Mobile is becoming more and more important to businesses around the globe. In a recent survey by Urban Airship of more than 100 UK retail executives, half of the retailers surveyed stated that between 21% and 50% of their online sales now come via a mobile device. Clearly either you should be considering how Android app or iPhone app development fits into your sales channels.
Currently, mobile devices account for 22% of all retail online sales in the U.S., which is expected to reach 27% by 2018. | Photo: TechStage (Flikr)
According to Tim Paterson, from Urban Airship. “A growing number of consumers prefer mobile apps to traditional websites. And although more digital transactions still occur outside of mobile apps, it’s the crucial pre-shopping interactions taking place via mobile that can have a big impact on the buying process.”
Currently, mobile devices account for 22% of all retail online sales in the U.S., which is expected to reach 27% by 2018. In a Flurry Analytics study, they found that the average US mobile consumers spends 86% of their time on a smartphone using apps.
An example of just how important mobile is to sales is the Cyber Monday from this past holiday season, according to IBM, mobile traffic accounted for almost half of all online traffic and 28% of online sales, which is an increase of more than 25% over last year. Given these stats, it is obvious that mobile apps are not going away any time soon. Clearly you should use them to your advantage, if you aren’t already.
If you haven’t entered the mobile arena, its not too late. Keep in mind that over time the technology associated with of smartphones is improving, allowing the apps they use to improve in complexity, this constantly creates new space for new ideas for apps to enter the market. Additionally, the market is constantly maturing, the old philosophy of building a better mousetrap certainly applies to mobile apps, if you can offer an easier or more intuitive way to perform tasks users will take note.