Tablets win out in the realm of mobile commerce
Mobile commerce has been growing at a rapid pace around the world. Several industries, including the retail sector, has shown a strong interest in the adoption of mobile commerce because of the opportunities it represents. Most of these industries are focusing their efforts on catering to smartphone users, who are believed to account for the vast majority of the mobile population. While this may be true, smartphone users do not account for the majority of mobile commerce activity.
Adobe research shows that web traffic primarily comes from tablet devices
According to research from Adobe, websites around the world are seeing more traffic from tablets than from smartphones. Adobe researchers tracked more than 100 billion visits to 1,000 of the world’s most popular websites, many of which included e-commerce platforms like Amazon and eBay, and found that most of this traffic was coming from tablets. Tablets are particular prolific in the United Kingdom, where consumers are more likely to surf the web and even pay their bills online using a tablet device.
Tablets considered more convenient for consumers
Researchers suggest that smartphones are more appealing to consumers when it comes to mobile applications and games. Tablets, however, are more convenient when it comes to actually browsing the Internet. Moreover, tablets can take advantage of conventional website design rather than being forced to access mobile-friendly versions of popular websites. This is a benefit for some in the mobile commerce sector as they do not need to design services that are designed solely for smartphones.
Mobile commerce may cater to tablet users in the future
Adobe research shows that consumers are more likely to spend more time on a website using their tablet than a smartphone. Smartphones are favored for short, quick visits to websites, whereas tablets are more accommodating to those that enjoy a longer experience. Mobile commerce may be moving into a realm where tablets are winning out over smartphones. Adobe expects that mobile commerce among tablets will continue to grow in the coming years.
New report examines the mobile commerce landscape of 2013
Mobile Commerce Daily has released a new report highlighting the trends that are emerging in the retail industry. The report, titled the Mobile Commerce Outlook 2013, provides some insight on how retailers are approaching the issue of mobile commerce and the various challenges they face in doing so. More retailers are beginning to feel the need to cater to mobile consumers, especially as these people become more prone to spending money through their mobile devices rather than participating in traditional forms of commerce. As mobile payments become more common, companies that opt out of mobile commerce may be missing a major opportunity.
Consumers showing more comfort with mobile shopping
According to the report, consumers are more likely to purchase more products if they are shopping from a mobile device. Retailers with efficient and easy-to-use mobile commerce systems see higher sales volumes than those offering cumbersome services. Consumers have shown a great deal of comfort in purchasing products using their smartphones and tablets, even when faced with lingering security concerns the inefficiency of some mobile commerce platforms.
Amazon and eBay establish strong lead in mobile commerce
Companies that already have a strong online presence have been able to establish a formidable lead in the mobile commerce arena. eBay, for instance, expects to see more than $20 billion in global mobile sales in the coming years. Amazon continues to enjoy a dominant role in the retail industry, which has been punctuated by the company’s growing support for mobile commerce. The company has begun catering more heavily to mobile consumers, forcing its competitor to follow suit or risk losing out on a sizable portion of loyal customers.
Security concerns likely to persist into the future
Mobile commerce is still faced with significant challenges which are not likely to be entirely overcome this year. Security remains one of the most significant of these challenges. While many consumers pay little attention to the issue of mobile security, when financial information becomes involved they begin to show more concern. There is no simple solution to the security issue, which means that it will likely continue to plague mobile commerce well into the future.
