Tag: mcommerce

Large companies typically lead the way with tech, but mobile commerce platforms are being pushed by SMBs.

Corporations and massive enterprises have traditionally been the leaders when it comes to being on the very cutting edge of technology, but when it comes to mcommerce, a major push is being supported by small and medium sized businesses that are not held back by the solid infrastructures and red tape restricting their larger counterparts.

This flexibility and agility of SMBs makes it possible for them to test and evolve with mobile commerce.

SMBs often find themselves in a position in which they can move quickly, making it possible for them to try out various forms of tech, such as mcommerce, and to keep up with the latest developments over these channels. Because of this, businesses in this size group are starting to play an important role in driving innovation of shopping and payments through the use of smartphones.

Studies are showing that a large percentage of SMBs are using mcommerce and mobile payments.

Recent research by BIA/Kelsey determined that approximately 40 percent of SMBs are using mobile point of sale (mPOS) technology. These mobile devices are used in store to help consumers to make purchases outside of a traditional checkout counter. It is predicted that this number will only rise as SMBs spend more money on mobility over the next half decade.

Using smartphones and tablets to assist consumers with shopping and to be able to accept both orders and payments can help to simplify the operation of the business as a whole, particularly for small retailers and mom and pop shops. A growing number of analysts are predicting that throughout 2014, there will be a broadening trend of embracing this tech in many forms.

The more mcommerce technology is used, the more rapidly mobile commerce platforms will evolve as innovations are developed to improve convenience, efficiency, and cost effectiveness. This will help in areas including inventory, paperless inventory, online banking, and m-payments that give these entrepreneurs new and innovative ways to use digital means for transacting business. Overall, this is an appealing playing field for the SMB community.

The holiday and Christmas shopping season left the company’s previous accomplishments in the dust.

Shop Direct has recently revealed that is was one of the many online retailers that experienced a massive mobile commerce success over the last holiday shopping season, as its Very.co.uk and Littlewoods.com websites saw considerable surges in searches and purchases from smartphones and tablets.

This is being seen as further evidence that British shoppers are accepting mcommerce on a growing basis.

The trading update from Shop Direct said that its mobile commerce sales saw an increase by 64 percent over the six weeks that led up to December 27. Chief executive of the company, Alex Baldock, said that sales over smartphones and tablets had “exploded” in the weeks and days that led up to Christmas.

Overall, mobile commerce makes up 43 percent of the total online sales at Shop Direct’s sites.

Baldock also added that “By 2015, we expect every transaction to involve a mobile device at some point in the customer journey.” He stated that it is difficult to exaggerate the importance of this online shopping trend, and “we mean to stay on top of it.”

Shop Direct is a company that is owned by Sir David and Sir Frederick Barclay. They are also the owners of the massive Telegraph Media Group. They have revealed that they will be making a tremendous investment of £100 million toward the mobile development and digital business. A prime focus within this effort will be on personalizing their site, email marketing and digital applications.

During that same six week period, the company reported that their overall sales increased by 5 percent. This is an acceleration in its growth when compared to what it had been experiencing over the entire second half of the year, which was at 1percent.

There were a number of contributing factors to this growth, including the performance over mobile commerce, as well as the newer brands of the company, isme.com and Very.co.uk, which experienced a considerable sales increase of 27 percent. One interesting point was that in the weeks before Christmas, the company was selling one onesie every 35 seconds.