Tag: south korea

China is a hotbed for mobile commerce activity

| March 3, 2014

Survey highlights the growth of mobile shopping in China and elsewhere

MasterCard has released the results of a new survey concerning mobile commerce in China. Consumers throughout China have been growing more interested in shopping from their mobile devices and are beginning to use their smartphones and tablets to purchase products more often. Many consumers consider mobile shopping to be very convenient and ideal for their current circumstances. This is especially true among people that commute often as mobile commerce allows them to purchase products from wherever they are and have these products delivered to their homes.

Nearly 100% of Chinese respondents have made a mobile purchase in the past three months

According to the survey from MasterCard, mobile commerce has been growing quickly throughout the Asian-Pacific region. Thailand, South Korea, and India boast of impressive results when it comes to the number of people participating in mobile shopping and payments. The survey shows, however, that nearly 100% of the respondents in China have said that they have made at least one online purchase from a mobile device in t he past three months. Approximately 59% of these consumers noted that they made a purchase with a smartphone.

Retailers help power the growth of mobile shopping

Mobile Commerce Activity - ChinaThe survey attributes the growth of mobile shopping in China to the efforts that several retailers have made to engage mobile consumers. Alibaba and Tencent, for example, have launched aggressive campaigns to attract the attention of these consumers. Using their Alipay and WeChat applications, these companies have managed to establish a dominant position in the mobile field. Smaller retailers have also been working to accommodate the needs of mobile consumers by embracing mobile payments more readily.

China is likely to retain its lead as a prominent mobile commerce market

China is expected to be a leading mobile commerce market well into the future, followed closely by Thailand and South Korea. As smartphone penetration continues to rise throughout the Asian-Pacific region, the number of people shopping online from their mobile devices is expected to continue growing. Tablets are also beginning to establish a reputation among consumers in this region as one of the best mobile shopping platforms currently available.

Groupon continues expansion into mobile commerce sector

| November 14, 2013

Mobile commerce has become a major interest for Groupon

Daily deals provider Groupon has been showing a strong interest in mobile commerce recently. The company specializes in providing consumers with special offers that come from retailers, restaurants, and other such businesses. The deals and coupons are meant to entice consumers, but Groupon had primarily been focused on those using stationary computers in the past. As mobile commerce becomes a more prominent part of society, the company is beginning to put more focus on the mobile sector.

Groupon acquires Ticket Monster

Groupon has been making an effort to establish a strong presence in the competitive mobile commerce field in recent months. The company has now made a bold move on this front with its acquisition of South Korea’s Ticket Monster, which is a daily deals provider similar to Groupon. Ticket Monster represents more than $800 million in annualized billings, much of which comes from mobile commerce. South Korea has become a hub of activity as far as mobile commerce is concerned, largely due to the high smartphone penetration seen throughout the country. The experience that Ticket Monster has gleaned in the market may help Groupon develop a stronger foothold in the mobile sector.

Consumers are becoming more mobile

Mobile Commerce - Groupon ExpandingE-commerce remains a strong interest with many consumers, but more people are opting to shop via their mobile devices rather than stationary computers. Smartphones and tablets allow for a more convenient shopping experience, especially for those that travel frequently. Even those that do not travel are beginning to use their mobile devices to shop rather than visit physical stores. It is for this reason that retailers are beginning to take mobile commerce more seriously, with some going so far as to develop their own mobile payments platforms.

Competition in high in the mobile commerce space

Groupon may confront difficulty with its plans to expand into the mobile sector. Mobile commerce is awash with a wide variety of start-ups that are seeking to gain the attention of consumers. Several large technology, telecommunications, and financial service firms have also entered into the mobile commerce arena, increasing the competition that exists within this sector significantly.