Tag: e-commerce

Mobile commerce helps power growth in Europe

| July 26, 2013

European mobile commerce sparks growth despite problematic economic environment

Despite a turbulent economic environment, European e-commerce is thriving, with growth driven largely by mobile commerce. A new report from Transport Intelligence, a market research firm, shows that European e-commerce activity has been on the rise, with many consumers purchasing products online via their smartphones and tablets. This sector is showing strong growth even as similar sectors in the retail industry lose their footing due to troubling economic climates throughout the region.

Report shows that e-commerce market grew by 12% in 2012

According to the report, the European e-commerce market grew by 12% in 2012 while overall retail sales plummeted during this same period. Companies that specialized in online retail saw promising results by engaging mobile consumers, many of whom have become enthralled with the concept of mobile commerce. The results that these companies have seen over the past year have encouraged traditional brick and mortar retailers to take the online world more seriously.

Mobile commerce growth in EuropeRetailers pressured to adapt to modern consumers

The report notes that retailers are beginning to feel a strong need to cater to the mobile commerce crowd. Advances in technology are beginning to force retailers to adapt and approach consumers in a new and more dynamic way. There are those that have shown resistance to mobile commerce, and e-commerce in general. In the United Kingdom, Jessops and Comet, two prominent retailers, recently declared bankruptcy as they were unable to engage in a new generation of consumers with evolving interests.

Traditional retailers begin to take online world more seriously

The report suggests that e-commerce will continue to experience strong growth in Europe, especially as more consumers become interested in participating in mobile commerce. It is expected that retailers whom offer comprehensive mobile commerce services will find strong support from consumers. Traditional retailers with brick and mortar shops are also expected to put more emphasis on their online presence, developing websites that are more accommodating the needs of mobile consumers.

Mobile commerce hits language barriers in Europe

| June 16, 2013

Language proves to be a hurdle for mobile commerce

Mobile commerce has managed to make major progress in the U.S. and Japan, but in Europe, mobile commerce has met with significant challenges that extend well beyond issues concerning security and efficiency. Language and infrastructure have proven to be the most complicated problems faced by the mobile commerce sector in Europe. Both the U.S. and Japan enjoy universal e-commerce markets due to the fact that both countries have a predominant language. Europe, however, is filled with countries that have very different languages from one another, making it difficult to create a universal mobile commerce ecosystem.

Universal market in Europe has yet to take form

European countries tend to be homes to national markets that do not synergize well beyond the boundaries of the countries they take form in. Such markets are meant to appeal to those that live in particular countries, of course, but this tends to create some division when it comes to universal commerce. For instance, those from countries where English is not a prominent language could have trouble participating in mobile commerce in countries like the United Kingdom, where most commerce services are based on the English language.

Mobile Commerce Europe - Language IssuesEurope 500 aims to solve the language problem

In order to address this issue, Europe 500, a conglomeration comprised of many large European companies, has begun to leverage its various investments to provide better localization to e-commerce sites in various countries throughout the European Union. This is expected to help make it easier for consumers to participate in mobile commerce no matter where they are in Europe by providing them with services that are based on their native language.

Localization is a costly venture for some

Making mobile commerce universal is no small task. Europe 500 is comprised of many companies, some of which have heavily invested in mobile commerce in the past. Despite the apparent interests that these companies have in mobile commerce, localization and bolstering infrastructure is not an inexpensive task. Many companies may be inclined to continue supporting national markets in an effort to save money.