Tag: us mobile payments

Consumers are becoming more aware of mobile commerce and more likely to participate therein

Retale, a location-based shopping and marketing firm, has released the results of a recent survey it conducted in the United States. The survey found that consumer attitude regarding mobile payments has begun to shift. In the past, many people had been somewhat leery of mobile commerce, concerned that mobile platforms were not as secure as they often claimed to be. As people have become more exposed to mobile payments, however, they are growing more interested in the concept.

56% of consumers are willing to use their mobile device to pay for products they are shopping for

According to the survey, 56% of consumers noted that they would be willing to participate in mobile commerce to purchase a gift for others or something for themselves. A massive 91% of respondents noted that they had already made a mobile payment in order to purchase a product. Many consumers have mobile commerce on their mind relatively frequently. Some noted that they look for mobile payment support when they visit physical stores.

Consumers favor the convenience of mobile commerce

Convenience is the main reason behind consumer interest in mobile payments. Approximately 58% of consumers said that they favor the convenience that mobile commerce offers over more traditional forms of commerce. Despite the benefits of mobile commerce, consumers still have concerns, especially when it comes to security.

Security issues remain the greatest barrier between consumers and mobile payments

The survey found that the greatest concern that consumers participating in mobile commerce have has to do with security. Recent high-profile cyber attacks on retailers have thrust the security issues that mobile commerce faces into the limelight. Many consumers have expressed their worry that their financial information is not safe when they are using a variety of mobile services. Others are concerned that mobile payment platforms can be accessed to easily if their smartphone or other device is stolen. Still others have expressed concerns regarding how difficult it is to keep track of their spending on some mobile platforms.

1 in 6 of purchases made at the coffee company is via mobile phones.

According to Howard Schultz, Starbucks CEO, during the company’s third quarter earnings, 16% of the nearly 7 million transactions occurring each week at its shops are via mobile payments and this success is due to the early launch of its mobile version of its payment card, which has lead to Starbucks transacting over 90% of purchases made via mobile devices in the US, last year.

Shultz says that “the real growth is yet to come”.

The company’s upcoming mobile order and pay app will be its most significant technological innovation released in 2014. The CEO said that “Starbucks Coffee has cracked the code to tying mobile payment to loyalty.”

He explained that the success Starbucks has achieved has to do with leveraging “the intersection of three powerful mobile trends.” According to Shultz, these trends include a change in consumer behavior as people are spending more time online and less time in physical stores. There is also the trend of people eating out and less at home and the growing trend of people engaging in online activity via their mobile devices.

Shultz explained that Starbucks mobile order and pay” seamlessly integrates mobile ordering and our proprietary mobile program with point of sale and store operations.” He said that this enables Starbucks to enhances the experience of its customers, exceed their expectations and extend their loyalty.

Starbucks is seeing a growth of 50% in mobile payments every year.

The new mobile order and pay app is set to be launched in the Portland market in December and throughout the nation in 2015. The new app will enable consumers to place their order before heading to select stores, so they can pick up their order without having to wait in line.

The number of Starbucks cafés continues to expand in 2014, with more drive-up options being added to stores. Shultz said that even though the company does not have the software or the hardware expertise of its competitors it has managed to alter consumer behavior, which is something its competition has not done. The CEO stated that Starbucks has achieved this by integrating mobile payments convenience into an enjoyable and compelling program that gives customers rewards.