Author: Stephen

Retailers in Europe and the Middle East want to embrace mobile payments

| May 5, 2015

Survey shows that retailers are becoming more interested in new payment technologies and services

Retailers in Europe and the Middle East are planning to invest in new payment technologies in the coming years, according to a survey from ACI Worldwide and Ovum. Many retailers are beginning to see a trend among consumers that involves the use of mobile devices to shop for and purchase products. As this trend become more powerful, retailers are beginning to feel the pressure to engage mobile consumers more effectively or risk being left behind by these consumers.

Retailers in Europe and the Middle East have plans to embrace mobile payments within the next 24 months

According to the survey, more than two thirds of European and Middle Eastern retailers have plans to invest in mobile payments technology within the next 18 to 24 months. These retailers are citing real-time clearing and settlement capabilities and the growing popularity of loyalty programs as the reasons behind these investments. QR codes, in particular, have shown great appeal to retailers that want to engage consumers in an effective manner, as these codes have become quite powerful mobile payments tools.

Security concerns are slowing the adoption of mobile payments in the retail industry

Mobile Payments - World NewsThe survey suggests that unfounded security fears have slowed the adoption of mobile payments among retailers. Many companies are concerned with their ability to keep consumers information secure when using a mobile payments platform. Notably, however, a relatively small number of retailers have fallen prey to cyber attacks focused on the mobile sector. The survey suggests that retailers are more comfortable with relying on older, less secure payment platforms that have proven to have security issues in the past.

Retailers believe that consumers want more payment options

The survey shows that 93% of retailers believe that consumers want more options when it comes to paying for products. As such, mobile payments are becoming a more prominent focus for many companies. One of the challenges of embracing mobile payments, however, is the relatively high investment needed to purchase mobile point-of-sale systems and other mobile-centric platforms.

Millennials are showing more favor for mobile commerce

| May 4, 2015

The retail space may be outgrowing cashiers and retail sales clerks

In the United States, some of the most common jobs in the country are retail sales clerks and cashiers, according to information from the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics. When it comes to cashiers, some 3.4 million people in the country hold this position. The retail world is changing, however, and cashiers may no longer be needed. This is due to the advent of mobile commerce and an increasing demand for in-store mobile payment support.

Survey shows that Millennials have little interest in interacting with human cashiers

A recent survey from Relate, a shopping data aggregator, shows that Millennials, those who reached adulthood around the year 2000, would prefer not to interact with human cashiers in any retail environment. Millennials have become well known for their fascination and, at times, intense reliance on mobile technology. This demographic has become quite comfortable with the concept of mobile commerce and they have begun using their mobile devices to shop for and purchase products more than any other demographic.

Many people are using self-service kiosks to make purchases at physical stores

Mobile Commerce- MillennialsThe survey notes that 20% of Millennials do not want to interact with human cashiers. In general, 85% of consumers have said that they have used an in-store self-service kiosk when purchasing products. Among Millennials, 91% have used such kiosks. The survey suggests that a growing number of consumers are becoming more likely to purchase products with their mobile devices, claiming that doing so is more convenient.

Retailers have been slow to embrace mobile payments, but that may be changing quickly as demand for in-store support rises

Though the survey shows that consumers are becoming less interested in interacting with human cashiers, the survey found that a significantly larger proportion of respondents simply want in-store mobile payment support. Retailers have become somewhat interested in the idea of mobile commerce, but relatively few of these companies have shown support for in-store mobile payments. The demand for this support is growing, however, and may soon become too loud for retailers to simply ignore.