Tag: canada mobile commerce

Canadian retailers may experience some turbulence due to mobile commerce

| October 21, 2014

Retailers in Canada might have trouble engaging mobile consumers

Canadian retailers may be in for a turbulent holiday season. Price wars and consumers skittish about mobile and e-commerce may put retailers under significant strain this year during the months of November and December. The growing prevalence of mobile commerce, in particular, may make it harder for some retailers to find traction with many people. These retailers have been investing heavily in their mobile infrastructure, but they may not see returns due to the fact that many consumers are not yet comfortable with the idea of shopping online with a mobile device.

WalMart sees troubling trends emerge in the retail market

WalMart has big plans for the holiday season, as usual, but the company notes that it is seeing trends emerge in the global market that could be trouble for the retail industry. According to David Cheesewright, president of WalMart’s international division, growing competition from companies like Amazon may present problems for traditional retailers. Traditional retailers are having price skirmishes with online companies, and consumers are beginning to favor the latter because of the digital services they offer.

Consumers comfortable with mobile shopping are visiting physical stores less frequently

Canada - Mobile CommerceMany people are still uncomfortable about mobile commerce, but those that are not are spending more money when shopping online from a mobile device. Companies like Amazon are taking steps to provide these people with an enjoyable online shopping experience and as consumers become more involved in digital commerce, they are beginning to shop online more than they visit physical stores.

It may be too late for retailers to adopt mobile initiatives to connect with consumers before the holidays

Mobile commerce has proven to be quite powerful during the holiday season. Shopping from a mobile device helps people avoid long lines and they can benefit from having products delivered to their homes relatively quickly. Retailers that have avoided the mobile space, or have a relatively small presence therein, could find it difficult to connect with consumers in a significant way, and it may be too late for them to introduce effective mobile initiatives before the holidays are here.

Mobile payments firm to expand into Canada

| July 4, 2014

Square announces plans to open up new office in Canada this year

Square, one of the largest mobile payments firms in the U.S., is continuing its efforts to break into new markets by opening up a new office in Canada. The company has found significant success in the mobile space through its various partnerships, one of the most famous of which is its partnership with Starbucks. By teaming with Starbucks, Square was able to secure its position as a leader in the mobile commerce space. Now, the company is looking to expand beyond the U.S.

New office to be based in Ontario and tap into province’s tech community

Square has plans to open up a new office with more than 30 employees in Ontario, Canada, by September of this year. The company is looking to tap into Ontario’s “thriving and talented tech community” in order to establish a foothold in the Canadian mobile commerce space. The demand for effective mobile commerce solutions in Canada has been on the rise among businesses and consumers alike, and the time may be right for Square to take advantage of this growing demand.

Square helps iOS users participate in mobile commerce

Square Mobile PaymentsPart of the appeal of Square is that it makes mobile payments possible on iOS devices. These devices do not have the inherent ability to participate in mobile commerce and rely on auxiliary applications and hardware in order to do so. This has been something of a problem for iOS users that are interested in mobile commerce, but their demands are being met, to some degree, by Square’s services.

Retailers are beginning to feel the need to engage mobile consumers and Square may be able to help

Canadian retailers are becoming more conscious of the mobile space and are taking steps to engage consumers through a variety of mobile initiatives. Square will offer a new way to engage these consumers and encourage them to make payments with their mobile devices. Engaging mobile consumers will likely lead to higher sales for retailers and helping them appeal more to a demographic that is beginning to change rapidly.