Tag: mcommerce uk

Mobile commerce making significant progress in the UK

Mobile commerce is showing strong growth in the United Kingdom. More consumers throughout the country are gaining access to smartphones and tablets, and these mobile devices are making it more convenient for a wider variety of people to shop online. Mobile commerce has garnered acclaim for the convenience it offers consumers and several retailers are beginning to grow more accommodating to these consumers as they show a penchant for mobile payments. The growth of mobile commerce is strongly tied to the availability of mobile technology.

Smartphone ownership on the rise

According to a recent study from Gartner, a leading market research firm, sales for smartphones and tablets have been growing rapidly over the past two years. In 2012, the number of smartphones in the world reached 1 billion — one for every seven people in the world. The rapid growth of smartphone ownership has exposed more people to the concept of mobile commerce, a concept they have shown a great deal of interest in.

Proliferation of mobile technology draws more interest into mobile commerce

Ofcom, a government-approved regulator of the communications sector in the United Kingdom, has released information showing that half of the population of the country own a smartphone, with 19% of the population owning a tablet device. Approximately 81% of these smartphone owners prefer to use their smartphones over traditional forms of communication. Approximately 31% of all site traffic in the United Kingdom comes from mobile devices as well, creating a strong need for retailers to become more accommodating to the needs of mobile consumers.

Ease-of-use and simplicity appeal to consumers

The reasons consumers have been showing such strong interest in mobile commerce are straightforward. First, mobile commerce is considered simple, with purchases made for products being accomplished in a matter of seconds. Another factor is that mobile commerce platforms are easy to use, proving accommodating to mobile consumers of varying degrees of comfort with mobile technology. Mobile shopping is also considered, among consumers, to be more enjoyable than shopping at traditional stores, adding further appeal to mobile commerce.

Verdict details growth of mobile commerce in the UK

Verdict, an independent retail analyst, has released a new report concerning the growth of mobile commerce in the UK. The report, titled “M-Commerce in the UK 2012,” examined the trends that have contributed to the growing popularity surrounding mobile commerce and what consumers are responding to. The response from consumers is dictating how the retail industry makes use of mobile commerce services and how these services are being incorporated into an overarching business structure.

Growth expected to exceed 500% by 2017

In the report, Verdict predicts that mobile commerce will grow more than 504% from 2012 to 2017. Much of this growth is being attributed to the growing demand for mobile commerce services coming from consumers. The retail industry is eager to meet this demand, introducing new mobile commerce services to better serve customers that wish to use their smart phones and other devices to make purchases of products. Indeed, the retail industry is expected to dominate the UK market in terms of mobile commerce.

Consumers respond well to mobile commerce initiatives

According to  the report, Verdict expects mobile shopping and purchases to flourish in the coming years. The report includes the results of a survey carried out by Verdict, which found that 24.8% of consumers claimed they were likely to use their mobile device to research a product before buying it. These consumers also expressed interest in using their mobile devices to purchase goods, a trend that is becoming more popular as more consumers become comfortable with the capabilities of mobile technology.

UK on its way to dominating mobile commerce market

The United Kingdom is quickly shaping up to be one of the most attractive mobile commerce markets in the world. UK consumers have already shown their willingness to participate in mobile shopping and purchases, more so than consumers in many other countries where mobile commerce has established a foothold. If the trends Verdict has seen continue, the UK may be the most robust mobile commerce market in the world.