Tag: e-commerce

United Way Worldwide embraces digital currency

United Way Worldwide teams with Coinbase to accept Bitcoin donations

United Way Worldwide, a non-profit leadership and support organization, has announced its partnership with Coinbase, a commerce platform that specializes in Bitcoin. Through this partnership, United Way will begin accepting Bitcoin donations, making it the latest non-profit group to show some support for the digital currency. Bitcoin is somewhat controversial, but it has become accepted among non-profit organizations that attempt to attract support from a wide range of people, both online and off.

Bitcoin is gaining more support throughout the world

Bitcoin is sometimes seen as a dangerous sort of currency because some people associate it with hackers and malicious groups. The currency is, however, not affiliated with any singular group or demographic, serving only as a medium of commerce. The real issue that Bitcoin has is its volatility. Currently, one Bitcoin is worth $468, but the value of a single Bitcoin can change dramatically at any given moment. The currency’s value is affected by many factors, particularly its unregulated nature.

Digital currency could help non-profit groups engage a wider demographic of supporters

Digital Currency - Bitcoin Through the Coinbase platform, United Way will be accepting donations into its Innovation Fund. The organization is embracing the opportunity to make it easier for donors to support causes that they are interested in. The organization suggests that embracing innovation is one of the ways it can encourage others to do the same. As such, United Way may serve as an example of how non-profit groups can accept digital currency and attract more support from a wider demographic.

Bitcoin is having a major impact on the mobile commerce space, allowing businesses to engage mobile consumers more effectively

Bitcoin has become particularly favored in the mobile commerce space. A growing number of retailers and other businesses are beginning to embrace digital currencies because it gives them more access to mobile consumers. Mobile commerce has helped bring digital currencies from obscurity, showing that they can be used as an effective medium of commerce. As mobile payments continue to become more common, Bitcoin is likely to receive more acceptance as a legitimate currency.

Mobile Commerce Index report for August released by Branding Brand

Branding Brand releases its latest report for August 2014

Branding Brand has released its latest monthly Mobile Commerce Index report for August. The report highlights a “mobile tipping point” wherein retailers are beginning to see more activity from tablets and smartphones than from traditional desktop computers. Mobile commerce has become a powerful force in the retail industry and many companies are taking steps to engage mobile consumers more effectively. Mobile engagement strategies are proving to be quite effective and consumers have, thus far, been responding well to the outreach coming from retailers.

Mobile traffic to retail websites has increased significantly

According to the report from Branding Brand, mobile devices have generated 51% of all retail website visits in August. This is a significant increase from the mobile traffic reported by retailers in 2010, which came in at approximately 4%. More consumers are using their mobile devices to shop online, using the resources that have been provided by retailers to do so. Shopping apps have proven to be quite popular among consumers, especially those making daily commutes to and from work.

Consumers are beginning to expect mobile-centric services from the retailers that they support

Mobile Commerce reportThe report suggests that there has been a fundamental shift in consumer behavior. E-commerce has become a major interest among consumers and commerce, in general, has begun to evolve with the advent of mobile technology. Many people are beginning to use their mobile devices to shop online on a daily basis and this has changed the expectations that consumers have when it comes to the retail sector. Many people now expect retailers to have some significant mobile presence as well as provide mobile-centric services.

E-commerce is still dominated by traditional desktop and laptop computers

The report shows that e-commerce is still dominated by traditional desktop and laptop computers. In August, approximately 70% of e-commerce purchases were made from such systems. These platforms remain ideal shopping portals for consumers, but many people are becoming more comfortable with the concept of mobile commerce. In the future, smartphones and tablets may replace desktop and laptop computers as the favored e-commerce platform.