Category: Featured News

QR codes very familiar with smart phone owners

| December 6, 2012

 

QR codes more familiar with smart phone owners than reports suggest

Perception Research Services (PRQR Codes SmartphoneS) has released the results of a new survey concerning QR codes and their familiarity among consumers in the U.S. QR codes have become widely used mobile marketing tools, allowing companies to engage consumers that are highly reliant on their mobile devices. The codes have proven capable of providing consumers with valuable information that can influence purchases. Despite the prospects of QR codes, however, some reports suggest that they are rarely used by consumers and that many people do not know what the codes are. This is not the case, according to PRS.

Survey shows mobile shoppers are in tune with QR codes

According to the PRS survey, approximately 54% of consumers surveyed own smart phones. Nearly 76% of these people make use of their mobile device for shopping purposes through mobile commerce platforms. Roughly half of these mobile shoppers use their devices to check prices and do research on products they may be interested in. Electronics and packaged goods are the most common categories consumers focus on while using their mobile device to shop.

94% of smart phone owners recognize QR codes

The survey shows that a staggering 94% of smart phones owners recognize QR codes, with another 44% saying they have used the codes while shopping before. The PRS survey suggests that consumers are not as unfamiliar with QR codes as other research has suggested in the past. The level of comprehension smart phone owners show with the codes may actually be one of the reasons advertisers and retailers continue using the codes so aggressively.

Poor experiences could discourage QR code use

Despite the fact that such a high percentage of smart phones owners know what QR codes are, they may still be relatively leery of using the codes for many reasons. Retailers and advertisers often use QR codes to engage mobile consumers, but few companies actually take the time to test their codes to ensure a positive consumer experience. A poorly implemented code could discourage consumers from using them in the future, and word of mouth often persuades other consumers to avoid QR codes as well.

Deloitte research predicts impact of mobile commerce in UK

| December 5, 2012

 

UK Holiday Mobile Commerce SuccessDeloitte forecasts major success for mobile commerce during Christmas season

Though the Thanksgiving shopping weekend is over, the retail industry still has Christmas to look forward to. Thanksgiving proved to be a wondrous time for mobile commerce, showing just how willing consumers are to make purchases from their mobile devices. In the United Kingdom, Christmas may see similar results in mobile commerce that the retail industry had seen in the U.S. during the Thanksgiving weekend. New research from Deloitte suggests that mobile commerce is poised to hold significant influence over UK consumers.

Mobile devices will influence some $5 billion in transactions

According to research from Deloitte, approximately 10% of all in-store sales will be influenced by smart phones and tablets in December. While 10% may not seem like a large figure, the research suggests that mobile devices will serve as the decision maker for some $5 billion in transactions during the entire month. The research shows just how important mobile devices are becoming for consumers and how these consumers are beginning to put more interest into mobile commerce.

Consumers to rely on mobile devices for research and shopping

Though the research shows that mobile commerce will play a big role with UK consumers, Deloitte notes that mobile devices will not necessarily be used to actually purchase products. More consumers are likely to use their mobile device for shopping and research purchases, with a relatively small number of people actually making physical purchases with their device. Mobile commerce is multi-faceted, however, and accounts for online sales and not only those made through physical stores. Deloitte research predicts that online retail is expected to spike by 17% during the Christmas season.

Mobile commerce gaining more attention from retail industry

Mobile commerce is quickly grabbing the attention of the retail industry in an aggressive way. Mobile commerce had a powerful showing during the Thanksgiving weekend, showing just how capable e-commerce and m-commerce platforms can be in engaging consumers. Deloitte expects similar results in the UK during the Christmas season as consumers continue their holiday shopping.