Tag: mobile commerce research

For many owners of these and tablet devices, use is now a vital part of the buying experience.

The results of a new survey from Perception Research Services International has shown that 76 percent of smartphone owners will use mobile commerce in some way through a smartphone or tablet before they make a purchase of electrics, apparel, and grocery products.

The survey also discovered the specific reasons that these devices are used while shopping.

Smartphone and tablet owners use mobile commerce in a number of different ways as they debate buying various products. In fact, much of the influence from the devices is not for a direct purchase that is actually made online over the device. Instead, it is a part of the overall process from the point that the product is identified and onward.

Mobile commerce, therefore, plays a multichannel role in the road to buying one or several items.

Among the other mobile commerce discoveries that were made by the researchers include the following:

• 53 percent of smartphone owners compare prices through the use of the device.
• 49 percent of the survey’s respondents said that they use their devices to read customer reviews.
• 48 percent of these tablet and smartphone owners use the device to find coupons, sales, and other discount opportunities.
• 48 percent use the devices to seek out additional information about products.
• 37 percent head to a manufacturer’s site in order to obtain more product information.
• 34 percent use the device to seek out the opinion of a friend or family member.
• 31 percent actually make the product or service purchase through a mobile commerce site or app.
• 31 percent take part in a contest.
• 17 percent use the device to view a product demonstration.

The shopper research company, Perception Research Services International, looked into mobile commerce in order to help with merchandizing and packaging systems improvements. The survey involved the participation of 1,450 adults in the United States who were responsible for a minimum of half of the grocery shopping in their household. Among them, just over half (54 percent) owned a smartphone.

Mobile commerce is not popular with everyone

Mobile commerce has been gaining steam, largely due to the influence of the holiday season, but there is still a long way to go until consumers feel comfortable with using a mobile device to purchase goods and services. New research from The BIO Agency, a digital agency that specializes in online marketing, shows that many U.S. consumers are leery when it comes to mobile commerce. These consumers suggest that security is their primary concern.

41% claim they will not use their mobile device to make a purchase

According to The BIO Agency, 41% of American consumers refuse to use their smart phone or tablet device to make a purchase online or in a store. This accounts for some 103 million shoppers that are not interested in participating in mobile commerce. The general consensus among these consumers is that cellular and tablet devices are not secure enough to make them comfortable with purchasing products online. Without adequate security features, these consumers are unlikely to adopt mobile commerce in any way.

Security may be primary concern

The research from The BIO Agency shows that mobile commerce adoption is highest among younger consumers. Those between the ages of 18 and 24 are most likely to make purchases online using a mobile device, with entertainment products being the most popular. Generally, older consumers are more leery of mobile commerce. This may come from a lack of understanding regarding how mobile commerce works, but many suggest that mobile security must be improved before they can feel comfortable with mobile payments, whether they understand how these payments work or not.

Slow adoption may create problems for mobile commerce in the future

Several industries are investing heavily in mobile commerce. Over the Thanksgiving weekend, shoppers favored their mobile devices when purchasing products, providing a massive amount of momentum behind mobile commerce. This strong showing has secured strong support for mobile commerce, but if consumers continue to resist adoption, this burgeoning industry may be facing significant problems in the future.