Tag: mobile technology

Mobile commerce is still in a stage of infancy, but it is growing up fast. This growth is being fed by the growing number of people that are allowing mobile devices to play a major role in their daily lives. These devices offer more convenience and help people bypass some of the things that they consider to be annoying, such as long lines at grocery stores or getting lost during long road trips. As in any sector, trends are emerging within the mobile commerce world that are guiding its continued development.

Optimized Omni-Channel Experiences

People have come to have high expectations when it comes to how they interact with businesses and mobile technology is to blame. Smartphones and tablets have allowed people to experience the world in a new way and this experience is happening at break-neck speeds. People want seamless interaction with the businesses they support, and this means that a company’s ability to optimize this experience across all channels is becoming vital to its continued existence.

Having a website is no longer enough to stay in touch with consumers. These websites have to be optimized for mobile devices, too. A lackluster presence in social media is also a sure way to drive people away, especially those in the mobile crowd. Younger demographics want to receive messages directly to their mobile devices, but these messages cannot be so plentiful that they become an annoyance.

Finding a balance in mobile engagement is key, and that balance must exist through every channel that a business relies on. A growing number of businesses are beginning to take this seriously. They are working on optimizing the experiences they provide to mobile consumers, thereby making themselves more prominent in the mobile world.

In-Store Mobile Devices

Technology has long been a part of the retail sector, but companies are beginning to see the need for the mobile variety. Companies like Apple and Nordstrom have adopted mobile point-of-sale systems  that are designed to allow people to pay for products using nothing more than their smartphones. These systems are becoming more plentiful throughout the retail industry. As they do, people are becoming more eager to participate in mobile commerce.

Mobile App Conversion

Small businesses are particularly interested in the mobile commerce space. Though the mobile world is somewhat crowded by their larger counterparts, small businesses are able to engage a wider demographic by establishing a significant mobile presence. These businesses are offering mobile apps  that allow people to find them more easily and, in some cases, purchase products online.

A year ago, many of these apps did not support in-app links, making them somewhat static and unintuitive. Small businesses have been looking for ways to monetize these apps and have found that allowing the apps themselves to support links, advertisements, and other engagement features has helped consumers spend more money through these apps. This trend is gaining steam throughout several business sectors.

The trends that have emerged in the mobile space are having a major impact on people’s participation in mobile commerce. These trends appear to involve the optimization of the mobile experience. A poor mobile experience leads people away from mobile commerce, while a good experience encourages them to return to mobile commerce again and again. Optimization is ensuring that the mobile space thrives.

Apple could face fierce competition as it begins to take the Chinese market more seriously

Apple is beginning to turn its sights to the Chinese market, but the company could face significant competition from Xiaomi. Few people outside of China may be familiar with Xiaomi. The company is a maker of smartphones and other mobile devices that has established a very strong presence in the Chinese market. Analysts at Rosenblatt Securities suggest that Xiaomi has the potential to compete with both Apple and Samsung in China.

Xiaomi manages to outpace Apple when it comes to sales, but lags behind Samsung

Xiaomi is often referred to as the “Apple of China.” This if a lofty title that the company has managed to attain through an aggressive approach to the market. Xiaomi has seen the rapidly growing popularity of mobile technology among consumers and has made efforts to satisfy the demand for smartphones and other devices that offer features that they are interested in, such as mobile commerce support and the ability to share digital content.

Engaging mobile consumers has managed to help Xiaomi find significant success

Currently, Xiaomi outsells Apple in the Chinese market, but falls behind when compared to Samsung. Many of the devices offered by Xiaomi actually resemble Apple’s iOS devices and the company itself approaches the mobile market in a similar fashion to Apple. When it comes to mobile commerce, however, Xiaomi is somewhat more cavalier than Apple. Apple has only very recently begun entering in to the mobile commerce space, opting to take a slow and caution approach to the market in order to avoid any significant disasters.

Consumers throughout China are becoming more mobile-centric, relying more heavily on mobile technology

Mobile commerce has become quite popular throughout China. Many consumers are opting to shop for and purchase products online from their mobile devices because it is more convenient. Companies that cater to these consumers are beginning to find significant success. Mobile consumers are becoming quite active in the market and are beginning to account for a significant portion of retail sales and revenue in various business sectors.