Tag: europe

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 showing strong growth in the UK

| July 15, 2013

UK leads Europe in mobile commerce growth

Mobile commerce is growing at a rapid pace in Europe, but one country has established a clear lead over other when it comes to driving this growth forward. According to data from Vente-privee.com, a leading European online retailer, the United Kingdom has established itself as a leader in the mobile field. The data suggests that the United Kingdom is the most mobile-centric country of the eight largest European nations. This has helped mobile commerce establish a strong foothold in the country, from which it can spread throughout the rest of the region.

Data shows 37% of sales come from UK mobile devices

The data from Vente-privee.com shows that approximately 32% of its sales come from mobile devices. The majority of these sales (53%) come from tablets, with approximately 47% coming from smartphones. Tablets have been growing more popular as mobile shopping platforms due to their large screens, which make it easier for consumers to navigate online stores. The data also shows that some 37% of online sales come from the United Kingdom, with France accounting for 29%.

Mobile Commerce UKUK consumers prove to be very mobile-centric

UK consumers seem to be more reliant on mobile devices than those in other countries. Many of these consumers have grown up with a strong involvement in some type of technology and have thus developed a strong affinity for mobile devices and other such technologies. This has enabled the UK to embrace mobile commerce more readily than other countries and retailers in the UK have been significantly more aggressive than others in their adoption of mobile payments.

Lack of mobile websites could slow growth over the long term

While mobile commerce is growing in the United Kingdom, this growth has been hampered by the relative lack of mobile-optimized websites. These sites were initially designed to be used for PCs rather than mobile devices. As such, mobile consumers often have trouble navigating these sites and making use of what mobile commerce services they may provide.