Tag: uk mobile commerce

Mobile commerce shows impressive growth in the UK

| April 25, 2013

Mobile Commerce UKMobile commerce making significant progress in the UK

Mobile commerce is showing strong growth in the United Kingdom. More consumers throughout the country are gaining access to smartphones and tablets, and these mobile devices are making it more convenient for a wider variety of people to shop online. Mobile commerce has garnered acclaim for the convenience it offers consumers and several retailers are beginning to grow more accommodating to these consumers as they show a penchant for mobile payments. The growth of mobile commerce is strongly tied to the availability of mobile technology.

Smartphone ownership on the rise

According to a recent study from Gartner, a leading market research firm, sales for smartphones and tablets have been growing rapidly over the past two years. In 2012, the number of smartphones in the world reached 1 billion — one for every seven people in the world. The rapid growth of smartphone ownership has exposed more people to the concept of mobile commerce, a concept they have shown a great deal of interest in.

Proliferation of mobile technology draws more interest into mobile commerce

Ofcom, a government-approved regulator of the communications sector in the United Kingdom, has released information showing that half of the population of the country own a smartphone, with 19% of the population owning a tablet device. Approximately 81% of these smartphone owners prefer to use their smartphones over traditional forms of communication. Approximately 31% of all site traffic in the United Kingdom comes from mobile devices as well, creating a strong need for retailers to become more accommodating to the needs of mobile consumers.

Ease-of-use and simplicity appeal to consumers

The reasons consumers have been showing such strong interest in mobile commerce are straightforward. First, mobile commerce is considered simple, with purchases made for products being accomplished in a matter of seconds. Another factor is that mobile commerce platforms are easy to use, proving accommodating to mobile consumers of varying degrees of comfort with mobile technology. Mobile shopping is also considered, among consumers, to be more enjoyable than shopping at traditional stores, adding further appeal to mobile commerce.

 

New mobile commerce trial launched in the UK

| April 8, 2013

Marks & Spencer Mobile CommerceM&S launched pilot project focused on mobile commerce

British retailer Marks & Spencer (M&S) has taken interest in the concept of mobile payments. The retailer is gearing to launch a new pilot program in order to make mobile payments possible among its consumer base. The program is centered around a mobile application that will facilitate transactions made from a consumer’s smartphone. This program is primarily focused on the retailer’s line of coffee shops and will enable customers to take advantage of a new form of commerce that they too have been growing increasingly interested in.

Retailers begin responding to demands from consumers

Mobile commerce is becoming more common throughout the United Kingdom’s retail sector. Retailers throughout the country are beginning to see mobile commerce as a very lucrative and favorable venture, especially as more consumers rely more heavily on their mobile devices. Many of these consumers have begun to show strong favor for mobile commerce because of the convenience it represents, while others are attracted to it because of its novelty. Many retailers expect that mobile commerce will eventually become the most prolific form of commerce in the world.

M&S Digital Lab and Paddle develop new mobile commerce application

M&S has set its sights on mobile commerce in order to address customer experience. In February, the retailer launched its Digital Lab division, which is focused on using and developing technology to make the shopping experience more enjoyable for customers. The M&S Digital Lab had help building its mobile commerce application from Paddle, a technology start-up based in London.

Retail industry looking to establish a future in mobile payments

Mobile commerce was once rare in the retail industry, with many retailers showing concern for the security of mobile payments. As consumers became more comfortable with shopping for and purchasing products on their mobile devices, retailers began to grow more accepting of the concept. Now mobile commerce is on the verge of sparking a revolution in the way people pay for what they are interested in, and the retail industry is keen to not be left out of this growing trend.