Businesses are being advised to see the benefits of mobile ecommerce and payment processing, as this platform becomes an essential new market to pursue, according to an expert.
Mobile commerce is "massive now", claims Stefan Boyle, founder of PrintRepublic.co.uk, who says that ease of access and being able to pay for goods on the go can be a convenient way for many tech-savvy consumers to shop.
"The beauty of mobile is you can offer a one, two, three step process and they've bought – once they create an account," Mr Boyle commented, before revealing that it is becoming a serious option for the expansion of his internet merchant account site.
One of the most important aspects of branching out into mobile ecommerce is, of course, choosing the correct payment processing provider, as transactions and consumer details need to remain equally protected as those on traditional online shopping sites.
"There's so many payment solutions out there but obviously, it's about making people feel secure that they can put their credit card details on to your site," he argued, highlighting the importance of using a reputable and trusted organisation to handle this sensitive data.
Earlier this month, the founder of the printing site offered advice on how to branch out into ecommerce.
Mr Boyle suggested that direct merchant accounts offering niche products in particular should try and generate some PR, create newsletters or research reports to increase site traffic.
He then went on to recommend that sites should be highly engaging and must offer lots of clear links and content to capture the attention of consumers.
Online shopping is set to become a particularly lucrative market this Christmas, according to IMRG and Capgemini.
UK shoppers are expected to spend more than £7 billion on the internet, almost £1 billion more than in 2010.
Retailers have been predicted to see two continuously busy weeks of Christmas shopping between November 28th and December 11th.
One area in which the ecommerce analysts are forecasting high levels of growth is that of mobile shopping, as 2011 has seen smartphone and tablet device penetration levels reach an all-time-high.
The analysts advise that this year could become a breakthrough opportunity for businesses offering mobile payment processing options in the run up to Christmas, as this method could be most convenient for consumers on the go.
This is supported by recent findings from IMRG and eDigitalResearch, which suggests that 35 per cent of people in the UK plan to make more purchases over a smartphone in time for Christmas 2011 compared to last year.
"Consumers want choice and continually demonstrate their willingness to switch channels to suit their specific circumstances and secure the best deal for themselves," claimed David Smith, chief marketing and communications officer at IMRG.
Mr Smith also warned: "Anyone focusing too heavily on a single channel is certain to miss out on opportunities for engagement as and when they arise."
By using a multichannel approach to ecommerce, businesses can seek to capitalise on more connected consumers, while also increasing brand loyalty through greater visibility.
