Several retailers have given their opinion about what mobile commerce (m-commerce) should be like in the coming years. Everyone has agreed that the consumer will drive the demand for the type of services they want from a business. Surprisingly, many see social media playing a big part in m-commerce, and how the company incorporates that will have everything to do with their success or failure.
Companies know that social media isn’t a fad; it has completely changed the way we do business and the way we communicate. In the same sense, companies know that mobile commerce will be just as big. The statistics show it all ready.
It would take 13 years for an ad to reach 50 million viewers on television; Facebook added 100 million users in nine months; 25 percent of search results for large name brand companies or products were links to user generated content. Over 84 percent of U.S. adults use Smart phones, and Google reports activating 100 thousand Android devices a day.
Marketing is heavily mobile orientated, because they know that mobile use has exploded, and it’s still growing. Company VP’s, CEO’s, and marketing officers alike, want to see the m-commerce and social media platforms joined somehow.
This would enable a business to see real time comments and data mining could be used to find out a customer’s spending habits and frequency of use regarding your product. It’s a double edged sword, because you won’t always get positive comments; you have to be prepared for that, and prepared to make some changes in the way you do business.
Real time inventory is another tool retailers would like to see integrated with m-commerce. Giving customers a right-now picture of the products they have available. When consumers are mobile and searching for an item, whoever has it available now is the one the customer will buy it from. Making that information available is a plus for businesses.
Mobile commerce is not far off; many of the new Smartphone’s (available this year) will be equipped to make payments online or by Near Field Communication means.