Shopping via smart phone is a trend that is set to grow tremendously. Forrester has indicated that in the US alone, mobile users are expected to shop for $90 billion by the end of 2017.
These numbers go to show that retailers must provide shoppers with an easy and memorable shopping experience. To achieve this on-the-go seamlessness in m-commerce, retailers must integrate their mobile strategy with their holistic digital strategy.
Advantages of Apps
Ideally, marketers shouldn’t be differentiating between mobile users and desktop users, as in most cases the same user browses on mobile and usually completes higher value purchases on desktop. But with brilliant UX and bigger mobile screens, there is an increase in the number of mobile customers using apps for transactions.
Customers that make repeat purchases are likely to download the apps. When customers make repeat purchases of the same product, your platform should send them promotions on both their mobile and desktop devices and suggest adding previous purchases to their carts during checkout.
As apps offer better UX, retailers are able to offer personalized services and a shopping experience that is slick. The results? Improves conversion rate, offers better customer engagement, and increases sales compared to mobile web.
Technology and m-Commerce
Most of the prominent retailers today have their own apps. This helps them stand out from competitors, and engage with customers better. When commerce marketing company Criteo conducted a survey, they found out that retail mobile apps convert 3.7 times more than mobile web.
With technology advancement, it is wise not to stay on with legacy systems. As shopper behavior is not static, to optimize the benefits from m-commerce, retailers should migrate to cloud-based platforms that allow better API management. This easily allows execution of changes according to customer response.
The process of buying things is changing today. Vendors who adopt the latest technologies and stay up-to-date on mobile commerce development strategies, gain competitive advantages.
What can e-tailers do to outpace competition?
Curb Online Fraud: For your customers to feel confident to go ahead with mobile shopping and payments, ensure quick access to information and services over a secure wireless network. Retailers should do security audits and incorporate the latest security software in the apps to abate online frauds. There are mobile payment solutions, like the one offered by Verizon that simplifies the shopping experience without asking customers to pay using a wallet, cash or card.
- Latest App Design: App design should be created keeping mobile user in mind, based on the latest internet development technologies and tools. It should be able to run on client-agent-server architecture.
- Micro-moments: Make buying a seamless process; such as giving customers the opportunity to purchase a featured product from within an article, without having to leave the page.
- Machine to machine technology: By linking data to apps with M2M technology, e-tailers can engage with customers better, and improve their communication and online sales. Machine learning algorithms can be used for online recommendations, and to know what customers tweet about your brand. This helps to get deeper insight into the customer journey, and offer a unified intuitive experience across channels.
- IoT-enabled commerce: IoT technology provides greater visibility across the fulfillment process, and to replenish goods.
- Augmented Reality (AR): The truly immersive experiences of AR will soon be a must have feature in any fashion retailer’s mobile e-commerce app. Goldman Sachs estimates VR/AR to generate at least $1.6billion in revenue from $31.5million users within the next decade.
- Mobile Image Recognition: When a person notices a product they like, all they have to do is to take a snapshot of that product and within seconds they receive various recommendations of similar products on sale.
- Voice Activated Search: With voice activation technology integrated into your app, speaking to your app and creating a shopping list will be possible.
Conclusion
Nearly one third (31%) of the holiday sales of 2016 came from mobile devices, generating more than $24 billion. Apps probably won’t surpass mobile Web in 2017, but they will definitely get closer, perhaps as much as 40% of m-commerce. By implementing bimodal IT practices and going for cloud-based platforms retailers can create scalable, stable and innovative mobile experiences, greater transaction value and higher conversion rate.
The more unique experiences you are able to deliver to the customer, the more you will be preferred by them; for instance, consider the Amazon same day drone delivery service!
Voice Activated search and purchases will be some of the new technologies that will become a market standard for mobile e-commerce apps in the future. Contact services@suyati.com to know how we can help you begin your m-commerce business.
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MEAP – How it helps in developing seamless mobile applications?
How mobile apps drive the future of retail business