Vendor Insight: Mobile Analytics

By Peter Charness, Manthan Systems Americas

The Internet offers a great source of statistical material to support virtually any point of view. A quick search on mobile commerce spending reveals that: "The mobile retail market is predicted to exceed $12B by 2014 (Source: Juniper Research, 2010)." "By 2015, it is predicted that mobile shopping will account for $163B in sales worldwide (Source: ABI Research, 2010)." "It is predicted there will be 80 million new smartphone users in 2011, added to the already existing 60 million consumers who already own one (Source: Nielsen, 2010)."

However the numbers clearly show there is no doubt that mobile phones (and tablets) add a growing dimension to the shopping experience and that retailers need to plan how they will participate in this new avenue of customer service. Mobility cuts both ways. First, consumers add another vehicle to their arsenal for "smart and convenient shopping." Second, the surge in technological capabilities means that retailers can now equip their own staff with "information on the go" at cost-effective prices.