Author: Stephen

US mobile commerce market to see strong growth in coming years

| July 7, 2015

Report highlights the ascent of the online payment services industry

The U.S. online payment services industry is expected to see sustainable and aggressive growth over the coming years, according to a new report from BMO Capital Markets. Mobile commerce, in particular, is expected to see a significant increase throughout the country through 2018. More consumers are showing interest in shopping and paying for products with their smartphones and tablets. Most of these transactions are being done online, more consumers are wanting to use their devices to make purchases in physical stores.

Mobile commerce expected to see CAGR of 40% through 2018

The report predicts that online payments will reach $2.4 billion by 2018, growing from the $1.7 billion it is expected to reach this year. The report notes that mobile commerce represents 25% of all online transactions made in the United States. The mobile commerce space will experience a compound annual growth rate as high as 40% through 2018. The report suggests that the mobile space represents a much stronger growth opportunity than conventional commerce initiatives.

PayPal could benefit from the aggressive growth of mobile commerce

U.S. Mobile Commerce Future GrowthOne of the most influential platforms that is expected to expose consumers to mobile commerce is PayPal. The vast majority of PayPal’s business is online, with 165 million active users making payments of some kind through the platform. PayPal currently has the highest exposure among consumers that are interested in mobile payments when compared with other services, placing it in an ideal position to benefit from the continued growth of the mobile commerce space.

Retailers need to become mobile-centric in order to compete

As more consumers become interested in mobile commerce, they are becoming more likely to use services like PayPal on their smartphones and tablets. This is opening up new opportunities for retailers, especially those that intend to sell products in the mobile space. Retailers that do not become more mobile-centric are expected to lose out on new opportunities, which may harm their ability to compete with companies that have already established a significant presence in the mobile world.

Barclays is expanding its reach in mobile payments

| July 2, 2015

Barclays intends to establish a stronger position in the UK mobile payments scene

Barclays, a leading financial institution, has announced plans to expand its mobile payments initiative in the United Kingdom. Last year, the company launched its own wearable device, which can be used to make contactless payments. Called bPay, the device has found some favor among consumers in the UK, and Barclays now plans to launch more options that will help mobile payments become more mainstream. The company intends to update its wearable device, as well as provide consumers with key fobs and stickers that can initiate a transaction.

Companies are seeing promising opportunities in the mobile industry

Like other companies, Barclays has seen a great deal of promise in the mobile payments sector. Several telecommunications companies have begun entering into this space, as well as technology companies like Apple and Samsung. In order to compete with such large companies, Barclays is working to improve its mobile payments solutions. Apple is expected to launch its new mobile payments service in the UK next month and Barclays intends to compete with the service and vie for the attention of mobile consumers throughout the country.

Cashless payments have overtaken traditional transactions in the UK

Mobile Payments - BarclaysAccording to the UK Payments Council, cashless payments have not overtaken the use of traditional currency. Consumers throughout the UK have shown favor for using their smartphones, tablets, and wearable devices to make payments. These devices represent a more convenient way to shop for and purchase products, especially online. While relatively few merchants accept mobile payments in physical stores, this is becoming more common because of companies like Barclays that are making contactless transactions possible.

New solutions will give Barclays a fighting edge

Barclay’s new key fob and stickers will act as a type of contactless bank card, allowing consumers to pre-load these solutions with funds. Funds can be added online or via a mobile application. Consumers can have several of these solutions and manage them separately. The new solutions may help Barclays better compete with other companies that have muscled into the UK mobile payments industry.