Tag: retail industry

Retail sector finds success in mobile commerce

| December 3, 2014

Retailers are reporting promising results from the holiday shopping weekend

The most significant retail holiday in the United States, Black Friday, has come and gone and many retailers saw a spike in total sales thanks to mobile commerce. Wal-Mart reported that it experienced the best three-day online shopping period it has seen in recent history and the company’s experience is being echoed by others that have adopted a focus on the digital space. According to a report from comScore, e-commerce sales throughout the United States surpassed $1 billion for the first time.

Total retail sales are lower this year than they were in 2013

While more people are shopping online, especially from their mobile devices, the retail sector has encountered some turbulence this year. Total retail sales for the holiday shopping weekend were down this year when compared to the results of 2013, according to the National Retail Federation. Many consumers opted to avoid physical stores in favor of mobile and e-commerce, while others opted to avoid holiday shopping altogether. The exact reasons behind lower retail sales this year and not entirely clear.

E-commerce is thriving among consumers interested in convenient shopping solutions

Mobile commerce reatil sector - WalmartThe report from comScore notes that consumers are shopping more from their personal computers and mobile devices. The report shows that shopping from a PC increased by 32% on Thanksgiving Day and 26% on Black Friday. Throughout November, purchases made from desktop computers rose by 15%. The report suggests that mobile commerce accounted for approximately 2% of all digital sales made during the holiday shopping weekend.

Mobile commerce has helped some retailers find success

The report also shows that e-commerce spending reached $1.009 billion this year, higher than the $766 million reported last year. Shopping online has become quite popular among consumers because of the convenience that it offers. When shopping at home from a computer, consumers can avoid the chaotic crowds that flock to retail stores on Black Friday. This convenience can also be found through mobile commerce, which allows people to purchase the products they are interested in at any time, no matter where they may be.

Minority of consumers want to make mobile payments during the holidays

| November 25, 2014

New survey shows that 30% of smartphone users plan to make mobile payments in stores

The holiday season is rapidly approaching and retailers expect to see a great deal of activity in the mobile commerce space. Some may be too cavalier with their expectations, however, as a new survey from Stratos suggests that mobile shopping is only an interest to the minority of consumers. The survey found that 30% of smartphone users plan to pay for products in physical stores using Apple Pay or Google Wallet.

The demand for in-store payment support is rising, but consumers are slow to respond to new services

In-store mobile payments are still rare, but retailers have been investing heavily in bolstering the infrastructure to support these payments over the past year. Many retailers want to see consumers use their mobile devices in their stores, expediting the checkout process and taking advantage of the mobile services that these retailers have employed. Consumers may be more prone to shop online with their mobile devices, however, rather than use their devices to purchase products in physical stores.

Lack of awareness among consumers may be the reason behind slow adoption

Mobile Payments - Holdiay SeasonThe survey also found that 69% of consumers do not know which retailers actually accept mobile payments in their stores. Many retailers have been sluggish in promoting their mobile commerce services, which has lead to a lack of awareness among consumers. Some retailers are not convinced that mobile commerce is a worthwhile investment. While they have taken moves to support mobile payments, they have only done so to accommodate consumer demand to a modest degree.

Consumers may favor mobile commerce as a way to avoid having their payment cards lost or stolen

The survey found that the most popular reason consumers would use mobile payments was to limit the threat of having their credit or debit card stolen. During the holidays, stores become packed with shoppers. Some seek to exploit the financial information of others by stealing their payment cards. In other cases, the commotion at stores can cause people to misplace and lose their payment cards. While mobile devices are not theft proof, consumers often keep a better handle on their smartphones than their payment cards.