Commentary

53% of Smartphone Shoppers Use Mobile to Decide the Right Product to Buy

Smartphone owners tend to use their phones not much so much to buy but rather to help them decide what to buy.

This can be a subtle but important distinction when looking at mobile shopping behavior.

The overall issue is the role of mobile influence within the Mobile Shopping Life Cycle and some research out today provides yet another bit of insight.

The top planned shopping use by most (53%) consumers with smartphones this holiday season is to look up product information to help make the right purchase, according to a study by Equation Research sponsored by mobile marketing company Vibes.

It strikes me that for holiday shopping, many consumers will be using their phones as an aid to their overall shopping activity rather than as a replacement for it.

Mobile facilitates shopping so that consumers no longer go shopping, they always are shopping, as I wrote about in Mobile Influence. Mobile makes shopping an iterative rather than a serial process.

For example, the Vibes study found that a planned shopping activity for about half (48%) of smartphone owners is to find specific store information, such as location and hours, showing that mobile can act as aid to brick and mortar activity.

About a third (34%) will use their phones as a mobile wallet not to pay but rather to organize coupons and loyalty cards and some (32%) consumers plan to make purchases from their phones, and those buys will be from mobile websites, according to the Vibes Mobile Consumer Report.

For store-related shopping experiences, smartphone owners have varying desires, from wanting to be notified of deals to seeking the most convenient locations, according to the study. Specifically:

  • 44% -- Want to receive compelling offers and discounts
  • 17% -- Looking for the best selection of products
  • 14% -- Will look for the most convenient location
  • 13% -- Want personalized offers/discounts relevant to their behavior.

The big question around this holiday shopping season is how satisfied mobile shoppers will be once it’s over.

2 comments about "53% of Smartphone Shoppers Use Mobile to Decide the Right Product to Buy".
Check to receive email when comments are posted.
  1. Sid Raisch from Advantage Development System, November 19, 2013 at 5:41 p.m.

    I've found places I didn't know existed with my smart phone, and when with others (like my son who showed me the way) when they found them using their smart phone. This is not futuristic.

    Getting found is critical. Smart phones make getting found easy peasy - a no brainer. This overcomes the disadvantages of a poor or even single location.

  2. Chuck Martin from Chuck Martin, November 20, 2013 at 7:53 p.m.

    Right, Sid, many are discovering these types of uses, either on their own or by being shown by someone who happens to have gotten there first. Thanks for your comment.

Next story loading loading..
About the Author

Chuck Martin is Editor of the AI & IoT Daily at MediaPost and writes the daily Connected Thinking column. He is a NY Times Business bestselling author and his latest book is “Digital Transformation 3.0” (The New Business-to-Consumer Connections of The Internet of Things.) He is CEO of Net Future Institute and a frequent keynote speaker internationally. Follow him on Twitter @chuckmartin and contact him at Chuck@MediaPost.com.