Tag: mobile payments

Apple could find a foothold in mobile payments through its Cloud

| November 18, 2015

Apple Pay could become a more powerful platform with the help of the Cloud

Apple may benefit by shifting its mobile payments platform, Apple Pay, to the Cloud. Apple Pay was launched late last year and quickly managed to gain support from Apple fans. According to Apple, the mobile payments platform has more than 1 million users, though a relatively small number of these consumers are actually using the platform to purchase products online and in physical stores. Connecting the platform to Apple’s powerful Cloud could lead to some benefits for the payment service.

Competition is forcing Apple to look for new ways to engage mobile consumers

Apple is facing growing competition from various companies that are interested in mobile payments. These companies want to establish a foothold in this sector and some have already launched their own mobile payments services. In order to beat the competition, Apple will have to find new ways to engage consumers and provide them with valuable services. Shifting to a cloud-based service may provide Apple Pay with a fighting edge against the competition, as it would lead to several benefits.

Cloud integration could ensure consumer loyalty and provide better payment services

Mobile Payments - Cloud TechnologyOne of the benefits of migrating Apple Pay to the Cloud would be customer loyalty. A recent survey found that approximately 5% of iPhone owners use Apple Pay regularly, with some preferring to use traditional forms of commerce. The Cloud may also be able to introduce a wide range of value-added services, such as allowing consumers to store digital receipts for record keeping purposes. Notably, the Cloud could also lead to a smarter Apple Pay, one which can learn from the shopping habits of its user and offer a better mobile payments experience.

Apple Pay has had trouble effectively engaging consumers

While Apple has taken a strong interest in mobile payments, the company’s payments service has struggled to find mainstream success. Apple Pay’s initial launch was supported by a wide range of retailers and banks, but these organizations are beginning to show strong favor for other payment services, largely because they do not charge fees like Apple Pay does. Mobile payments have yet to attract the favor of the majority of consumers as well, with many preferring traditional forms of payment.

Shopify launches new app to make mobile commerce simpler

| November 17, 2015

Shopify introduces Sello, making it easier for consumers to sell products in the mobile space

With more people entering into the mobile commerce landscape, some are finding shopping and making purchases with their mobile devices somewhat difficult. They are also finding it somewhat complicated to sell products in the mobile space. To resolve this issue and make mobile commerce somewhat simpler, Shopify has launched a new mobile application, called Sello. The app is free for both iOS and Android devices and is designed as a convenient way for people to participate in mobile shopping.

Sello aims to increase the convenience of mobile commerce, allowing more consumers to sell products

Sello is meant to allow anyone to create an online store, share the products that they find or offer through social networks, and make payments from a smartphone. Sello is not geared toward merchants that have significant comfort in the mobile shopping space, rather it allows a wide range of people to sell products in much the same way merchants do through Shopify’s primary platform. Shopify suggests that the average consumer has found it challenging to sell products online in the mobile space, but Sello may be able to change this.

Casual selling has been somewhat challenging for consumers in the mobile space

Mobile Commerce - New Mobile Shopping AppConsumers have long found selling products through conventional e-commerce platforms somewhat convenient. As mobile devices become more prominent, however, these sellers are beginning to focus more heavily on the mobile space. Finding convenient ways to accomplish this has been difficult, but Sello’s ability to interface with social networks could make mobile shopping and selling easier, allowing more consumers to participate in mobile commerce more often.

Shopify has taken note of the rise in casual selling

Shopify has a great deal of experience in the mobile commerce space, having provided many retailers with a wide range of services in the past. Sello represents a first for Shopify, which had been focused on established merchants for much of its existence. The rise in casual selling has lead Shopify into new territory, hoping to better engage consumers and make them more comfortable with mobile commerce as a whole.