yStat reports on the state of mobile commerce around the world
Research and Markets has released a new report from market research firm yStat concerning the state of mobile commerce around the world. The report, called “Global Mobile and M-Commerce Report 2012,” highlights the various aspects of the mobile commerce industry and the reach of mobile payments among consumers. More than 46 countries are documented in the report, all of which have shown powerful mobile commerce activity in the past several months. The report provides information concerning the trends, revenues, and various other details concerning mobile commerce in these countries.
More than 600 million mobile consumers worldwide predicted by 2014
According to the report from yStat, the number of people that make purchases from a mobile device reached more than 400 million this year. Approximately 40% of all retailers around the world offer consumers options to purchase products through a mobile device, a trend that is expected to gain strong momentum in the wake of the holiday season. yStat predicts that the number of mobile consumers worldwide will reach 600 million by 2014, with growth backed by new mobile commerce platforms and services.
US, UK, and Germany show promising growth in mobile commerce
The yStat report highlights the performance of mobile commerce in several countries. In the U.S., the report notes that traditional online sales have increased at a slower rate than mobile sales this year, especially in the realms of ticketing and travel. By the end of 2012, the United Kingdom is expected to hold the highest share of mobile sales in all of Europe, followed closely by Sweden. Mobile commerce has experienced strong growth in Germany, with the total number of mobile shoppers in the country growing more than 10% in 2011.
Increasing popularity calls for better mobile devices and services
The growing popularity of mobile commerce is pushing telecommunications and technology companies to develop new products that are better suited to the needs of mobile consumers. Smart phones and tablets equipped with NFC technology are becoming more common, but are not yet at the point where they can be considered mainstream.
BWild |
December 10, 2012
Mobile commerce becoming more important for the retail industry
The mobile space is becoming increasingly important for the retail industry. A growing number of consumers are beginning to rely more heavily on their mobile devices in order to shop and make purchases. It can be very difficult for retailers to reach out to these consumers through traditional websites and platforms, however, hence the need for sites that are optimized for viewing on mobile devices. A new report from digital marketing firm Acquity Group shows that retailers are beginning to take mobile consumers and mobile commerce more seriously.
Report shows that mobile sites are common with retailers
According to the report, approximately 82% of the top retailers in the world have websites that are optimized for mobile viewing. These sites are ideal for mobile consumers who use a smart phone or tablet in their daily lives. The report also shows that 72% of these retailers also have mobile applications associated with their business. Many of these applications are simply used to make shopping more convenient for consumers and provide them with a way to find more information on particular products they may be interested in. Some of these applications geared toward mobile commerce, facilitating payments for goods via a mobile device.
E-commerce platforms may not be mobile-friendly
Most brands received praise in the report for their various e-commerce initiatives. E-commerce sites appear to be a major success across the board for most of the world’s largest retailers. These sites allow retailers to sell products online, as well as accept payments from consumers all over the world. While the report shows that many of the e-commerce platforms that retailers use are reaching consumers in an effective way, these platforms are much less accommodating to mobile consumers. Many e-commerce platforms are not optimized for mobile service, thus it can be difficult for mobile consumers to make in-store purchases or simply buy products using their mobile device.
Mobile commerce becoming more synonymous with e-commerce
Mobile commerce and e-commerce are quickly becoming a singular channel. In the past, the two had been markedly separate, especially due to the fact that mobile commerce is a relatively new concept. As more consumers become integrated with their mobile devices, retailers are beginning to face a need to become more accommodating of the needs and interests of these consumers.
