Lucy |
September 20, 2013
According to the latest Capgemini figures, UK online retail sales over smartphones and tablets are exploding.
The most recent figures from a study released by Capgemini are showing that online sales struck the £6.8 billion mark, as mobile commerce has taken off in the United Kingdom by 133 percent in August when compared to the same month in 2012.
This included shopping that was conducted over both smartphones and tablets by U.K. consumers.
The figures were calculated as a combined effort between Capgemini and IMRG. They also determined that within that month, overall online sales – including those originating from mobile commerce channels – increased by 18 percent, when compared to the same time last year.
This increase is double what was seen when online and mobile commerce sales from July 2013 were compared with 2012.
An increase in online and mobile commerce sales of only 9 percent were recorded during that period of time. In August, the sales this year were worth £6.8 billion, whereas those from last year in that month were £5.79 billion.
According to the Capgemini retail consulting and technology head, Chris Webster, the increase in mobile commerce sales from £674 million to £1.5 billion is the result of a number of different factors that have occurred over the last 12 months. He stated that “Firstly, the adoption of tablets and smartphones in general is rising all the time and this means sales are rising. Secondly, people are more confident using devices like this to make purchases, especially tablets.”
He also added that companies are now beginning to make their websites compatible with mobile commerce, by creating a shopping experience that has been optimized for the smaller screen and the touchscreen navigation experience. “Rather than trying to reskim their desktop site they are offering an improved customer journey.”
The increase in sales also upped the average shopping cart price. Between July and August, the average total at checkout rose from £72 to £77. Webster attributed this to a strengthening economy and that people are starting to have greater confidence in buying bigger ticket items and making higher end retail purchases.
Mobile payments are on the rise
The Mercator Advisory Group has released a new report concerning consumer payments and banking. The report highlights the growing popularity of mobile payments among the U.S. population, showing that mobile commerce is becoming very common among young adults and certain ethnic groups. Mobile payments are often considered a subject for the tech-savvy and given the fact that younger generations are growing up with a strong connection to smartphones and tablets, as well as other forms of technology, these people could be significantly more comfortable with the concept of mobile commerce than older adults.
Young adults show comfort with mobile commerce
The report shows that young adults show the strongest interest in mobile payments in the U.S. Approximately 75% of young adults are reported to have their own smartphones or tablets, compared to the 55% of adult households that own such devices. The report shows that young adults are very likely to use their mobile devices while shopping, using the technology available to them to find better deals or to find out more information on products they are interested in. Mobile payments are becoming a major interest with these consumers, many of whom believe that mobile commerce is significantly more convenient than traditional forms of commerce.
Mobile commerce platforms prove inclusive for wide range of consumers
Smartphone ownership is also growing among certain ethnic groups. Those of Asian, Latin, and African descent outnumber others when it comes to smartphone ownership. Moreover, these consumers have also expressed a great deal of interest and comfort with the concept of mobile payments. For many immigrants to the U.S., mobile payments are considered easier as many mobile commerce platforms can easily calculate currency conversions while also removing the need for physical currencies.
Security remains a major barrier for mobile payments
While mobile payments are gaining popularity, all consumers have expressed concerns regarding the security of their financial information. Mobile commerce is not only a realm for consumers, as it has proven quite attractive for hackers. The threat of having financial information stolen and exploited has led many people to be weary of mobile payments.
