Shopping with mobile is becoming both easier and a bit more complex.
Consumers have a choice to use a retailer or third party app as well as well as to use that merchant’s mobile website or someone else’s.
I just came across a recent report that examined customer satisfaction with specific aspects of shopping and the mobile shopping apps that consumers would value most. The study by research consultancy immr and sponsored by The Find found that:
The report notes that the number of shopping apps continues to grow, with more than 250 Android coupon apps alone.
As any major retailer knows, it’s difficult to persuade a large number of customers to download their app and use it regularly (with noted exceptions like Starbucks, of course).
The report suggests that the winning apps will be determined by a host of functions, including user experience, product selection, range of coverage, content, accessibility, personalization, performance and value.
I would argue that the last item (value) will be the most critical in consumer adoption and acceptance.
And the value may be different based on the mobile shopper. While one shopper may look for the best deal another may look for the closest store that has a particular item in stock at that location.
One may be drawn to a store from a Google search or a Yelp recommendation while another is attracted by a RetailMeNot or Shopkick ping while near a store.
While the need of different mobile shoppers may dramatically differ, the challenge for retailers is to identify and solve all of them for their customers.