Tag: united states

Canadians are slow to embrace mobile payments

| November 24, 2014

Mobile commerce is experiencing lackluster growth throughout Canada

Mobile payments may experience lackluster growth in Canada. A new study from GfK, a global market research firm, shows that Canadians are somewhat apprehensive when it comes to using a smartphone to make a payment. While Canadians have developed a reputation for being early adopters of new technology, they are not convinced that mobile commerce is a good solution for shopping or as secure as it should be. Notably, security is one of the biggest issues that consumers in Canada are concerned about.

Study shows that security concerns are a major issue for Canadians interested in mobile commerce

According to the GfK study, Canadians consider security to be a major issue when it comes to mobile payments. Many mobile commerce services have become available in Canada, but relatively few of them have proven that they are capable of ensuring the safety of consumer financial information. Some high-profile cyber attacks in the United States and Canada have also called into question whether or not mobile commerce services are safe.

Canadian consumers are more interested in traditional forms of commerce due to extensive experience and the availability of familiar services

Canada Mobile Payments - slow adoptionThe study also notes that Canadians may not be interested in mobile payments because they already have plenty of ways to pay for products in stores. ATM transactions are significantly larger in Canada than they are elsewhere and the country’s ATM and debit card structure is well designed to meet the needs of consumers. In order for mobile commerce to grow in Canada, consumers would have to train themselves in new ways to purchase products and break old habits concerning physical currencies and payment cards.

Retailers are revising their mobile focus and putting more effort on providing consumers with convenient services

Some large retail organizations have been making moves to establish a foothold in the mobile commerce space, but have found relatively little support among consumers. As such, retailers have begun to pull back their mobile initiatives, focusing more on traditional forms of commerce and giving consumers access to services they may be more comfortable with.

Powa to bring mobile commerce services to the US

| November 21, 2014

Powa raises $80 million to bring its mobile services to the United States

Powa, a commerce specialist operating primarily in the United Kingdom, will be bringing its mobile commerce service to the United States. The company has raised $80 million in its most recent round of funding, with Wellington Management leading investments. This funding will allow the company to launch its digital payments system in the U.S., expanding the mobile commerce options that are available in the country and providing businesses with a new way to engage consumers.

2014 holiday season may be the biggest yet for mobile commerce

Powa will be launching its service in the U.S. before the holiday season. During the holidays, mobile commerce is expected to see significant growth. Last year, consumers showed a great deal of favor for mobile shopping, praising its convenience and the fact that they were able to avoid the crowds that swarmed stores during the holidays. This year’s holiday season is expected to be a major success for the mobile commerce space, largely due to the number of retailers that have entered into the space.

Small businesses are looking to engage mobile consumers in a more effective way

Mobile commerce services brought to AmericaSmall businesses that want to make use of a mobile point-of-sale payment system in their stores, as well as use a conventional e-commerce website, will be able to take advantage of Powa’s services. The company’s services are designed with mobile commerce in mind, meant to help businesses engage mobile consumers in an effective way.

PowaTags are coming to the United States as Powa expands its market reach

Powa is also bringing its PowaTags to the United States. These tags can be scanned by consumers with smartphones, allowing them to purchase these products directly from their device. These tags can integrated into printed marketing materials, streamlining the shopping process and allowing consumers to purchase products directly from advertisements they see. These tags can also be embedded into dynamic content, such as streamed broadcasts and videos. Powa’s services may be particularly attractive to businesses looking to engage mobile consumers during the upcoming holiday season.