Mobile commerce is paying off for eBay and PayPal
The world of commerce is changing and for some retailers that is bad news. For others, however, especially those with a strong online presence, mobile commerce is leading to a surge in business. eBay is one such company. The retailer has long boasted of one of the strongest Internet presences in its industry, making its transition into the mobile space very easy. Through the company’s PayPal subsidiary, it is seeing a major growth in business as more consumers begin to participate in mobile commerce.
Report shows PayPal handled more than $14 billion in payment volume in 2012
According to eBay, PayPal handled more than $14 billion in payment volume in 2012, triple the volume it had seen in 2011. A significant portion of this volume came from mobile purchases. eBay expects payment volume to reach $20 billion by the end of 2013, with growth being backed by the growing popularity of mobile commerce. PayPal is on track to catch up with eBay’s Marketplace business, which makes up the bulk of the company’s revenue.
eBay sees growth in its mobile application
Last year, eBay’s mobile application attracted 4.3 million new users, which accounted for $13 billion in merchandise revenue. These consumers have shown a strong interest in purchasing products from eBay using their mobile devices. Mobile commerce appeals to these consumers because they consider it more convenient than traditional forms of commerce. Being able to shop for products using a mobile device allows consumers to find exactly what they are looking for in a fast an efficient manner.
2013 may be a landmark year for mobile commerce
eBay has high hopes for mobile commerce in 2013. Through PayPal, eBay expects to continue establishing a very strong presence in this emerging sector. PayPal is currently developing a new platform to provide consumers with expansive mobile commerce services as well as introduce more security to mobile payments. The company already has a credit card reader than can be attached to any iOS device, which can facilitate mobile transactions.
