Author: BWild

BI Intelligence report shows retailers getting aggressive with mobile consumers

 

mobile consumers reportBI Intelligence releases new report concerning retail industry and mobile consumers

As consumers become more reliant on their mobile devices, retailers are looking for new ways to engage these people. Mobile commerce is quickly becoming one of the most popular ways to engage mobile consumers, largely because of the interest these consumers have for making purchases through their mobile device. A recent report from BI Intelligence, a research group associated with Business Insider, examines the ways retailers are working to engage mobile consumers through commerce and other initiatives.

Retailers looking for new ways to engage consumers

The advent of mobile technology has lead to a shift in the way consumers shop and pay for products. For instance, a practice known as “showrooming” allows consumers to use their smart phones to find products they are interested in while avoiding mark-ups from retailers. Typically, consumers can find better deals throughout online e-commerce platforms than from traditional retail stores, which presents a particularly problem for retailers still working to attract consumers to physical stores.

Mobile commerce growing in US and Europe

According to the BI Intelligence report, 29% of all U.S. mobile consumers already use their mobile device to participate in mobile commerce. This trend is expected to continue and spread to Europe through 2015, creating a promising opportunity for retailers to engage a wide audience. The report also notes that location targeting and mobile marketing efforts are becoming ideal ways for retailers to engage consumers in a way they are becoming increasingly responsive to.

Gamification quickly becoming a powerful tool for retailers

Gamification is a relatively new trend that is emerging in the retail industry, according to the BI Intelligence report. This is the practice of introducing game elements into shopping, marketing, and other fields of retail. Through gamification, retailers can make mundane tasks seem more exciting by providing consumers with rewards for completing these tasks. BI Intelligence suggests that gamification may be an effective way to ensure the loyalty of mobile consumers.

BankDhofar launches new NFC point of sale device

 

BankDhofar introduces new NFC-enabled device to Oman

BankDhofar, one of the leading finanNFC Point of Sale Technology cial institutions in the Sultanate of Oman, has launched a new NFC point of sale device. Mobile commerce has been growing in popularity in Oman, as well as in other countries in the Middle Eastern region. Economic growth is causing an incline in smart phone penetration, allowing more consumers to purchase high-tech mobile devices. As these devices become more popular, the demand for mobile commerce and other such services is on the rise.

Device uses NFC technology to process transactions

The new point of sale device from BankDhofar is designed specifically for merchants. The device incorporates NFC technology and the latest General Packet Radio Service communications technology to allow merchants to process mobile transactions. BankDhofar notes that the device’s NFC point of sale capabilities, in particular, will make the payment process for merchants and consumers much more efficient. The device will also make currency conversion a more straightforward process, a feature that may be well received by tourists.

Scarcity of NFC devices may limit reach of mobile commerce

Like others of its kind, the new device from BankDhofar can only be used with NFC-enabled mobile devices. These devices are currently rare, especially in the Middle East. As such, the reach of mobile commerce is somewhat limited in Oman until telecommunications can begin launching new generations of smart phones and mobile devices that make use of NFC technology. These companies are responding to demand coming from consumers, but the integration of NFC technology into a mobile device has proven to be a complicated issue. Security concerns have lead many companies to either abandon the technology, look for alternatives, or figure out ways to make mobile commerce safer for consumers, thus delaying the release of NFC-enabled devices.

BankDhofar predicts growing popularity of mobile commerce

Despite the low availability of NFC-enabled devices, BankDhofar believes that its new point of sale device will be a major boon to the retail industry of Oman. Merchants throughout the country have already shown a great deal of interest in the devices, and this interest is expected to increase well into the future, especially as mobile commerce becomes more common.