GfK Group releases new study concerning mobile commerce
The holiday season is here and that could mean major success for retailers looking to cater to the growing number of mobile consumers. A new study from the GfK Group, a consumer research agency, suggests that shoppers are planning to rely heavily on their mobile devices during the holiday season, at least in Singapore. Though the study focuses on Singaporean consumers, the trend of consumers relying on their mobile devices for commerce and online shopping can be seen all over the world.
Study shows online shopping could save consumers time and net retailers more money
According to the study, online shopping could save consumers as much as 45 hours, much of which is standing in line or waiting for service. This time equates to approximately $1,400, suggesting that retailers lose a significant amount of money if consumers lose time. The study also found that approximately 43% of all Singapore consumers are using their smart phones and tablets to find the products that they are interested in, a promising sign for mobile commerce.
Singapore proves to be promising mobile market
The GfK Group study notes that mobile commerce is growing in Singapore, and elsewhere. In Singapore, 78% of consumers use mobile applications to access online retail stores, with a sizeable portion of these people using these applications to purchase products. Singapore is one of the most promising mobile markets in the world, with a smart phone penetration of over 88%. This is part of the reason why companies interested in mobile commerce are so eager to establish themselves in the country.
GfK Group study commissioned by PayPal
The GfK Group study was commissioned by PayPal. The company has already established a powerful presence in the realm of commerce, but has been working to appeal to mobile consumers in a more appealing fashion. The company has been tracking the demand for mobile commerce services over the years and is positioning itself to meet these demands around the world.
Survey highlights importance of mobile commerce during holiday season
Sybase 365, a mobile services and mobile commerce solutions provider, and the Mobile Marketing Association (MMA) have released the results on a new survey concerning the role mobile devices will play in the U.S. holiday season. Mobile technology has become rampantly popular in the U.S., and many consumers have smart phones and tablets that allow them to participate in mobile commerce. Consumers have been showing a great deal of interest in using their mobile devices to shop, bank, and pay for goods over the past few years, and this may come to a head during the 2012 holiday season.
87% of consumers to use their mobile devices to research products
According to the survey, which focused on 1,000 adult consumers throughout the U.S., approximately 87% of all consumers will be using their mobile devices to make purchase decisions during the holiday season. Many consumers will be relying on their mobile device to find out information on products that they are interested in, with other using their devices to find deals and net themselves significant savings that may only be available online.
50% of consumers to purchase products through their mobile device
The survey also shows that 50% of consumers will be using their mobile devices to make purchases, while another 61% claimed they would be willing to participate in mobile commerce if improvements to security and infrastructure were made. Currently, using a smart phone to make purchases at a physical store is a practice limited to consumers with NFC-enabled devices. These devices are rare, as are the point of sale terminals that are capable of facilitating mobile payments. Security has also been an issue that has put off many consumers.
Mobile commerce could gain momentum through the holiday season
Despite consumer concerns, mobile commerce is growing in the U.S. The holiday season is expected to provide the burgeoning industry with significant momentum, especially as retailers get a better understanding of how mobile commerce can impact their business during the busiest and most important time of year for the retail industry as a whole.
