Content about Mobile technology

It's no secret that consumers are adopting mobile technology at a breakneck pace and integrating it into every part of their lives, including shopping. But while the retail industry generally understands that mobile technology CAN add significant value to both the customer experience and their own bottom line, it may not exactly know HOW or WHY this is the case.

By Mike Romano, mromano@soundbite.com

By Matthew Talbot, Matthew.Talbot@sybase.com

New York City -- A Tuesday report by Mobile Commerce Daily said that Victoria’s Secret is furthering its m-commerce initiative by running mobile commerce-enabled ads that allow consumers to shop directly from their handsets no matter where they are.

The ads are running within Us Weekly’s mobile site.

Two different ads encourage consumers to tap on the ad to be redirected to the company’s landing page, where they can shop the advertised promotions.

Ann Arbor, Mich. -- A mobile commerce study released Thursday by customer experience analytics firm ForeSee found that Apple and Amazon rank far above all other retailers when it comes to mobile customer satisfaction.

When measuring how satisfied customers are with mobile shopping experiences of 16 of the largest e-retailers in the United States, Apple and Amazon, which scored 85 and 84, respectively, on the study’s 100-point scale, topped the list by a wide margin.

San Francisco -- More than 40% of online conversations about mobile shopping with the top 35 mobile retailers reflected customer frustration during the Thanksgiving weekend, revealing missed opportunities for leading brands, according to a report from Tealeaf. Even for the most successful mobile retailers, 41% of all online conversations indicated frustration with the mobile shopping experience at the outset of the holiday shopping season.

Atlanta -- Mobile commerce enabler Firethorn Mobile Inc., a wholly owned subsidiary of Qualcomm Inc., and Brookstone announced Brookstone as its latest retail partner for its Swagg mobile application, which provides shoppers with mobile access to purchase digital gift cards. Mobile shoppers also can receive special offers and manage customer loyalty programs through the app. 

Chicago -- The third annual Mobile Audit, released Thursday by e-commerce and digital marketing company Acquity Group, found that mobile adoption is on the rise. In fact, the percentage of retailers with a mobile site reached 37% in 2011, up from 12% in 2010 and only 4% in 2009 – a 210% increase over the past year alone.

Along with social media, all eyes will be on the mobile channel this upcoming holiday season. More and more retailers are joining the rush to launch “apps” that can be accessed by smartphone or tablet users. Others are putting QR codes on their products that can be scanned for information. At the same time, increasing numbers of consumers are using their personal mobile devices to do everything from research store information and compare prices to receive coupons and purchase products. 


Building and maintaining a mobile retail site can be a challenge — but it’s one that only the most foolhardy retailers would ignore, as consumers increasingly use handheld devices to complement the shopping experience and make purchases.


Indeed, consumers are buying a range of items — from movie tickets to apparel to motorcycle tires — via mobile devices. According to a recent study by mobile advertising firm JiWire, half of mobile owners said they would feel comfortable spending $100 or more on a purchase made on a smartphone.


New York City -- Brooks Bros. said Thursday that it has implemented a mobile optimized website to create a unique mobile shopping experience for its customers, powered by Digby’s Mobile Software Commerce Platform.

With the new mobile presence, customers can now search, review and buy products from Brooks Bros. directly from their mobile devices.

By Martin Brewer, mbrewer@wavelink.com