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Author: Dan Gendro

Indian mobile commerce firm to launch new hyperlocal service

Dan Gendro | October 14, 2015

Paytm will be launching hyperlocal services in the near future

Paytm, one of India’s leading mobile commerce firms, is gearing up to launch new hyperlocal services that consumers may find valuable. Such services have already established a foothold in India, with consumers using them to find deals and special offers in their local areas. Paytm believes that consumers using the service will become more involved with mobile commerce, as it will allow them to rely more on their mobile devices when shopping and ordering food.

Hyperlocal services may encourage more consumers to become involved in mobile commerce

Initially, the hyperlocal service coming from Paytm will focus on food ordering, table booking, purchasing cinema tickets, and finding deals in their neighborhood. The company has patrnered with BookMyShow and Zomato in order to make the service available. Paytm has high hopes for the hyperlocal service, hoping to bring in nearly half of its total sales from this channel specifically by 2016. This goal may be very attainable, as many consumers have become heavily invested in mobile commerce as a whole.

Hyperlocal may be the next big opportunity for retailers and mobile commerce firms

Vijay Shekhar Sharma, founder and CEO of Paytm, believes that hyperlocal services are the “next big thing” for the mobile commerce space. He believes that hyperlocal services represent the perfect blend of the convenience of mobile shopping and the engagement potential that retails see in the mobile market. With smartphone penetration on the rise in India, as well as the expansion of the country’s mobile network infrastructure, more consumers are expected to become involved in mobile commerce in the coming years.

Paytm is receiving strong support from foreign companies

Paytm has reached the 100 million user mark and the company suggests that its user base, as a collective, makes 75 million mobile transactions every month. Paytm has experienced so much growth and success that it has also attracted the support of other companies involved in mobile commerce. China’s Alibaba and Ant Financial recently invested in Paytm through One97 Communications, its parent company. This investment is expected to help Paytm expand its services throughout India.

Mobile commerce is growing quickly in the Asia Pacific region

Dan Gendro | October 9, 2015

Survey shows that mobile commerce is expanding throughout the Asia Pacific region

Visa has released the latest edition of its E-Commerce Monitor Survey, which has found that mobile commerce is a rapidly growing segment in the Asia Pacific region. Many consumers are beginning to do their shopping online, as this is more convenient for them. A growing number of these people are beginning to access online stores with their smartphones and tablets. Visa’s survey was conducted by ORC International Singapore, collecting information from 11,760 consumers across 13 countries.

China and Japan lead the way in mobile commerce growth

Notably, mobile commerce has grown quite aggressively in China and Japan, where using mobile devices is rampantly popular. The survey found that there has been a 22% increase in the number of people shopping with their mobile devices throughout the Asia Pacific region. China has seen the greatest growth in this regard, with a 36% increase in mobile shopping among consumers. The rising popularity of mobile commerce in the region is providing retailers will new opportunities to connect with an evolving demographic of consumers.

More consumers are relying solely on their devices to purchase products online

Mobile commerce Asia Pacific Region Connor Lynch, Regional Director for E-commerce with Visa, suggests that mobile shopping is becoming the standard among consumers and retailers in Asia. Many consumers believe that using their mobile devices to shop online is simply more convenient. This is especially true among those with long commutes, as they can get their shopping done while traveling. Notably, 69% of consumers are using mobile payments services to pay their bills, while others are using these services to pay for movie tickets and other entertainment.

Consumers in Singapore are the most likely to purchase products using their mobile devices

The survey shows that consumers in Singapore, Australia, Hong Kong, and New Zealand are significantly more likely to make purchases using their mobile devices. Retailers in these countries are seeing significant opportunities to connect with new customers. If they can provide an enjoyable shopping experience to these consumers, they may be able to find a high degree of success in mobile commerce.