Tag: mobile payments

Social media trends are leading to new opportunities in mobile commerce

Appearance anxiety is changing the way people shop online

Appearance anxiety is having an effect on the way people, particularly young women, shop. Social media has become overwhelmingly popular among Millennials, many of whom enjoy sharing pictures of themselves online. This is beginning to change the way young women shop online, however, especially when it comes to fashion. Many Millennials are becoming concerned that they will look too stale if they have a limited wardrobe. Appearing in multiple pictures wearing the same or similar clothing as others is leading to an increase in shopping.

Millennials are becoming more interested in shopping due to what they see on social media platforms

This is called the “Instagram effect” and it may be good news for retailers. Because Millennials are feeling more pressure to diversify their fashion, they are beginning to shop more frequently, especially online. For retailers involved in mobile commerce, this trend could lead to new opportunities in the social media space. Many retailers are beginning to use social networks to try and sell products. This is often referred to as “social commerce” and it could have a major impact on the way retailers connect with consumers in the future.

Retailers may need to focus more on engaging the mobile commerce space

Social Media - Mobile CommerceThere is a risk in this, however, as retailers may give up more of their marketing and promotional capabilities to social media platforms. These platforms are beginning to play a larger role in the mobile commerce space, with several platforms introducing “buy buttons” that make it easier for consumers to purchase products online from their mobile devices. As Millennials become more influenced by what they see on social media sites, these buy buttons are gaining more popularity.

Retailers and social media companies will have to work together

Mobile commerce is well on its way to becoming a mainstream success with significant economical influence. As social media platforms begin to play a larger role in this space, retailers will have to become more conscious of how emerging trends are affecting the shopping behavior of consumers. They will also have to find a way to work effectively with social media companies in order to engage consumers.

Mobile shopping is on the rise in the Asia-Pacific region

Consumers in the region are showing favor for mobile commerce

MasterCard has released the results of a new survey that show that mobile shopping is expanding quickly in the Asia-Pacific region. Several countries within the region are beginning to see exponential growth in the mobile commerce sector as more consumers gain access to smartphones and tablets. New mobile shopping services are becoming very popular in this region as well, which is making it easier for consumers to use their mobile devices to shop online and, in some cases, in physical stores.

Vietnam is seeing healthy growth when it comes to mobile shopping

Vietnam is currently ranked as fifth when it comes to the growth of mobile shopping in the Asia-Pacific region. The country falls behind Malaysia, Taiwan, New Zealand, and India when it comes to mobile commerce growth. The country ranks eight when it comes to the ratio of consumers shopping with a mobile device, but the percentage of consumers making a purchase from a smartphone in the past three months grew significantly. By the end of 2014, 45.2% of those with smartphones had made a purchase with their device, up from the 39.4% that did so in 2013.

China and India are leading the way in mobile commerce growth

Mobile Shopping on the rise in Asia-Pacific regionChina is currently ranked first in terms of the likeliness for consumers to make a mobile purchase. Chinese consumers taken a strong interest in mobile shopping, largely due to the efforts made by companies like Alibaba, which have worked to make mobile commerce more accessible to consumers throughout the country. India’s mobile shopping space is growing quickly, as well, and the country is becoming one of the fastest growing mobile markets in the world.

New opportunities are emerging for retailers in Vietnam

Vietnam holds a great deal of promise when it comes to mobile shopping. The country’s rapidly growing smartphone penetration is creating new opportunities for retailers and organizations involved in mobile commerce. As new services come to the country, more consumers are likely to become involved in mobile shopping and use their devices to make purchases both online and in physical stores.