Square announces plans to open up new office in Canada this year
Square, one of the largest mobile payments firms in the U.S., is continuing its efforts to break into new markets by opening up a new office in Canada. The company has found significant success in the mobile space through its various partnerships, one of the most famous of which is its partnership with Starbucks. By teaming with Starbucks, Square was able to secure its position as a leader in the mobile commerce space. Now, the company is looking to expand beyond the U.S.
New office to be based in Ontario and tap into province’s tech community
Square has plans to open up a new office with more than 30 employees in Ontario, Canada, by September of this year. The company is looking to tap into Ontario’s “thriving and talented tech community” in order to establish a foothold in the Canadian mobile commerce space. The demand for effective mobile commerce solutions in Canada has been on the rise among businesses and consumers alike, and the time may be right for Square to take advantage of this growing demand.
Square helps iOS users participate in mobile commerce
Part of the appeal of Square is that it makes mobile payments possible on iOS devices. These devices do not have the inherent ability to participate in mobile commerce and rely on auxiliary applications and hardware in order to do so. This has been something of a problem for iOS users that are interested in mobile commerce, but their demands are being met, to some degree, by Square’s services.
Retailers are beginning to feel the need to engage mobile consumers and Square may be able to help
Canadian retailers are becoming more conscious of the mobile space and are taking steps to engage consumers through a variety of mobile initiatives. Square will offer a new way to engage these consumers and encourage them to make payments with their mobile devices. Engaging mobile consumers will likely lead to higher sales for retailers and helping them appeal more to a demographic that is beginning to change rapidly.
Report highlights consumer concerns regarding mobile security
IDG Global Solutions has released a new report focused on the safety aspects of mobile commerce. The report notes that many people are willing to use their smartphones and tablets to shop online, but safety concerns keep them from doing so. High profile cyber attacks on retailers often discourage people from participating in mobile commerce, as they believe that their financial information is constantly at risk of exploitation. Poorly optimized mobile shopping platforms are also keeping people away from mobile shopping as well.
Retailers are finding it difficult to engage mobile consumers in an effective manner
The report notes that many people are visiting mobile websites from their smartphones and tablets, but retail sites have a problem with engaging these consumers effectively. Sites that do not have a retail focus are better equipped to handle mobile traffic, but many retailers have not yet figured out how to cater to the needs of mobile consumers, leaving them with poor online shopping experiences.
Consumers are beginning to favor their mobile devices over PCs and laptops
Many people are beginning to rely on their mobile devices almost exclusively when shopping online. The report shows that an estimated 40% of consumers have abandoned their PCs or laptops in favor of smartphones and tablets. Consumers appear to be particularly fond of tablets when it comes to mobile shopping, as their larger screens provide a more enjoyable shopping experience. Retail sites are somewhat more accommodating of tablet devices, but still suffer from effectively managing mobile traffic.
Security concerns are keeping people away from mobile commerce and many are uncomfortable with how retailers are using their personal information
Security is, perhaps, the most significant problem currently facing the mobile commerce space. Many people are cautious of visiting mobile retail sites because they do not believe that retailers are able to adequately protect their personal information. Some believe that retailers use their personal information for marketing purposes without permission. The security issue is affecting the adoption of mobile commerce among consumers in a negative way, giving people a reason not to shop online with their mobile devices.
