E-commerce on the Go: Mobile Retail

Technology is changing everyday and businesses are trying to keep up with their tech savvy consumers. Mobile phone use has increase dramatically and is utilized for almost everything, which includes shopping online. According to Zmags report, “33.7 million Americans used a tablet device at least monthly; by 2014, the number will rise to nearly 90 million — one in three of all Internet users. More than 60 percent of 25-34 year olds now own a smartphone. Also more than 800 million people worldwide are connected via Facebook.”

Consumers have extended the use of mobile Internet from information search to purchasing. It is not limited to apparel or books either, it can be tickets to a comedy show, airline tickets, and hotel bookings. People who leave home without their mobile phone feel uneasy and naked all because their smartphone is absent. Now businesses have to make sure their mobile technology meets the needs of their target audience.

This mobile report concludes that only 59% of retailers of 100 mobile web retailers have optimized their site for iPhone and Android users. The report also says that the other 41% of retailers who have not optimized their sites expects users to view the original sites from their phone in miniature state. Other retailers offer downloadable applications for consumers but most lack the option to purchase and some offer the app in place of a mobile friendly website.

When will retailers put more effort into optimization for their consumers? Technology is ever changing and most of them do not have the basics down when it comes to e-commerce via mobile phone. There were 100 retailers in the report that are on the right path to mobile retail but the number of retail businesses far exceeds the greats listed. Smartphones are here to stay, which means that mobile e-commerce will increase.

Resources 

http://media.zmags.com/files/zmags-top100-web.pdf

http://www.dmnews.com/study-retailers-overlooking-tablet-and-smartphone-opportunities/article/228004/

Image by www.technode.com

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