Consumerism in Motion
When mobile shopping isn’t always mobile
The era of portable devices matching their name is over. Yes, they are still portable, with users clinging to cell phones, watches, and even tablets wherever they go. But increasingly, these are the tools of choice for home use as well.
What does that do to the concept of “mobile e-commerce?” Not much. And yet quite a bit.
To explain, consider the evolution of user interfaces migrating from desktop computers to small devices. The Pew Research Center estimates that 97 percent of all Americans own and use a cell phone. That is monumental. And the percentage of cell phone and tablet users dependent only on these devices in the absence of home internet access to be a whopping 15 percent, meaning capturing the attention of consumers in their home environment is easier than ever.
New technologies demand mobile optimization without a fixation on the word “mobile.” Though shopping on the fly is very much a thing, the majority of online shopping occurs at home, with the next most popular locale to be at work. Wherever your customers are browsing, it’s most likely to be on a small screen. A deep dive into maximizing optimization may be your most important strategy.
Online sellers may have missed a prolific change in brick-and-mortar giants turning to online selling to avoid having to stock inventory. Often these goods outpace the average price point of retailers, changing their product mix by offering access to merchants that would never gain shelf space in stores. This is both a plus and a concern for e-commerce sellers. The bad news is that frequent online shoppers of Walmart, for example, may find expensive goods they otherwise would have to purchase elsewhere. On the plus side, loyalists using apps for discount stores could be confused and even unhappy with what they imagine to be a general drift toward pricey merchandise.
Explore the benefits of trending technologies including virtual reality (VR) and Augmented Reality (AR) as an enhancement improving the buyer’s shopping experience. It can be invaluable as a path to collecting and analyzing buyer data, trends, and your performance as an e-commerce seller. The good news is these applications and the ease with which you can access information on how it might aid your internet business, whether it’s a fledgling startup or a well-established, robust shop.
Among these newfangled developments are other drivers of e-commerce as we approach 2025. The general public has gravitated increasingly toward exploring a comprehensive way to use cell phones, with the Smart Phone trend becoming a mainstay. Consumers will become much more comfortable using these devices from the comfort of home, while simultaneously, new markets will open with the continuing penetration of internet use. A psychological dynamic is at play here: when surrounded by a familiar environment, buyers are able to visualize how their chosen products, clothing, and services fit into their everyday lives.