Smartphone ownership is growing hugely, and in fact in 2012 that number reached over 1 billion. That means at least 1 in 7 of us have a smartphone across the whole globe, and when you take out less-developed countries, and focus on your local demographic, the number will probably be a lot closer to 1 in 3, or perhaps even 1 in 2 people owning a smartphone in your area.
Going by these numbers, it’s clear that mobile commerce is going to be an important part of any business’s sales success.
Areas of mobile commerce growth in 2013
NFC
NFC (Near field communication) is an amazing technology, and it has a huge amount of potential when it comes to real-life transactions via a smartphone. 2012 didn’t really see the full potential of NFC kick into play, and it’s unlikely that NFC will really start picking up pace for a good few years yet. The reason for this is that there ‘are too many conflicting interests, a lack of acceptance and too few devices that seamlessly deliver the perfect consumer experience,’ according to CEO of mfoundry, Drew Sievers.
However, 2013 will definitely push NFC to more devices, and we may even see it starting to make its way into mid-range end of the market, instead of being reserved for flagship and high-priced handsets. NFC is not here yet, but it won’t be long till it is, and it will be great.
Incentives and Mobile Couponing
Mobile couponing started to break ground in 2011, and has slowly picked up pace since then, however 2013 will be a big year for mobile couponing, and it’s a year that businesses will learn to use mobile couponing and other incentives to attract and keep customers loyal to their products and services. If your business doesn’t offer an incentive to open an email or visit a link in a text, chances are someone else’s business does, meaning customers will choose to side with them instead of you. Mobile-based incentives will continue to grow in 2013, and it’s going to be a practice many businesses will have to follow.
Location-based mCommerce and Personalization
Using a customer’s location data and search interests will help to drive personalized advertisements to this customer reflecting upon his activities. Location-based data will help to give local businesses a grasp on their customers, whilst search personalization will help to give customers products they need when they need them.
It’s predicted that by 2016 mobile commerce will have reached $31 billion. For a business it’s important to keep up with these trends in commerce and adjust their practices to give consumers the best experience possible. Smartphones make things quick and easy, and over the next decade we will see businesses changing to make sure they work well with this quick-and-easy trend.