Why you need to invest in Online Mobile Shopping
Did you know nearly half (49%) of of online shoppers in Qatar use a mobile device to make an online purchase rather than a desktop or laptop computer?
SMEs are often unable to invest in developing eCommerce across multiple platforms at once. Doing so is time consuming, expensive and and complex. However there is a strong case to be made for eMerchants prioritizing the development of mobile shopping-friendly channels such as mobile optimized websites or apps.
Here we evaluate the benefits – and drawbacks – of a ‘mobile first’ approach to eCommerce.
Benefits
01
24/7 Access
People carry their mobile phones with them at all times, increasing the potential for online shopping. Consumers also have an emotional relationship with their mobile phones, making them more susceptible to making online purchases through their device.
02
Connecting with People
The younger generation who uses smart phones is usually more receptive to online advertising and marketing, leading to a bigger number of potential sales. eMerchants can also link users to their mobile websites or apps through social media platforms. This allows online shoppers to make a direct purchase of an item they have seen through the merchant’s account or other pages such as an influencer’s page.
03
Ease of Use
Users also often use their mobile phones to research prospective purchases or to compare certain products before buying the product, which makes it important to have a smooth mobile compatible website or app to ensure the eMerchant does not lose potential shoppers. Users will often revisit a mobile compatible website if they find it easy to navigate through and find that the page loads quickly, an important factor eMerchants should take into consideration as many users rely on mobile data and not Wifi.
04
Efficient Payments
Online shoppers have also become more prone to using their phones to make purchases thanks to new technologies, such a face recognition and fingerprint. Once a user has made the authorization to pay through a scan or online transaction it makes the purchasing process very quick and easy; the same goes for shoppers who have enabled payments through their Apple wallet or other widely used payment gateways.
05
Push Notifications
Unlike desktop shops, mobile applications can send push notifications to users encouraging them to make purchases. It is also common for users to be more prone to sharing their location when using their mobile phones, allowing eMerchants who adhere to the correct guidelines to collect more data about their customers.
