This is an updated version of a post originally published in May 2015.
If you’re thinking about implementing mobile strategies, the time is now. From mobile payments to in-store mobile shopping, consumers and merchants alike have been embracing mobile technology over the last few years. Mobile has becoming engrained in our lives and has permeated the shopping experience; merchants have become multichannel, accepting payments on-the-go and on the spot with portable card readers, and consumers are paying directly with their mobile devices on digital wallets.
A mobile strategy for your business is necessary these days because mobile is also playing a crucial role in the overall omnichannel experience. Consumers are moving back and forth multiple channels before they ultimately purchase (webrooming). Merchants must implement mobile strategies – such as taking your business online and making sure your business is optimized for mobile devices and tablets – in order to stay relevant and keep up with consumers’ growing expectations of a seamless shopping experience.
We’ve scoured the web for some facts and stats that prove the power of mobile and the necessity of a mobile strategy.
Mobile optimization is key
1. 57% of consumers will not recommend a business with a poorly designed mobile site. (Google)
2. Google says 61% of users are unlikely to return to a mobile site they had trouble accessing, and 40% visit a competitor’s site instead. (McKinsey & Company)
3. Mobile users are 4X more engaged than those surfing the web through a browser. (Multichannel Merchant)
4. 30% of mobile shoppers abandon a transaction if the shopping experience is not optimized for mobile. (Tribute Media)
5. Not having a mobile-optimized website is like closing your store one day each week. (Google)
Revenue from mobile commerce is growing
6. Brick-and-mortar retailers grew overall online revenues by 25.4%, which included a gain of 163% in purchases made from smartphones. (Market Wired)
7. Housewares & furnishings retailers gained 29.3% in overall revenues, which included an increase of 121% in purchases made from smartphones. (Market Wired)
8. Revenues specifically from mobile devices increased a healthy 125% YOY from Q4 of last year (2014). (Market Wired)
9. Since implementing mobile payments, Nordstrom has seen a retail sales revenue increase of 15.3%. (Forbes)
10. 78% of mobile searches for local business information result in a purchase. (Kissmetrics)
11. By 2019, U.S. mobile payments will increase from $52 billion to $142 billion. (Internet Retailer)
12. By 2020, mobile commerce will make up 45% of total eCommerce, equaling $284 billion in sales. (BI Intelligence report)
13. Mobile commerce accounted for 27% of total digital commerce on Cyber Monday in 2015, with $838 million spent via smartphones and tablets. (ComScore)
14. Worldwide mobile app revenue is $41.1 billion. (Statistica)
15. 34% of 2015’s Black Friday sales were made on mobile. (TechCrunch)
16. Mobile commerce is 30% of all U.S eCommerce. (Internet Retailer)
Consumers across generations are embracing mobile
17. One in four mobile online shoppers in the US is over the age of 55. (Business Insider)
18. Men are actually more likely to purchase online through their mobile gadgets. In 2014, 18% of women bought an item on their smartphone, compared to 22% of men. (Business Insider)
19. Boomers and seniors have adopted mobile commerce. One in four mobile shoppers in the U.S. is over the age of 55. (Business Insider)
20. 87% of millennials state that their smartphone never leaves their side. (KPCB)
21. 1 in every 2 millennials has downloaded a mobile shopping app. (Forbes)
22. 23% of millennials use contactless payments at least once a week. (Fortune)
23. There are more mobile internet users than desktop internet users; 52.7% of global internet users access the internet via mobile, and 75.1% of U.S. internet users access the internet via mobile. (Hosting Facts)
Mobile is embedded in the overall shopping experience
24. 75% of shoppers admitted to using their mobile device while shopping in-store. (Digital Commerce)
25. 45% of digital buyers worldwide said that reading reviews, comments and feedback on social media influenced their digital shopping behavior. (eMarketer)
26. About 56% of consumer traffic to the leading US websites is now from mobile devices. (SimilarWeb)
27. More Google searches take place on mobile devices than on computers in 10 countries – including the U.S. and Japan. (Google)
28. 84% of smartphone shoppers use their mobile phones to help them shop while in store. (Google)
29. 51% is spent on mobile, compared to 42% spent on the desktop. (KPCB)
30. 84% of smartphone shoppers use their phones while in a physical store. (Google)
31. Of the consumers who visit a retailer website or app to meet their needs, 53% do so on a smartphone. (Internet Retailer)
32. Out of the users who accessed apps, 18% accessed a mobile wallet. (Nielsen)
33. 78% of mobile searches for local business information result in a purchase. (Kissmetrics)
34. 47% of mobile shoppers said they prefer to use an app over a browser. (PayPal)
35. Apps have a 3.7x higher conversion rate than mobile browsers. (Criteo)
36. By the end of this year, 5% of the world’s 600-650 million NFC-enabled phones will be used at least once every month to make contactless in-store payments at retail outlets. (Deloitte)
Expectations are increasing along with adoption
37. 83% say a seamless experience across all devices is somewhat or very important. (Salesforce)
38. 55% of people say they will use mobile to check out so they don’t have to wait in line. (Latitude)
39. 61% of people have a better opinion of brands when they offer a good mobile experience. (Latitude)
40. 62% of mobile shoppers want product pictures. (Data Mentors)
41. 35% of respondents said they would like to buy products on their phone if the process was easier. (Pfsweb)
42. 78% expect mobile apps to load as fast as – or faster than – a mobile website. (Dynatrace)
43. The medium expected load time for a mobile app to launch is 2 seconds. (Dynatrace)
Merchants are taking note
44. It is expected that the number of mobile friendly retailers will grow by roughly 300% in the next two years. (Luxury Daily)
45. Brands that were early adopters of mobile apps (Amazon, Etsy, and Forever21) now have the most popular native apps. (Forbes)
46. 21% of Starbucks’ sales are facilitated through their mobile app. (Accenture)
So are advertisers
47. By 2019, mobile advertising will represent 72% of all US digital ad spending. (Marketing Land)
48. 54% of emails are opened on a mobile device. (Litmus)
49. Average smartphone conversion rates are up 64%, compared to the average desktop conversion rates. (CMS Report)
50. By 2018, 8 in 10 email users will likely access their email accounts exclusively from their mobile devices. (Radicati)