The Dark Horse of eCommerce? mCommerce!
Is your online store ready for eCommerce revolution?
We use mobile devices every day to communicate, take tons of pictures and, of course, browse the web. What are we slowly getting used to is another chapter of shopping online called mCommerce.
With an average annual growth of 15 % in the last three years, mCommerce is the fastest growing part of the whole eCommerce segment, which grows only about 4 % a year. That makes mCommerce growing more than 300% faster. Nordic countries like Norway, Sweden and Finland are leading the way with progressive Asian countries like India, Taiwan, and Malaysia catching up fast. An annual growth in mCommerce of over 50 % is not uncommon there.
Did you know that an average New Yorker has 1–2 cell phones, while a resident of Shanghai has more than 7?
What do they look for?
Users mostly tend to visit big, multi-brand stores like Amazon or Walmart, where they expect the best prices or can order multiple goods in one purchase. Generally, the largest segment of all is electronics and associated accessories. Music, books and games, including App Store or Google Play is the second largest segment.
If you do business in a different field, do not worry. It’s not just about the complex trends, but rather about individual access, particularly the functionality of your site, customer service, etc.
Excellent user interface is the key
Even though the screens of our smartphones are getting bigger and bigger, it doesn’t mean you have to put more features on the mobile version of your website.
Imagine websites and apps you enjoy using on your mobile phone. What is the difference between them and those you don’t like at all? It’s the simplicity.
The buyer controls his device mostly with his thumb, which is not among the most sensitive fingers. If the button is not big enough, it’s possible that the user will end up reading your company’s story instead of confirming the order. Think about it while designing your “Order” button.
New website or mobile app?
Are you on a low budget, choosing between these two? In the past, it could be a tricky choice. Nowadays there is a lot of software and programmes, so you can have both for relatively cheap. The more important question is, what will the app be used for?
Generally, mobile apps are perfect for selling individual, small-ticket goods. More than 70 % of buyers still admit, that they are more likely to make larger purchases on the web, which seems more trustworthy for that.
Rather than trying to sell everything from your store through the mobile app, use it for marketing purposes. Think of developing something useful or entertaining. The idea of the app should be always essentially connected with your field of business.
Customers love apps, there’s no doubt.
Issues for small retailers?
Although the possibility of rising sales through mobile devices is here for everyone, not every online store is ready for it. Older, non-responsive website solutions especially can be an insurmountable obstacle for your potential buyers.
Nothing can make the buying process more annoying, than trying to make the actual purchase and getting lost in the process.
If you’re planning to succeed in mCommerce, be sure you switch your online store to one of those modern, certified platforms which support all types of devices.
Originally published at www.monkeydata.com on November 18, 2015.
