People don't just rely on their mobile phones for placing calls anymore. Business Insider reports that mobile commerce has grown by 48 percent year-over-year, reaching about $8 billion and growing three times faster than overall e-commerce.
It is also notable that purchases made over tablets have shown a 75 percent year-over-year growth rate, indicating the transition of the m-commerce market from mobile phones to devices like iPads. The diversity of available mobile technology gives customers the opportunity to shop in the way that is most convenient for them.
ComScore's Andrew Lipsman notes that it is unlikely for growth rates to continue increasing in such a dramatic fashion. The numbers are more likely to hold steady as the year progresses. If the numbers were to keep increasing, he says, "Then 2014 m-commerce spending looks to be headed for around $35 billion – not far behind the size of the entire digital advertising market. As m-commerce grows into a more mature transactional medium over the next few years, it's clear that omni-channel marketing will become an even more important – and likely more challenging – issue for marketers."
Omni-channel marketing is not just a challenge but also a valuable opportunity for marketers. Mobile devices have carved out a position of permanent importance in the sales landscape, and these recent figures show just how much people are growing to rely on their gadgets to navigate the world. Men are even more likely than women to buy products using their mobile devices, perhaps because of the flexibility and efficiency this method allows.
With more people on their cellular phones, it is intelligent for companies to make use of an SMS aggregator to offer marketing services. Special offers and exclusive information offered over text message can draw in customers who are already shopping and making purchases on their mobile devices.
