Mobile and social channels may help the e-commerce sector grow more this year
Mobile and social channels may be the key drivers of e-commerce growth this year, according to Monetate. The firm notes that mobile commerce, in particular, experienced a period of healthy growth and activity during the 2014 holiday season. During this time, mobile purchases increased by 45% over what they had been during the time period of 2013. Approximately 16% of all e-commerce traffic came from mobile devices as well, making mobile a valuable channel for the larger digital commerce space.
Improved mobile experience may be needed in order to ensure that consumers continue to shop on their smartphones and tablets
Monetate notes that mobile experiences are improving, which is making it more likely for consumers to participate in mobile payments in some way. A good experience encourages consumers to continue using their mobile devices to shop for and purchase products online and at physical stores. Poor experiences have the opposite effect, especially if they become inconvenient and considered a burden to consumers that have come to favor mobility.
Engaging consumers in innovative ways can bring them deeper into the world of mobile commerce
Engaging mobile consumers can be extremely difficult. Monetate notes that businesses that want to engage in mobile consumers must do so in a specialized manner. According to the firm, bounce rates on mobile devices are 50% higher than on desktop computers, and consumers are 30% less likely to add products to their online shopping carts when shopping. Finding ways to create a frictionless, convenient, and enjoyable mobile experience can ensure that businesses have the ability to engage mobile consumers effectively.
Loyalty programs could be the key to further success in the mobile commerce space
Loyalty programs may be one of the first steps in driving deeper personalization of the mobile shopping experience. These programs offer rewards to shoppers that favor particular retailers. Monetate notes that these programs are the most profitable type of initiative that retailers can utilize. They also exist as a way for consumers to customize their experiences with the retailers that they are supporting.
Mobile payments are becoming more important for consumers
Mobile payments are becoming a very important part of global commerce. More consumers have smartphones now than ever before, and many of these consumers are looking for more efficient and convenient ways to purchase products. Mobile payments are becoming so important to consumers that new mobile commerce platforms spring up on a seemingly daily basis to help consumers purchase products and transfer money using their mobile devices. Some of these platforms have become so popular that they are beginning to clash with one another for dominance in the mobile commerce arena.
Companies hold high hopes for 2013
LevelUp, which recently celebrating reaching 1 million active users, is one such company. Seth Priesbatsch, founder of the mobile payments platform, believes that 2013 will be the year in which a dominant mobile commerce platform will be crowned. LevelUp is not the only company that shares this belief, of course, as Paydiant, another leading mobile commerce platform, also expects 2013 to be a major year for mobile payments. PayPal boasts of the largest share of active users in terms of mobile payments and expects to see more people participating in mobile commerce this year than ever before.
Loyalty programs and marketing may be where true opportunities lie
Though these companies share high hopes for mobile commerce, mobile payments may not actually be the most significant opportunity that exists in the evolving state of commerce. Loyalty and marketing are where the true opportunities lie, according to Paydient. Loyalty programs from major brands offer consumers access to benefits they can receive by, quite literally, showing loyalty to a specific brand. In some cases, these benefits could be steep discounts on favored products, or free products altogether.
Platform that can provide the best of everything mobile commerce has to offer may win with consumers
Though loyalty programs and marketing hold a great deal of promise, most companies are focused on the area of mobile payments. Developing efficient and effective mobile payment services may open up the door for loyalty programs and marketing campaigns to take hold among consumers. The evolving state of commerce suggests that the company that can offer the best of everything will come out on top in terms of consumer engagement.
