M-commerce VS. E-commerce

M-commerce VS. E-commerce

There are a few fundamental differences between m-commerce and e-commerce in terms of their origins, technologies and the nature of the services they can offer. Not to mention the way people choose, buy, access and use mobile apps is different from the way they behave on the web.

Unlike PC users, mobile users are on the move, in a hurry and easily distracted. They want the service they’re looking for right here and right now, without long instructions, long installation or loading time.

Although the marketplace for mobile apps is still relatively young compared to web, it is rapidly growing. The development of e-commerce was due to the rapid growth of the Internet; the growth of mobile segment is due to its convenience, ease of use, and sophistication of smartphones.

On the world wide web, much is given away for free or at discount prices with the hopes to monetize sites (using ad revenue) based on traffic. M-commerce however, is rooted in paid-for-service in the mobile phone industry where business competition is growing in Canada, especially with introduction of new entrants such as Wind Mobile, Public Mobile, Mobilicity, and so on.

An extension or explosion?

Many might think of m-commerce as an extension of e-commerce; we however believe that it’ll definitely have a greater impact on the daily routines of consumers and more importantly the businesses.  It’s more an explosion than an extension primarily because:

1. People have a more intimate relationship with their Mobile phones vs. their computer.
2. Mobile phones are not limited by location and by their very nature, are everywhere.
3. Mobile devices are filing up “boredom time” on the go that retailers have never before had access to.
4. Tempting mobile trends are constantly introduced to more than ever before sophisticated mobile devices. In a nutshell, mobile is hot!
   
5. M-commerce is supposed to enable us to buy everything from anywhere over the Internet without the use of a PC.
6. M-commerce is not limited by the same barriers initially faced by e-commerce in the mind of users.  For example, users do not have the same level of apprehension providing their credit card details digitally as they did with the first wave of e-commerce. The analogy I like to use is, M-commerce is like the younger sibling of e-commerce: e-commerce dealt with all the hardships and paved the way for m-commerce to lead a fairly hassle free journey with the consumer.

M-commerce, E-commerce, how they differ?

• High cost is one of the major characteristics of m-commerce. In the telecom world, users pay for airtime as opposed to almost free internet access in the e-commerce world.
• In m-commerce, the services are usually delivered to a specific region, via wireless providers. In e-commerce on the other hand, the wide accessibility of the internet makes any service globally available.
• In contrast with E-commerce, M-commerce applications are rather simple, more personalized, location-specific, and time-sensitive.
• A mobile device usually accompanies a person wherever he or she goes; therefore m-commerce creates a more intimate relationship with the user than other mediums.
• For time sensitive, simple transactions such as movie ticket purchases, banking, and travel reservations, m-commerce is seemingly more useful than e-commerce.
• For location-based applications such as traveler navigation, emergency response, and etc, m-commerce tends to be better as it is not limited to being in a place with a computer or laptop.

In general we believe that we can categorize internet based e-commerce into B2C and B2B, while classifications to  m-commerce are P2P (Person to Person) and P2S (Person to System).

Although many companies believe mobile commerce is still blossoming, mobile users’ increased adaptation to smartphones should be an emergency awakening call for businesses. Retailers should start outlining the right strategy for themselves: view the mobile space as an opportunity to influence consumers’ buying decisions and learn how to take advantage of the opportunity.

That’s okay. We’ve put together a package that will help solve all your M-commerce needs!

Dear Retailers,

As your welcome package to the mobile tech world, we’ve summed up the 10 basic MUSTS you need to know before implementing M-commerce as your survival guide. We wish you good luck on your mobile journey & we are sure it’ll be an interesting, constantly evolving, and highly competitive one.

Your neighbourhood friendly mobile experts,                      

Plastic Mobile

Top 10 Musts:

1. Know who your consumers are, how you should reach them, and how, when & why they use their mobile devices.
2. Know what you want to achieve through mobile commerce. Have an objective – yes, we are aware of how simple that sounds, and yet how daunting the task really is.
3. Pay attention to security concerns. Consumers are still wary about purchasing online which makes them even more resistant to this medium. Instill confidence in your users by developing a secure application form a reliable source, like us. We’re okay with shameless self-promotion.
4. Allow for quick-fill capabilities during the checkout process to let users rapidly enter billing and shipping information.
5. Make sure your site is accessible via any mobile device, as some consumers may start with their mobile browsers, rather than an application.
6. Offer Mobile-based loyalty programs & rewards. Consumers like incentives, especially when you’re trying to get them to use a new platform.
7. Ensure that your mobile applications have the ability to keep up with the changing capabilities of each device. Keeping up to date is key in this space.
8. Provide a quick, seamless M-commerce experience. Shoppers expect the experience to be seamless and simple. If you create a good user experience, you’ll get repeat visits and sales.
9. Make sure the mobile commerce system configures well with the existing systems. learn the lessons of mobile commerce from others who did it right or wrong.
10. Have a clear understanding of differences between m-commerce and e-commerce. For more information go to our post on e-commerce VS. m-commerce.

The BlackBerry handset maker, RIM is looking at potentially buying Gist, an app that manages a users’ professional contacts in a “social inbox” style, based on GigaOm report.

This purchase would be the second most recent acquisition made by RIM for the purpose of improving the user experience; as earlier this month, RIM bought The Astonishing Tribe, a user interface specialist based in Sweden.  

Gist’s social inbox management tool unifies a users’ contacts and allows them to organize the various feeds of information coming through. Since RIM’s main focus has always been on how businesses communicate and network, this feature would definitely fit their target users.

If this acquisition goes through, it’ll be a great fit for RIM, given Gist’s focus on enterprise users. Also, as RIM is currently facing greater competition in the market than ever before, this acquisition, along with PlayBook’s launch will carry them through the year.  Only time will tell what the playing field will look like in the upcoming months.

There’s a teaser out today for Motorola‘s Tablet, Motorola Everest, to be released and announced at CES 2011.  The ad promotes the tablet as the latest and best tablet in the history of Tablets, claims the iPad is just a big iPhone and the Galaxy Tab as just running Android phone OS.

The device apparently runs Android (3.0/2.4) Honeycomb and was demoed by Google’s Andy Rubin at D:Dive into Mobile at San Francisco last week.  Be sure to check out the interview with Andy or view the portion of the interview with the demo below:

If you haven’t seen or download Wordlens yet please check out their video below.  Wordlens is an augmented reality iPhone app that helps you translate any text that sees it.

Mobile phones are using millions of people throughout the world everyday!

They have changed our lives; nobody can deny this. Mobile is no longer just the most convenient tool of communication, or the best invention of 21st century; it is a part of our fibre! And with this trend, who can be happier than the digital marketers right now? Well, probably no one. While digital marketers are joyfully embracing mobile phone’s popularity, they need to take a moment to understand how they need to take full advantage of this space at the current moment and more importantly for the exciting years to come.

Dear Digital Marketer

Your app has to compete with many apps, all screaming for attention in competitive app stores, right? So, how are you going to make sure that your app is going to beat them all? How are you going to make sure your app is going to win people’s heart? Well, If you want to win the battle, here are some basic hints that many tend to overlook while being all excited about the current mobile app boom.

Be the first, OR the best!

If possible, be the pioneer of an app category; if not, then aim to become the best in that app category. Add value to the existing app by adding an extra ordinary spin & come up with not only a better, but THE best app in your category.

Futuristic view
Anticipate future trends, predict potential needs, and create your app based on it.

Don’t be a  stingy scrooge
If possible, invest and spend on a well developed application and a  sound marketing & promotion plan, go big in terms of your launch. Whether this means traditional media or social strategies, put the effort to get the word out.

Be in the loop
Watch out for competitors, evaluate what they’re doing right, what they’re doing wrong, what is it that they are not doing, and what is it that you can do better than them.

Love at the first sight
Your landing screen is so very important. Have a likable landing screen; try your best to attract your audiences at first glance.

One of its kind APP
Your app needs to be exceptional & unique, or you should say goodbye to app marketing for good. Innovate, plan excellently, and build something magnificent.

à la mode
Know the trend, be chic, be hip, be modish if you want your app to be unbeaten.

Take it easy!
While trying to create something unique, don’t forget to make it easy to use. Complications are very quick and easy way to say goodbye to your user for good.

Go for a test drive!
Make sure you’ll have all your friends, family member’s, co-workers, ex’s, neighbors, frienemies, and enemies, try your app before you launch it. Ask for their feedback, find out about the parts that confuse the user and take advantage of  enhancing your app.

Fish for compliment
The more people you get to talk about your app, the more successful you’ll get marketing it. Remember, the more discussions = more exposure = more sales!

Social media is your BFF
Twitter, Facebook, Linkedin, these are your marketing department’s team members! Benefit from the ease of sharing info on your app through these mediums.

Continuing education
Constantly read tech news, blogs, attend seminars, tech events, and review other apps to learn what’s happening out there. Keep your knowledge up to date.

In the end, think of anything unique that will make your app stand taller than the competitors. Start strong & launch big.

For more tips on how to make and market a great application, contact us.

How to Evaluate Mobile Agencies?
The demand for mobile expertise has never been stronger, but selecting the right agency for your mobile related inquires might be a bit difficult, considering the lack of information for evaluating mobile agencies. Before you decide to hire an agency, you need to consider many factors such as: their capabilities, previous projects, geographical coverage, client relationships, and many more.

In search for a Mobile Agency?
The good news is, there are many agencies out there; the bad news is, there are many agencies out there!!
What I’m trying to say is, there are many agencies that can do the mobile marketing for you, but there are not that many who can deliver great mobile marketing practices that actually create profit.

You know why? Because a great mobile agency should not only be composed of the best technical people, but also professional marketers who have been working in the field for a very long time, as well as a great creative team who can add spices to the well planned, well created, and well managed mobile initiatives.

Details you need to know to be able to select the right agency

• Do they have the ability to deliver from creation to implementation?
• Will the mobile agency be strategic and creative or purely technical? It’s important to align your brand with thinkers and innovators rather than pure technical capabilities.
• Is the agency a mobile expert or just the new agency on the block? For instance, if the agency was a domain expert till a couple of days ago and now hangs a mobile sign on its door, how much of help can it be for you?
• Will your business goals be met if you choose an agency only based on price? Well, it’s like everything else: you get what you pay for!
• Do they offer you tools allowing you to view your campaign in real-time and make adjustments along the way? Make sure to insist on the ability to look at how your program is performing so you can make changes if necessary.
• Can the agency handle operation during peak times without failure?
• What are their specialties?
• Who are their business partners?
• What previous projects and case studies are they holding?
• Do they receive recommendations from their clients?
• Are they able to cover a greater market to advertise your product or service?
• Will this mobile agency help me build an experience that adds value for your users?
• Are they able to take good care of your reputation as a brand?
• Do they have a professional marketing strategist?
• Does the agency have the capabilities you need to deliver your unique brand experience? There are some challenges with mobile; for instance, you need to create your app in a way to be viewed on thousands of mobile devices with different levels of sophistication. The agency that can produce consistent brand experiences across different devices is a keeper!

Key takeaway
Mobile is a huge and diverse business and anyone can claim to be a full-service mobile agency, but clients are usually looking for an agency with a proven expertise in specific areas that can add real value for their target market.

When evaluating & selecting a mobile agency, look at their profile, who they are, what’s their mission, vision, how do they treat their clients & employees, and try to learn as much as you can about their core values and capabilities to see if it matches your business goals. All you have to do is look for a reputable mobile marketing agency that will work with your budget and your goals.

Mobile is complicated, but tapping into the correct agency’s expertise will move you faster from strategy to development and then to results.
We have taken the time to understand what it takes to be a good mobile agency and we put to practice everything we preach.  We see ourselves as domain experts that entered the mobile space before the hype and are in it for the long haul.