareness is a serious problem

The problem is that this lack of awareness creates a risky environment for mobile commerce. The mobile space is already very attacking to malicious groups because of its trafficking of financial information. A lack of security awareness means that these groups can, at times, move throughout the mobile space unchecked, exploiting financial information wherever they find it. This is becoming a major problem for some businesses focused on the mobile space as they are finding themselves exposed to risks that they do not fully understand how to deal with.

Many businesses are beginning to involve themselves in the mobile world. These businesses see a great deal of promise in mobile commerce and have been inspired by the major success that others have found in this field. Inspiration is not enough to ensure success for these companies, however, as many have rushed into the mobile space with poorly designed platforms and services that have been met with failure. Many of these services lack the security features necessary to be considered viable, while others simply don’t work well.

These platforms represent a significant investment from the companies that make them and their failure constitutes a serious loss. Companies looking to get into the mobile commerce game have to be careful and gauge whether their hasty entry into the market is worth the potential for failure and serious loss.

Starbucks reports spike in mobile payments

Over the past two years, Starbucks has been slowly increasing its mobile presence. The company has seen a marked increase in mobile traffic as more consumers begin to visit its website from mobile devices, but a relatively new trend shows that consumers are becoming more inclined to pay for purchases using their smartphones and tablets. Starbucks has reported a sharp increase in mobile payments over the past year, claiming that the company has reached a major milestone in the realm of mobile commerce.

Company continues to focus on mobile sector

According to Starbucks, more than three million mobile payments are made for the company’s products every week in the U.S. The company suggests that mobile payments are so popular with consumers because they represent a more convenient way to pay for goods. Many consumers that frequent Starbucks have mobile devices of some kind, making them more apt to make a payment using their smartphone or tablet. Starbucks suggests that doing so may be a matter of prestige, as mobile payments are considered somewhat exclusive due to the lack of comprehensive mobile commerce services in several industries.

New global initiative expected to be launched by Starbucks

Backed by the strong growth of mobile commerce, Starbucks has announced plans to launch a new cross-channel, multi-brand loyalty initiative that will cover the globe. The initiative is meant to highlight the social aspects of Starbucks and provide more value to business partnerships around the world. Mobile payments are expected to play some role in the initiative as Starbucks looks to promote mobile commerce outside of the U.S.

US is not only country where mobile payments are gaining momentum

While Starbucks has seen major growth in mobile payments in its home country, the U.S. is not the only place where mobile commerce is taking off. The United Kingdom and Asian Pacific markets are home to aggressive growth in the mobile commerce sector. This growth is largely due to a growing population that can afford smartphones and tablets as well as the introduction of easy-to-use mobile commerce services in several countries.