Author: Dan Gendro

Indian retailers may be more prepared for mobile commerce

| April 27, 2015

Survey shows that mobile sites and apps are priorities for retailers

Indian retailers may be ahead of other companies when it comes to preparing for the rise of mobile commerce. StoreHippo, a platform that provides retailers with mobile e-commerce websites, has released the results of its latest survey concerning the retail sector and its engagement of the mobile space. The survey found that many retailers believe that mobile sites and applications are extremely important for all businesses. In other countries, retailers are lagging behind in mobile engagement.

Retailers are more likely to succeed if they have mobile websites and applications

The survey shows that 78% of respondents felt that retailers that have mobile websites and mobile apps are more likely to succeed in the changing market. A growing number of consumers are beginning to use their mobile devices to shop for and purchase products, both online and in physical stores. Retailers are beginning to feel pressure to engage the growing mobile audience and this involves the development of a mobile website and, in some cases, mobile applications that support mobile commerce.

2015 may be the year when mobile commerce experiences explosive growth

Mobile Commerce - Shopping Mall in IndiaStoreHippo CEO Rajiv Kumar believes that 2015 will be the year in which mobile commerce comes into its own. Increasing Internet and smartphone penetration is having a major impact on the way consumers shop. Retailers that adapt to changing market trends are more likely to find success among mobile consumers. Those that refuse to become mobile friendly may find it more difficult to compete with other retailers and could face obsolescence in the coming years.

India continues to be a prominent mobile commerce market

India is considered one of the fastest growing mobile markets in the world. More consumers are becoming interested in mobile commerce, which is pressuring retailers to become more mobile-centric in order to connect with a new generation of consumers. India is likely to continue growing as a prominent power in the mobile commerce sector as more companies and consumers become involved in this space.

Apple’s mobile payments service may be coming to Canada

| April 22, 2015

Apple Pay could launch in Canada by the end of the year

Apple Pay may finally be ready to expand beyond the U.S. market. Recent reports suggest that Canadian banks have been in negotiations concerning Apple Pay and, if successful, these negotiations could bring the mobile payments service to Canada by the end of this year. The service has managed to gain popularity in the United States market because of its convenient nature and security features. The demand for mobile payments services like Apple Pay has been on the rise in Canada for some time.

Those with newer iOS devices will be able to use Apple Pay

If Apple Pay launches in Canada, iOS users in the country will be able to use the service to pay for products in physical stores that support  mobile payments and online. The problem, however, is that the service is only compatible with the latest version of the iPhone: The iPhone 6 and iPhone 6 Plus. While iOS fans are often quick to purchase the latest iteration of the iPhone, many consumers do not have these devices, which will leave them outside of the reach of Apple Pay until they purchase new devices.

Banks have concerns regarding Apple Pay fees

Apple Pay - Mobile Payments CanadaThough banks are showing interest in Apple Pay, they have also expressed concerns regarding Apple’s fee proposals and how to set up the mobile payments service securely. Apple Pay uses biometric technology to secure transactions. Users have to register their fingerprint through their iOS device in order to authenticate payments. Because of this, the service is considered quite secure, but Apple imposes fees on all transactions made through the service, which may be a point of contention for some merchants and banks.

Apple will find competition in the Canadian market

If the security and monetary concerns of banks are resolved, Apple Pay is likely to launch in Canada by the end of 2015. It will not be the only mobile payments service available in the country, of course, as there are many startup services that have launched in Canada over the past few years. Other companies, such as Samsung, also have plans to launch their own payment platforms, which they plan to bring to Canada as well.