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A study has shown that using smartphones to go online and shop is becoming increasingly popular.One of the points made last year for Black Friday, and in general, was that people will often browse on their mobile but are more likely to make purchases on a desktop or laptop computer.

But according to developers Moovweb, this is changing. Not only do more people use their phones to browse, but more people are buying on their smartphones, too.

Ecommerce report source material


Moovweb carried out their research in the five days from Thanksgiving to Cyber Monday in the US. Data was taken from 13.5million shopping visits, although the websites themselves used for were not given.

We're not just browsing with any more:


The general consensus is that a lot of shoppers will browse on their mobile and buy on a desktop or laptop. According to Moovweb, the amount of smartphone traffic increased by 45% compared to last year, and one in three of their tracked transactions was taken via a mobile device (either smartphone or tablet).

While that is significant, there is something even more significant for those considering investment in mobile shops and app development – the extra traffic wasn't just browsing.

The study showed that smartphone revenue rose by a staggering 81%. So while traffic nearly doubled, revenue taken outweighed this increased when compared to last year.

That means browsers are converting to buyers, and consumers are much happier to buy on their smartphones.

Average order value increase:


Moovweb's findings were that the AOV (average order value) of smartphone purchases did have a small boost of 2%. If shoppers are going to buy on their desktop, this will often be for the higher priced items. This increase could show that this norm is shifting too.

About Us:


Eastpoint Software Web, Mobile Apps and eCommerce Development Company in Richmond, UK, Cambridge and London. We have experience with both iOS and android apps for a range of sectors, as well as bespoke software development. Give us a call on 01223 690164 to discuss app and software development. We are friendly! Speak to you soon.

Visit us: https://www.eastpoint.co.uk/

Since Black Friday is American, let's have a “pop quiz”. What year did Black Friday begin in the US?
 
It's 2010, only five years ago, but in the last couple of years it has really taken off the UK and already the phrases Black Friday and Cyber Monday are part of our vernacular.
 
According to statisticians at Experian and IMRG, a record £1.1billion was spent online in the UK on Black Friday, with the sale weekend estimated to have drummed up £3.5b in total.
 
On Black Friday, online sales were up an estimated 36% compared to last year, with Cyber Monday up by 31%.
Use of mobile phones to make an ecommerce purchase:
 
Our previous article on Black Friday mobile sales in the US showed this was a major growth area, with just over a third of sales taken via a mobile device (iOS proving more popular than Android, and smartphones winning over tablets).

Figures have not yet been released showing this breakdown, we will look at these once they are available. Knowing the popularity of shopping on smartphone, the blog at internetretailing. net did a snapshot of how mobile versions of website from the top 25 retailers were doing during the early stages of Black Friday. You can see the post here.
 
Shopping tracker company Springboard noted that retailers with reliable online shops would be the ones to benefit most from the sales. While we do not have the figures for mobile device sales, it is fair to say that shoppers will purchase through desktop, tablets and mobiles. Thinking about iOS and Android mobile development could help make sure you do not miss out on sales through these devices..
 
How did the websites and mobile apps cope with the traffic?
 
It seems mostly well, with a few of the large retailers leaving customers staring at a screen while it loaded, slowly and painfully.
 
According to consumers, Tesco's site was slow, although the company denied this was the case. John Lewis has a bit of a catastrophe ecommerce-wise, as their website was actually offline for an hour on Friday afternoon, although they said server capacity had been increased by a third in preparation.
 
Argos was also criticised. Consumers reported a slow website, with several crashes throughout the day. Argos also launched a new Fast Track delivery service prior to Black Friday, leaving them with a huge task, and some undelivered orders.
 
About Eastpoint Software:

We are a web and mobile development company based at the Hauser Forum, Cambridge. We also have an office in London. Our developers have decades of experience. We specialise in web and mobile apps, including iOS and Android mobile app development.
 
Eastpoint Software Web, Mobile App and eCommerce Development London, Cambridge and UK. We have experience working with partners and agencies  on software products. Call us on 01223 690164 to discuss what you need  and how we can help.
 
Visit us:  https://www.eastpoint.co.uk/

 
Optimising a website is the new having a website – think how often you browse and buy on a tablet or phone, or how often you see others doing it.

The US general manager of Alibaba.com said this year that creating a seamless shopping environment on a mobile phone “will be crucial for any business that wants to grow in 2014”.

Shopping on your mobile or tablet – how many people do it?

Statistics show that more people are buying this way, as a quicker alternative to firing up the PC. With a mobile or iPad, it's easy to buy on the go when you remember something, or while relaxing in the evening. These devices are convenient and to hand.

Research company eMarketer predicts that in two years, a quarter of all eCommerce will be done via a mobile device. That's potentially one in four customers looking to buy on their tablet or phone.
The famous USA sale day 'Black Friday' is coming up soon – last year figures by Custora High-Growth eCommerce Index showed that 40% of all online shopping was done on mobile devices that day.

Does a website always needs to be optimised?

Usually, yes. It can be pot-luck whether a traditional website created for a typical browser window works on a tablet or mobile.  Often it's there in spirit but can look messy – tiny writing, weird buttons, overlapping products etc.

Going back to what Annie Jie Xu of Alibaba said, it is about creating a 'seamless' shop for customers. Think about whether you would continue shopping on something clunky and confusing.
Optimisation for eCommerce is about streamlining the process to suit the small and medium sized screens of mobiles and tablets.

eCommerce Mobile App Development UK – when to invest

Any eCommerce platform is likely to benefit from mobile optimisation, as it makes shopping easier for customers and can lead to a higher conversion rate.

We see mobile device optimisation as a sensible choice, people will keep using phones, and customers will keep buying online, in the easiest way possible. Mobile devices are to hand, they are already turned on, and with an optimised website, it should be hassle free.

In terms of budget, it comes down to what you need and what you expect. Project costs will vary significantly from project to project. We suggest speaking to a software company about mobile app development.

About Us

We're Eastpoint, a Cambridge-based software company with experience in ecommerce web and Mobile App development Company in Cambridge, London and UK.

If you're looking for an online shop or eCommerce platform give us a call or send an email – we have worked on various eCommerce projects and have several options to get the most of your budget. Get in touch with us about outsourcing that part of the  project. We have experience working with partners and agencies on software products. Call us on 01223 690164 to discuss what you need and how we can help.


Visit us: https://www.eastpoint.co.uk/

eCommerce Mobile Application Development process:

 If you're someone who has  had an idea for a mobile app and would like to know more about the  process and costs, hopefully this blog post will shed some light.

We work with non-technical clients as well as technology partners  and agencies – this article is aimed at clients with little prior  knowledge of how apps work in terms of the build, but have got a great  idea from a user perspective that they want to see in action.

Cost and time:

Most developers will tell you something along the lines of 'how long is a piece of string' when asked how much a web app costs.

And of course, they're right, but it is possible to give a  guideline. For any app, you are looking at thousands rather than  hundreds. Most apps will take weeks to design, build and test, at least.
You are unlikely to find much below £5,000 in terms of building a complete app, and that would be for a very simple one.

It is likely you will want to budget more than that, particularly if  you have specific, potentially complex, requirements. The number of  devices you want your app to be suitable for will also affect the cost.

Who builds it? Who designs it?

We  are a tech and design company, so we can create all aspects of the app.  A lot of app designers will take charge of the entire project – so  writing the technology that powers the app, and designing the way it  looks to the people using it.

We are happy to accommodate your design requests – whether that's us  working on the technical development, you doing the design yourself, or  providing us with the designs from somebody you already work with. Some  companies will always want to do the design in-house, this is something  to check.

What is the mobile development process?

If  you are starting from scratch with a new app developer, it's likely you  will first chat about and confirms your requirements. Once everyone is  on the same page, the technical solution will be decided and the user  interface designed, so you know how it will work from a user's point of  view.

App development will then begin in earnest and once completed, full  testing and QA is carried out. Once you sign off the app, it will be  ready for you to use, sell, or look at in awe.

Maintenance of mobile apps and future work:

Your  app will be good to go and often comes with a warranty for a specified  time. However, software may need other updates in or outside of this  time to keep it ticking over, or you may want to refresh your app in the  future with new ideas, improvements or additions.

About us:

We  are a software team based in Cambridge and London. We build web and  mobile apps, as well as websites and eCommerce Platforms. We provide Mobile Apps Development and eCommerce Website Development Platforms in Cambridge, London and UK.


Visit us: http://www.eastpoint.co.uk/