Report highlights the growing power of mobile commerce
Ayden, a provider of omni-channel mobile payment solutions, has released its third Mobile Payment Index report. The report covers the period of September to December 2013 and examines the trends and progress that mobile commerce found during that time. The report reiterates what similar studies have already found: Mobile commerce is growing and showing no signs of slowing down in the foreseeable future. Much of this growth is being partially powered by higher rates of device ownership among consumers.
20% of transactions from September to December 2013 came from mobile devices
According to the report from Ayden, approximately 20% of global transaction came from a mobile device in December 2013. This is up from 12.6% of global transactions coming from mobile devices in 2012. Travel, digital goods, gaming, retail, and ticketing are all areas where mobile payments are thriving. The report suggests that consumers are becoming more comfortable with the idea of mobile payments and are therefore beginning to trust mobile commerce platforms more readily.
iOS devices prove popular in the mobile commerce space
The report shows that iOS devices were the most popular devices when it came to mobile commerce between September and December of 2013. Approximately 41% of all mobile payments made during this four month period came from iPad devices, with 32% coming from iPhones. While iOS devices are popular with those interested in mobile commerce, Android devices have found more success within the mobile commerce space throughout the rest of 2013. Notably, tablets are considered a favorite among consumers when it comes to shopping and purchasing products online.
Retailers are gaining a better understanding of what mobile commerce is and how to engage mobile consumers
Retailers are expected to see a great deal of growth as they begin to focus on the mobile space more heavily. During the 2013 holiday season, many retailers saw a dramatic rise in mobile sales. As retailers begin to better understand consumer behavior within the mobile space, they are likely to provide consumers with better mobile services that can accommodate mobile payments more adequately.
This low cost technology can help to improve efficiency overall, including both smartphones and tablets.
The managing director of TBS Enterprise Mobility, Steve Reynolds, has been making technology news with his announcement that mobile devices will “transform fleets in 2014,” as they are employed to help to boost efficiencies further than they already are.
This makes it looks as though smartphones and tablets are on their way in to fleet management in an important way.
Reynolds has explained that as the costs of these mobile devices drop, but their durability rises, this trend will “drive a shift in the industry from paper-based to automated processes.” The most recent data available has indicated that in the United Kingdom, about 61 percent of the adult population is currently a smartphone owner, and that this number is rising. This also suggests that the majority of the workforce is becoming increasingly familiar and comfortable with the use of smartphones and tablets.
This makes 2014 the easiest time in history for deploying mobile devices and enterprise apps.
According to Reynolds, “More and more, blue collar and task-oriented staff are coming to expect to carry out their work supported by user-friendly consumer devices.” In this same vein, smartphones and tablets are expected to take on a growing role when it comes to processes that take place in the field. Their low price point makes this mobile development a practical and realistic opportunity for businesses of this nature.
This year, it is already expected that the global sales of these gadgets will reach the 1.7 billion mark. Reynolds has predicted that with the combination of all of these factors, there will be a notable spike in the adoption of smartphones and tablets by businesses, this year, “transforming fleet management.”
Mobile app development companies will also be interested to note that it isn’t just the hardware that will be increasingly embraced by fleets. Cost cutting through improved efficiencies could also be improved through applications and gamification. That said, as there are already approximately two million downloadable apps across all operating systems at the moment, this could mean that the competition will be fierce in this new category.
