Tag: smartphone shopping

Curbside aims to introduce more convenience to mobile commerce

| October 8, 2014

New shopping startup could make mobile shopping easier

Numerous companies are trying their hand in the mobile commerce market, but few are taking steps to introduce more convenience to this space. Mobile payments have become quite popular because of their convenient nature, but one company wants to take this convenience to a new level. Curbside, a shopping startup backed by $9.5 million in seed and Series A funding, aims to make the mobile shopping experience easier for consumers.

Curbside partners with retailers to make it more convenient for consumers to shop online and pick up products

Curbside plans to facilitate mobile shopping through its retail partners, of which Target is included. The Curbside application can be used by consumers to shop from an existing inventory provided by the company’s retail partners. Products can be purchased directly through the app, and Curbside will pick up these products so they can be retrieved by the shopper on the same day. The app uses geolocation technology to alert retailers where a customer has arrived at a store. Retail associated will then deliver purchased products directly to a consumer’s vehicle.

Retailers have had trouble engaging mobile shoppers in the past

mobile commerce - shopping made easierCurbside may be a good way for retailers to engage mobile consumers more effectively. The convenience that the service offers is expected to be well received among consumers, but Curbside is currently only available in a very limited area. In partnering with Target, the company hopes to begin expanding more quickly in the coming years.

Retail industry must adapt to the interests of mobile consumers

Mobile commerce has become a powerful force in the retail industry. Many retailers are trying to engage the growing number of mobile consumers that want to make use of services that are specifically designed for their smartphones and tablets. This has proven to be a difficult task, however, and many retailers have had trouble engaging mobile consumers effectively. Companies like Curbside could be a major benefit for the retail industry, providing them a way to connect with mobile shoppers without having to develop a completely new mobile commerce solution.

Mobile commerce is changing consumer behavior

| September 17, 2014

New report from comScore highlights a shift in consumer behavior, linked to mobile shopping

People are beginning to change their shopping habits due to new mobile services that are becoming available to them. A new report has been released by comScore that highlights this shift in consumer behavior. Traditionally, desktop and laptop computers have dominated the e-commerce space. This has begun to change as mobile technology begins to play a more important role in society. Consumers are becoming more mobile-centric and they are beginning to demand services that cater to their interests.

Mobile searchers are more likely to lead to actual purchases

The report shows that approximately 61% of searches on laptop and desktop computers resulted in a local purchase, while 78% of searchers on smartphones resulted in such purchases. Consumers appear to be more active in searching for products on mobile devices than on stationary computers. Mobile searchers are more likely to power sales, which is why more businesses are beginning to take steps to engage mobile consumers more aggressively.

Consumers are more likely to use mobile websites than applications when shopping online

mobile commerce - consumer evolutionThe report shows that approximately 7 in 10 consumers prefer mobile websites over applications when they are shopping online from their smartphones or tablets. Notably, mobile websites are more favorable among tablet users. This has to do with a tablet’s larger screen, which makes navigating a mobile website easier and more enjoyable for a consumer.

Electronic coupons are successful in promoting mobile commerce among consumers

The report also notes that 75% of mobile consumers make use of electronic coupons when t hey are shopping online. These coupons are issued by retailers as an incentive for mobile shopping. Sometimes, these coupons are part of loyalty programs that are specifically designed with mobile commerce in mind. Electronic coupons have proven that they are quite effective at encouraging mobile shopping, helping retailers find more success in the mobile commerce field. Notably, the majority of mobile transactions are made during the holiday season, where consumers use their smartphones and tablets to avoid long lines at retail stores.