Nowadays mobile commerce has evolved a bit more and cannot be just termed as another simple form of iPhone application. For a broader strategy on mobile commerce the web site and iPhone application are the two major and vital elements. If you want to optimize and release the true potential of your online business then these two elements still prove insufficient to tap the whole market. One needs to avail the services of adept professionals to optimize the utility of the mobile platform.
The mobile has created a market that can be accessed 24/7 all through the year. The mobile is no more a luxury but a need that helps the people to interact, connect, influence and inform. Mobile phones have proved to be the best channel to directly connect to the customers, clients, prospective customers or prospective clients.
One needs to understand and recognize the strengths of the mobile when using it for commerce. Mobile can work as complementary with other channels. Most of the mobile commerce is usually restricted to the periphery and premises of the mobile device. It is usually a standalone function and this sort of situation can have harmful effect on the business mainly because it is not synchronous with other channels.
If an iPhone application exhibits the details and price of the product but does not show how to buy the product or service or does not offer any scope of putting up questions, then this application is hardly of any utility.
Releasing the Potential of the Mobile
Some of the strategies to release the potential of the mobile are as follows
Services that are on the basis of location
Applications that help to locate the nearest store having the products needed by the application user, can work wonders for the business.
Mobile Barcodes
With the help of mobile barcodes the in-store initiatives and the mobile can be integrated to make the customer buy things from the shopping mall. Application can be developed to decode the barcode through the mobile camera and provide the application user with reliable and instantaneous information.
Multiple channel connection
If properly used the mobile can be the first point of access with a prospective client or customers. The details of this can be then transferred to other channels to be handled more effectively.
Shopping Applications
The applications can convert the mobile device in to a sort of salesperson. This is only possible if the application allows the checking of availability of the product that the customer wants. The application should allow the comparison of the prices quoted by other retailers and provide product information that is reliable.
Closing the Deal
As far as transactions are concerned, it has been found that the mobile is quite slow at it. So it is better to collect the data through the mobile and execute the transaction through other channel that is quicker.