For many retailers looking at commerce, more focus is on mobile
websites and less on apps.
And based on a new study, showrooming is not at the top of retailers’ hit lists.
The survey by EpiServer was conducted at the annual Internet Retailer
Conference and Exhibition and included responses from CEOs, vice presidents, directors and e-commerce managers from 100 attending organizations including retailers, manufacturers, wholesalers,
catalogers, online-only merchants and local retailers.
While the data may not be totally projectable, it is yet another indicator of the state of some mobile commerce thinking at retail.
In terms of investment in commerce, the majority (60%) plan to spend on their website with about a third (35%) investing in mobile apps.
A majority (78%) say less than 20% of their sales
come through the mobile app.
In this particular case, retailers and consumers seem to be more or less on the same page.
A separate study from mobile software firm Netbiscuits this week
found that most (79%) consumers prefer to have the option of using a mobile website while fewer (18%) were happy just using native apps.
In the EpiServer study, the majority (61%) say they
have a mobile strategy and of those, most of the emphasis seems to be on mobile websites, with a relatively small number (22%) having an app.
What strikes me as more interesting is where the
future direction is for this group.
It turns out there is less focus on using mobile for sales and more for customer loyalty. For current primary uses of mobile, more of the retail group (32%)
targets customer loyalty while fewer (14%) focus on price comparison.
And then there is the showrroming issue. The idea that mobile shoppers are visiting stores and then either leaving to buy
elsewhere or online doesn’t’ seem to faze this group.
As a primary mobile use, only 2% list showrooming and 8% list price comparison at the top of their lists.
Showrooming
in the future also does not seem to be a major concern. Of those who plan to embrace mobile in the coming year, only 2% look to combat showrooming.
This is not to say showrooming is not
happening or impacting retail, but it’s at the bottom of the list of current and future mobile issues for retailers.
What I find more striking is that a large number (39%) do not have a
mobile strategy.
And of those who don’t have a strategy, almost half (45%) are either unsure or do not plan to embrace mobile in the coming year.
That group has a lot more to
worry about than showrooming.
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OMMA mCommerce, July 15, New York. Autotrader.com, IHG, MasterCard, BBDO, Rapp, Joule,
ScanBuy, Huge, Spyderlynk, Rue La La, BYNDL, Catalina, Giant Eagle, Payvia, Ansible, Moxie Interactive coming. Here’s the AGENDA.