Tag: mobile payments

CVS takes steps to increase mobile commerce presence

| December 13, 2012

 

CVS Mobile Commerce Website UpdateCVS introduces mobile commerce updates to mobile site and application

CVS Caremark Corp. is looking to bolster its mobile commerce presence by making updates to its website and mobile application. Mobile commerce continues to attract the interest of the retail industry, especially in the wake of a record breaking Thanksgiving shopping weekend. This year, retailers have seen massive growth in the realm of mobile sales thanks to the interest consumers have been showing in mobile commerce. CVS hopes to take advantage of this by reaching out to mobile consumers in a more dynamic fashion.

Mobile site features new services for consumers

CVS has made updates to its mobile website, which now features a variety of options that are designed to help consumers keep track of their health. The company has introduced an immunization scheduler, which helps users keep track of when they can receive immunization treatments from health care professionals that visit CVS stores. Users can set up appointments for specific immunizations through the mobile site. CVS has also introduced a number of shopping enhancements that are meant to help mobile consumers find the products they are interested in.

Electronic gift cards may be big during the holiday season

Another feature that has been introduced to the mobile website are electronic gift cards. These digital cards can be purchased from the mobile website and used from a smart phone or other device to pay for goods online. These cards can be given as gifts to others, delivered via email. CVS anticipates the sale of these gift cards to skyrocket during the holiday season, especially among consumers that rely on CVS for the health care products they need, such as glucose meters for those with diabetes.

CVS may have plans to adopt in-store mobile payments in the future

CVS has also introduced several new features into its mobile application, such as a pill identifier that will help users identify the pills they are taking. The mobile application also includes several shopping features that encourage consumers to purchase products through their mobile device and online. CVS has yet to adopt in-store mobile payments, but if mobile commerce continues to grow in popularity, this service may be on its way.

Mobile commerce boosts online retail market of the UK

| December 11, 2012

 

Mobile Commerce UKReport highlights impact of mobile commerce on retail industry

The global retail industry has been struggling to find growth in 2012. Many retailers have been forced to close stores around the world for financial reasons while others have seen only modest gains among consumers. By contrast, the digital retail space has been performing much better, with online sales growing throughout 2012, largely thanks to the emergence of mobile commerce. Research firm IMRG has released a report concerning the growth of mobile commerce and the online retail market in the United Kingdom.

IMRG expects 12% increase in online sales during Christmas season

According to the report, IMRG predicts that there will be a 12% increase in online sales during the Christmas season in the United Kingdom. The firm anticipates that this uptick in sales will push the country’s online retail market beyond $80 billion for this year. Part of this is due to the growing number of consumers with mobile devices. Retailers have taken note of the high penetration of mobile technology among consumers and have begun moving to take advantage of this.

Retail industry beginning to evolve

The online retail space has been undergoing a major evolution over the past several months. Retailers are becoming more accommodating of mobile consumers, hoping to reach a new and highly active market. Many of these retailers have begun developing mobile applications that allow them to provide better service to consumers. Some of these applications allow consumers to make purchases of goods using nothing more than their smart phones, which is shaping up to be a powerful trend during the holiday season.

Dynamic engagement draws more support to mobile commerce

The report suggests that the UK retail industry will see promising growth during the Christmas season, powered largely by the momentum behind mobile commerce. Mobile commerce allows for more dynamic engagement with consumers, especially in physical stores. This engagement may help traditional retailers find success and growth in the wake of a problematic year that has cut into the profits of many companies around the world.