Category: Mobile Commerce

The channel is booming as brands and companies discover that consumers are buying over their devices.

The latest figures have now been released from the e-Retail Sales Index from IMGR Capgemini, which has revealed that their mobile commerce index is continuing a rapid rise as retailers continue to catch on.

The massive year over year and month over month growth is being credited to retailer adoption.

The report from the latest index indicated a 136 percent growth when June of this year was compared to that of last year, and when May was compared to June this year, an 8 percent growth was recorded. Conversion rates had also experienced a considerable increase, which would prove highly appealing to retailers.

Mobile commerce conversion rates rose massively from 1.27 percent in June 2012 to 2.03 percent this year.

At the same time, retailers are seeing that the spending rates and conversion rates over the tablet mobile commerce channel are approaching those of desktops. This is an opportunity that many of them are refusing to ignore. Even specific sectors are showing promising growth, causing the companies in those areas to get on board.

In the U.K, clothing sales over mobile commerce saw a year over year growth in June of 29 percent, as summer wardrobe updates were made at the start of the season. Even more promising was the area of home and garden products, which saw a year over year growth of 35 percent in the same month as the winter was left long behind and landscaping, gardening, and home reno projects got started. Even travel rose over this channel as summer vacations were planned, with a year over year growth of 15 percent and a 4 percent month over month rise.

According to the Capgemini vice president and head of retail consulting and technology, Chris Webster, as consumer confidence continues to grow in mobile commerce and purchasing with their tablets and smartphones, the index is remaining very strong. The findings from their analysis is only underscoring existing evidence that wireless technologies have brought a great deal to the doorstep of the retail sector, and those companies are not failing to take hold.

Mobile payments may soon see explosive growth

Mobile payments may be set to see explosive growth in Australia, at least among retailers. Mobile technology has established a strong presence in Australia, just as it has done throughout much of the world. Consumers have become heavily reliant on smartphones and tablets, favoring these devices when it comes to shopping and, in some cases, banking. This trend has been a double-edged sword for retailers, some of whom have expressed concern that the growing prevalence of mobile commerce is keeping consumers from visiting physical stores. The Australian Retailers Association sees mobile payments as a promising opportunity, however.

Retailers becoming more interested in mobile commerce

The organization notes that traditional retailers — those with physical stores — are beginning to look for ways to reduce transaction times and ensure consumer loyalty. The advent of mobile commerce has made shopping somewhat easier for consumers throughout the country, many of whom can find everything they need online and have products delivered to their homes. By embracing the convenient nature of mobile technology, retailers may be able to secure the loyalty of consumers through the provision of simple services and support of mobile payments.

Small retailers following the example of their larger counterparts

The Australian Retailers Association suggests that embracing mobile payments has become relatively common among larger retailers. This has created confidence among smaller companies that are beginning to consider mobile commerce as the industry standard. As such, growing numbers of small retailers are expected to adopt mobile payments in the coming years, leading to a dramatic increase in the mobile commerce activity of the country.

Companies seek to spread mobile commerce throughout Australia

Mobile payments have been seeing strong growth in Australia due to the numerous financial organizations that have been working to bring mobile commerce to the country. PayPal is one such group and has been testing a new mobile commerce platform in several countries. This platform is designed with retailers in mind, providing them with a way to offer comprehensive services to consumers that are tethered to smartphones and tablets.