Data highlights growth of mobile commerce in the US
Mobile commerce has become a major interest for many companies around the world. Consumers are becoming more comfortable with the idea of paying for goods and services with nothing more than a mobile device, which has lead companies to become more inclusive when it comes to the matter of mobile commerce. In order to understand why companies are showing so much interest in mobile payments, one must understand how many people, in the U.S. alone, own and use mobile devices regularly.
Studies show growth in tablet ownership
The Pew Research Center has teamed with the U.S. Census Bureau to release a number of studies concerning smartphone and tablet ownership as well as how these devices are used by consumers. These studies are part of the Pew Research Center’s Internet & American Life Project. According to the data contained in these studies, 34% of U.S. adults own a tablet device. This figure rose by 18% in May of 2012 as tablets began growing more popular in the mobile commerce field.
Tablets appeal to those interest in mobile commerce
Tablets are often considered more useful in mobile commerce than smartphones. This is due to the fact that tablets allow for a more comprehensive online shopping experience. Smartphones feature small screens than tablet devices, making it difficult to navigate some e-commerce sites. Tablets allow for more control in the mobile shopping experience, and an enjoyable experience is often enough to ensure than consumers continue participating in mobile commerce.
Mobile commerce expected to continue growing
The studies show that smartphone owners still outnumber those with tablets, but consumers favoring either device still show strong interest in mobile commerce. Both devices are heavily used for purposes such as social networking and entertainment, with mobile commerce showing strong growth over the past two years. Mobile commerce is expected to continue gaining momentum as consumers continue to grow more comfortable with making payments on their mobile devices.
Japan sees strong growth in mobile commerce
Mobile commerce is growing quickly in Japan. Consumers in many of the country’s largest cities, such as Tokyo and Osaka, are beginning to favor shopping on their mobile devices. These consumers had already been heavily exposed to e-commerce and the world of online shopping, making the transition to mobile commerce significantly easier. According to the Japanese Ministry of Internal Affairs and Communications, mobile commerce grew by 16.2% in 2011 and continues to grow as more consumers become comfortable with the notion of purchasing products with their smartphones and tablets.
Fashion sector sees major boost from mobile sales
Mobile commerce has had a dramatic impact on several sectors of the retail industry, but Japan’s fashion sector has been seeing the majority of this impact in recent months. Zozotown, one of the country’s leading fashion retailers specializing in e-commerce, reports that it has seen no less than 40% of its sales come from mobile devices in 2012. Rakutan, another Japanese e-commerce company, notes that 30% of its sales have come through mobile commerce over the same time frame.
New companies showing strong interest in Japanese mobile commerce
The growing proclivity among Japanese consumers when it comes to mobile commerce has lead to something of a surge in mobile commerce applications. Many organizations recognize the growth of mobile commerce in Japan as a powerful opportunity and have been working to introduce new applications and mobile payments platforms to the country in recent months. New capital has lead to the emergence of new startups that aim to be the next big name in mobile commerce and this has lead to a marked increase in the competition that exists in this particular field.
Small companies may be unable to compete with larger companies
While more competition can be good for consumers, it is not necessarily good for businesses. Startup company’s may have high ambitious, but whether or not they will be able to compete with much larger companies that have already established a strong presence in the mobile commerce sector has yet to be seen. So far, consumers appear to favor the platforms supported by larger companies they are more familiar with than those coming from largely unknown organizations.
