MOBILE COMMERCE

An increasing number of mobile phones include Web browsers.

• SMS, messages
• BlackBerry had the ability to send and receive e-mail for years
• High-speed mobile telephone networks grew dramatically in availability, and second, manufacturers began offering a huge range of smart phones that include a Web browser (and a screen large enough to make it usable), an operating system, and the ability to run applications on that operating system.
• The impact of this confluence of technologies on the potential for online business using these devices, called mobile commerce (m-commerce).

M-COMMERCE TRENDS

As shoppers continue to use features that are unique to mobile devices, mobile commerce will become faster, more seamless, and more focused on delivering a customer-centric experience. Developers and ecommerce solutions will implement new technology to entice mobile shoppers throughout the whole buyer journey.

1. Mobile chatbots: Chatbots will make it even easier for shoppers to have access to 24/7 customer service with their phones.
2. Social commerce: With shoppable posts on platforms like Instagram and Facebook, social commerce allows the end-to-end shopping experience to happen in one spot. Shoppers can find products, read reviews, and check out on social media apps on their phones.
3. Voice shopping: With voice ecommerce sales set to reach $19.4 billion in 2023, businesses will incorporate chat apps and AI technology to make it easier to engage with shoppers.
4. Mobile payments and wearable payments: Mobile wallets are becoming a preferred payment option for consumers. We will continue to see mobile payment options extended to other wearable devices like smart watches, health sensors, and fitness trackers.
5. Omnichannel shopping: Today’s shoppers obtain information from a wide variety of sources (like a mobile website, within an app, an online store, and a physical store), and they will move between different channels. Merchants will need to engage with their customers and provide a smooth and personalized experience no matter which device they’re on.

CHALLENGES OF M-COMMMERCE

1. Wide variety of screens: Depending on the user’s phone, your mobile experience can vary widely between devices. To provide a consistent experience no matter which device your site is viewed on, you’ll want to make sure you have a mobile-ready, fully response website.
2. Payment troubles: If a shopper cannot make a payment on their mobile device, they are less likely to return to your business. Make sure you offer a variety of flexible payment options to make things easy for shoppers.
3. Price comparison: A simplified mobile experience makes it easier for customers to quickly compare prices across different stores on their phone, potentially leading them to your competitors. To keep customers sticking around, you’ll need to make sure your site is user-friendly and easy to navigate and communicates a compelling offer.