Tag: mobile commerce growth

BI Intelligence report shows retailers getting aggressive with mobile consumers

| November 22, 2012

 

mobile consumers reportBI Intelligence releases new report concerning retail industry and mobile consumers

As consumers become more reliant on their mobile devices, retailers are looking for new ways to engage these people. Mobile commerce is quickly becoming one of the most popular ways to engage mobile consumers, largely because of the interest these consumers have for making purchases through their mobile device. A recent report from BI Intelligence, a research group associated with Business Insider, examines the ways retailers are working to engage mobile consumers through commerce and other initiatives.

Retailers looking for new ways to engage consumers

The advent of mobile technology has lead to a shift in the way consumers shop and pay for products. For instance, a practice known as “showrooming” allows consumers to use their smart phones to find products they are interested in while avoiding mark-ups from retailers. Typically, consumers can find better deals throughout online e-commerce platforms than from traditional retail stores, which presents a particularly problem for retailers still working to attract consumers to physical stores.

Mobile commerce growing in US and Europe

According to the BI Intelligence report, 29% of all U.S. mobile consumers already use their mobile device to participate in mobile commerce. This trend is expected to continue and spread to Europe through 2015, creating a promising opportunity for retailers to engage a wide audience. The report also notes that location targeting and mobile marketing efforts are becoming ideal ways for retailers to engage consumers in a way they are becoming increasingly responsive to.

Gamification quickly becoming a powerful tool for retailers

Gamification is a relatively new trend that is emerging in the retail industry, according to the BI Intelligence report. This is the practice of introducing game elements into shopping, marketing, and other fields of retail. Through gamification, retailers can make mundane tasks seem more exciting by providing consumers with rewards for completing these tasks. BI Intelligence suggests that gamification may be an effective way to ensure the loyalty of mobile consumers.

Mobile commerce survey released by MEF

| November 22, 2012

 

mobile commerce survey resultsMEF releases results of annual mobile commerce survey

The Mobile Entertainment Forum (MEF), a global trade association focused on the mobile media industry, has seen a marked rise in the realm of mobile commerce over the last few years. The trade group has released the results of a new survey that documents this growth and how consumers seem to be responding to the advent of mobile commerce services. The survey was conducted with the aid of On Device Research and spans 10 different countries, all of which boast of promising mobile markets.

Survey shows most mobile consumers engaged in some form of mobile commerce

According to the survey, nearly 88% of the world’s mobile media users are engaged in mobile commerce. The survey defines mobile commerce as “anyone using a mobile phone for research, purchase, or banking.” This definition is widely held as the standard in terms of mobile commerce, as this concept rarely refers to only mobile payments. The survey shows that research is the most popular form of mobile commerce, with 80% of all consumers using their mobile devices to find out more information on products and services.

Mobile commerce sees most growth in emerging markets

The survey shows that 55% of consumers around the world have made purchases using their mobile devices. The most growth in this facet of mobile commerce comes from emerging markets, such as Qatar, India, and South Africa. Mature markets, such as the United Kingdom and the U.S. remain somewhat static in terms of mobile purchases from consumers. The majority of mobile commerce is still reserved to the digital realm through e-commerce sites and online retailers, rather than physical purchases in stores.

Entertainment and convenience major reasons for mobile commerce engagement

According to MEF, entrainment and convenience are the primary reasons consumers around the world are interested in mobile commerce. Trust is also a significant factor, but many consumers continue to express concerns regarding the security of mobile payments. The companies involved in mobile commerce have been working to address these concerns, but consumers largely remain leery of having their financial information put at risk.