Retail industry begins devoting more resources to mobile commerce
The retail industry is beginning to respond to the gargantuan success of the mobile commerce sector, especially in the wake of the results of the 2012 holiday shopping season. During the 2012 holidays, more consumers made use of their mobile devices to shop for and purchase products than they ever had before, giving the retail industry a glimpse of the gains they could see by throwing more support behind mobile commerce. Shop.org and Forrester Research have released a new survey that highlights the view retailers have regarding mobile commerce in 2013.
State of Retailing survey highlights the work of retailers
The survey, called “State of Retailing,” shows that more retailers are beginning to shift their resources to better serve mobile consumers. More than 51% of the retailers surveyed noted that one of their top priorities was making sure that their websites and services were optimized to be used on mobile platforms, such as smart phones and tablets. Another 43% identified tablets and other mobile devices as one of their most important priorities, hoping to increase the traffic and commerce they see through these platforms throughout 2013.
Online traffic spikes in 2012
Retailers are reporting that they are seeing more traffic from online sources. This traffic grew in 2012 and is expected to continue gaining momentum well into 2013. Approximately 27% of the retailers surveyed noted that they have major overhauls of their websites planned in the coming year. These retailers are focusing on making their websites more accommodating for mobile consumers.
Retailers must be wary of pitfalls surrounding mobile commerce
While there are certainly major opportunities for retailers in the realm of mobile commerce, it is important for these companies to take time to identify the potential obstacles they may face in catering to mobile consumers. Embracing mobile commerce is a multi-faceted endeavor, and many retailers will likely begin feeling pressure to facilitate actual payments from mobile devices in their physical stores. Moreover, the more companies focus on mobile commerce, especially in the digital space, the less traffic their physical stores may see in the future.
