Tag: retail industry

Report highlights growth of mobile commerce sector

| October 25, 2013

New report sheds light on the success being seen in mobile commerce

Leading market research firm eMarketer has released a new report concerning the state of the mobile commerce sector. The report highlights various aspects of the mobile commerce space, shedding some light on the factors influencing its growth and the challenges it faces around the world. Mobile commerce has been seeing strong growth over the past two years as consumers become more integrated with mobile technology. The proliferation of smartphones and tablets has exposed consumers to a variety of mobile services that they are showing a great deal of enthusiasm for.

Mobile sales expected to reach $133 billion by 2017

According to the report from eMarketer, mobile commerce now accounts for a sizeable portion of the retail sales being recorded in the U.S. The report estimates that mobile sales will reach $41 billion by the end of 2013, a 68% increase over the level they had been in the previous year. By 2017, the report suggests that mobile sales will balloon to $133 billion. Consumers appear to favor mobile commerce because of the convenience that it represents and it is becoming increasingly common for consumers to use their mobile devices to purchase products even when they are already in physical stores.

eMarketer - Mobile Commerce ReportTablets are more popular than smartphones

The report notes that tablets have become more popular for mobile commerce than smartphones. While smartphones may be more plentiful among consumers, tablets offer a better shopping experience. Larger screens offer better navigation capabilities and allow consumers to access sites that may not be optimized for viewing on a smartphone. The report notes that nine in 10 consumers are more willing to make a purchase with their tablet than with their smartphones.

Challenges could derail the momentum behind mobile commerce

Mobile commerce does, of course, face significant challenges that could become quite serious in the years to come. Security is expected to remain one of the most problematic issues that faces the mobile commerce sector. Poor infrastructure is also expected to reduce the popularity of mobile payments as consumers run into problems that prevent them from making a purchase with their mobile device.

Argos finds success in mobile commerce

| October 24, 2013

Mobile commerce sales make strong progress at Argos

Argos, a leading retailer in the United Kingdom, has been reporting impressive results from the mobile commerce sector. The retailer has been working to become more engaging with mobile consumers in recent years, hoping to offer better services to those tethered to mobile devices. This has become quite common throughout the retail industry. Many companies are eager to engage consumers in new ways, embracing mobile commerce and new marketing initiatives in order to adapt to changes in technology and the shopping habits of consumers.

Sales rise 16% as Argos focuses on the mobile space

Argos has seen its mobile sales more than double during the first half of its fiscal year, rising by 16%. Approximately 43% of the entirety of the retailer’s sales were made online. While the majority of sales were made from traditional computers, sales made through tablets and smartphones grew by 124%. The retailer’s multichannel sales now account for nearly $1 billion, with mobile commerce making up a sizeable portion of that total.

Argos - Mobile CommerceDigital transition makes Argos more relevant with consumers

The retailer is currently undergoing something of a digital transformation. Argos has taken note of the growing popularity of smartphones and tablets among shoppers and has been working to grow more accommodating to the needs of these consumers. In the future, many people are likely to shop from their mobile devices rather than visit physical stores. While this has caused some concern among retailers, companies like Argos are taking a proactive approach to the issue, establishing strong online presences in order to remain relevant with consumers.

Some retailers find mobile commerce to be a challenging problem

Mobile commerce has proven to be beneficial to Argos, but other retailers have not fared as well in their mobile endeavors. One of the greatest challenges currently facing retailers has to do with their websites. Most retail sites are not optimized to be used from a mobile device. This leaves many consumers with a poor experience, making it unlikely for these consumers to participate in any mobile commerce ventures coming from these retailers in the future.