Thursday, November 20, 2014

What’s the Best Way to Influence Online Holiday Shoppers: Experts Advice



Its November already and did you know online shoppers are flooding on their systems? What brings them here is very clear. The Holidays! And how? The Smart Phones! Well, upgrading their new iPhone and Smartphone, retailers must start preparing for high volume of online holiday shoppers.

Having said this, on the other hand, the abandonment rate for mobile shopping carts is 97% compared to 70-75% for desktop carts. Why? Let’s read on.


Shopping Cart Abandonment

Where Do Shopper’s lose their Interest? A source says 61% of consumers are at “somewhat likely” to cancel their purchase when not offered “free shipping”. But the reports go on to blame on the idea that retailers cashing in all of their chips on responsive design. With subpar mobile performance run the risk, shoppers easily get fed up with a site that takes too long to load. The mobile website perhaps can look great and seamless across platforms once it loads but does it bails more than three or four second? Wait! The shoppers are long gone.

Why High Expectations for Mobile Sites

Last year, mcommerce sales accounted for a significant chunk of total ecommerce sales reporting 26.2% rise. And, this year, US mobile ecommerce shows $7.3 billion in first quarter and it’s expected to increase to 15% by 2017.

With their on-the-go lifestyles as their devices are, it appears tablets can let shoppers to have expecting a full desktop-like experience. Apple still dominates mobile ecommerce with a share of ecommerce orders 50.6% and Samsung was 30.5% in Q1. If only the mobile website developers can retackle the difficulty in entering credit card information, and long checkout process, this Christmas both ends can meet a positive mobile shopping experience..


Summing up, mobile sites are must! Retailers who are unable to make it work for the holiday season best find out a way to do so at the start of the New Year, 2015.

Wednesday, November 19, 2014

How Can You Now Enhance Employee Productivity with Apps



With the growing trend of IT consumers and the bring-your-own-device, mobile users now have a wealth of software literally at their fingertips. There are many enterprises with developing strategies centered on the development of proprietary mobile applications. Meanwhile, there are increased management complexity, security risk and compliance problems with ubiquitous use of mobile applications, too.

If you aren’t aware, here are the three issues you need to look into when laying a foundation for worker productivity with mobile applications:

Underestimating User’s Persona

Business users need to access and use applications in different ways regardless to the location. Say for instance, mobile professional accessing a high number and variety of applications while working in different locations and those using a limited number of apps solely in a single location will have particular privileges.Understanding this fundamental lets you create an environment of increased worker productivity without putting proprietary corporate information at undue risk.

Lack of Delivery Options

In today’s IT frameworks application delivery is based on managed service, on-premises, self-service application store, public or private cloud. If given proper security and assured policies, it is possible to establish and manage proper access for different applications to different user constituencies, and on different mobile devices.

Ignoring Mobile Application Management

Ensure the important combination of access, utility and security which can be made possible with mobile application management. However, recommended the right MAM solution to control and stay flexible without requiring extensive developer resources for changing source code or embedding software developer kits.

No wonder, mobile applications are considered the “next new thing” for driving employee productivity. In that case, why not organisations develop assured safeguards that protect corporate data, ensure compliance and provide cost-efficient application delivery and provisioning.

Wednesday, November 12, 2014

How Do I Decide On Developing A Mobile App For My Business?



Running an online venture and still thinking whether you should carry it for a mobile application development too? Indeed a successful app is an outcome of intense research and in-depth planning. After being inspired with flourishing mobile trends they all meeting good outcomes too but is it favourable for all of them?

The latest market fashions or upgrading a business with innovating mobile technologies doesn’t always give hands to business which cannot solely survive with mobile apps but with PC software. This post explains a
few signs that require a business owner to go with mobile application development.

Do You Require Customer Service & Support?

Business that thinks assisting customers before or after purchase of its products/ services has more chances to sell. Creating a customer service and support app will help you in a variety of ways.

Does Your Business Require Customer Engagement At Any Point Of Selling Product Or Service? 

There are a category of businesses, companies and enterprises relying completely on customer engagement and obviously if you are one of them, definitely developing a mobile application is of great use. A dedicated one can have enough potential to engage customers in real-time and even by location and then, turn them into revenue generating ones.

Are you looking for brand identity? 

In recent time, location-based push notifications is said to be a great channel of instant promotion. Let’s say if you are an apparel store’s owner, how much impressive it would be to inform the localites walking within the radius of one kilometre that today about the greatest discount deals or off on cloths.

Want To Acquire More Online Customers?

If you are running an online store for products or services, recommended to be the part of mobile revolution. As 85% of US population prefer mobile platform more than their PC to shop, to know information and this reveals a better option to enable mobile apps development for your business profits regardless of limits of time and place.

5 Best Practices in Choosing Payment Gateway for Your Mcommerce App



One of the biggest hurdles retailers of all time face is capturing global sales online through mobile devices.Creating a payment gateway in a mcommerce app works to be a bottom line between the customer and the bank for the transfer of funds to the website or app owner via a bank verification process. .

Thanks to the presence of such facilities that shopping has become a seamless affair and customers love doing it from the comforts of any place without physically stepping out. But that requires a few extra efforts/ practical tips to choosing a payment gateway for your mcommerce app without hassles.

5 Best Practices in Choosing Payment Gateway for Your Mcommerce App

If looking for the right payment gateway for your app,

1. First adjourn to app requirements as well as yours so that you do not face obstacles and other associated delays in fund transfers in the future.

2. Mobile commerce apps are very dynamic and so do customers very savvy and expect you to provide quick and prompt transfer of funds when they buy your app. Therefore, check if it supports the latest technologies.

3. Compare the features of payment gateways that best suit you, despite the time taken, before you make the ultimate choice.

4. Some reliable and trusted payment gateway providers give you the advantages of free analysis and consultation which offers insight into the services.

5. The payment gateway should be a simple and must be a hassle-free one while app developers are integrating and implementing.


With the aid of above tips, the task for seeking the right payment gateway for your shopping cart app is a breeze. Bear in mind, once a unified and trustworthy solution is identified where the payment process is seamless and secures the comfort level is exceptional.
 

How Can Enterprise Mobile App Owners Leverage Against Security Issues



Data security has become the finest threat and leveraging the flexibility and increased productivity
offered by mobile apps while keeping sensitive data away from those that shouldn’t have access
to it.

We’ll discuss on a few security issues that enterprise mobile app owner’s face, and a few steps
that can be taken to avoid them.

Data Slurping

During app installation, users are provided with a list of permissions to access saved files, location data, the ability to transmit and receive messages from the device and more.

Data slurping can be tough so, you’ll want to use mobile device management policies to restrict the apps that can be installed via a “whitelist” of approved mobile apps.

Insecure File Transfers via Apps

How easy to access/ copy a document via emails through an open service or shared using Google Drive? Very well!

* Ensure that your employees are not transferring data or company files by using third-party software.

* Also, consider having a custom mobile app developed which can handle on-device
encryption and secure transmission of data.

Malware Installed Directly

Tens of thousands of pieces of mobile app malware are discovered each year which is sometimes
believed to be a game app but only to leech out all of the data stored on it.

You’ll want to ensure that any work-related data on the user’s device is encrypted, either inside of
a custom mobile app or another secure container.

Device Loss or Theft

If an employee loses a work device filled with sensitive information, of course the data is being
exposed.

* You’ll need to work to mitigate the potential damage of your devices if fallen into the
wrong hands

* Also, ensure it is possible to wipe data from any device that might have sensitive
information on it, remotely.


As an end note, there have been numerous instances of Android malware causing headaches while Apple app development has a stellar track record of keeping malware out of the App Store.

So, making a wise choice of well-coordinated strategy led by IT departments, and app development experts lies in you.

Monday, November 10, 2014

How Can Mobile Apps Help Break Bad Habits, Permanently?


Can it be really challenging to ensure that we’re staying true to our “good” habits? Well, yes says a recent survey conducted in New York. Whilst the world has already turned modernistic, a few mobile app developers stepped up to the plate to deliver habit-breaking smartphone apps that anyone can download to help kick a bad habit once and for all.

Let’s check out a few of sample apps and who knows you might get a better idea for your next app development project?

Kwit to Quit Smoking

Smoking cigarettes is absolutely terrible for your health. If you’re a smoker and ready to kick the habit, then download Kwit that turns the act of quitting in to a bit of a game.

Benefits

* Keeps you motivated by supplying you with stats about your progress and how much money you’ve saved.

* Rewards with various achievements and allows you to quickly share your success on social media networks like Facebook and Twitter.

Brush DJ for Oral Health

Not spending enough time brushing and flossing each day? Brush DJ aims at simple approach to get you brushing for the correct amount of time.

Benefits

* Hit the play button and you’ll be instructed to brush or floss for two minutes while being entertained with music from one of your favourite on-device songs.

* Set up custom playlists and schedule reminders for when it’s time to toss away your toothbrush or visit the dentist.

Procraster to Fight against Procrastination

One of the most productivity-sapping habits you can engage in, Procraster aims to help you understand “why” you’re not completing the task at hand.

Benefits

* Allows you to set up rewards to help keep you motivated

* Check in on your stats to see that the app is helping you to break your bad habits

Mint to Stop Spending Outside of Your Budget

Been overspending? App developers have created this popular app Mint to help you set and manage a monthly budget.

Benefits

* Sync your bank accounts, credit cards and lines of credit to the app to receive notifications of late fees and spending outside of your budget.


5 Major Challenges While Integrating Apple’s Ibeacon into Your Online Business


No surprise that beacons are currently the fastest-growing market segment for in-store devices. Apple’s iBeacon technology allows retailers to use a network of small, constantly-broadcasting wireless devices to communicate with apps that are installed on nearby consumers’ iPhones.

This post communes the seven challenges to plan for how you will integrate iBeacon into your business.


What Features Do We Need?

Without understanding your customer preferences and how iBeacon can make their shopping or brand experience that much better. Also, it use cases vary wildly between businesses so that retail stores might show a discount coupon for a specific product.

Signal Quality Becomes an Important Factor

In iBeacon app development, signal quality becomes an important factor subjected to signal degradation issues that can be caused by absorption and reflection. Understanding that your mobile apps will be faced with variable signal quality from local iBeacons is critical and this should be factored in to your overall development plan and pre-launch testing.

Obtaining Customer’s Permission

Without an iBeacon-enabled mobile app nearby to receive its signal and generate an appropriate response- it is of no use. Two primary goals include

* should be to push as many individuals as possible to install your mobile apps,

* obtaining their permission to receive communication from nearby iBeacons

Having said so, you’ll need to figure out how to communicate all of this information to the customer installing your app in a positive and easily-understood way.

Bound To Generate a Ton of Data

Dependent on your business and your iBeacon strategy you’re bound to generate a ton of data. Sya for instance, if you have your mobile apps reporting details of every transactions, then you need to  keep a close eye on the volume of data being generated during the development process and have a plan for how you’re going to make the best use of it.

Getting your iPhone App Approved

A new iBeacon-powered mobile app is subjected to intense scrutiny during the App Store review process and can be denied for any number of reasons. Therefore, ensure to explain how the app will benefit your customers and how to best use it. Bear in mind, receiving iBeacon notifications can impact battery life and this should be noted as well.


Keeping these 5 challenges when planning your Apple’s iBeacon strategy, you will be well on your way to developing a successful iphone application.

Tuesday, November 4, 2014

How Safe Is Online Retailing with NFC and Mobile Payments



Available in the iPhone 6, iPhone 6 Plus and Apple Watch, Near Field Communication or NFC is the latest tech trend aiming to consolidate the consumer experience. It lets two local devices share small bits of data as in like commuter cards, print advertisements, and smart cards. Very recently, Apple entered the game with its own mobile payment solution, Apple Pay making this technology go mainstream.

Howbeit, when discussing the possibilities to add NFC infrastructure to a shopping cart website despite its perceived simplicity, there were a few uncertain encounters, too.

This post deals about this fast-moving influence of the one safer mobile payment.

Bluetooth vs. NFC Mobile Payment

Sounds similar to Bluetooth due to its mobile connection abilities and sharing compatibility, NFC varies in two ways.

1. Bluetooth pulls information from devices up to ten meters away.NFC connections need a shorter distance of four to ten centimetres.

2.  Bluetooth requires a mediator to help set up the connection between two devices, while the connection is instantaneous (about 1/10th of a second) with NFC.

Looking through the safer part, the latter one prevents unwanted interception of sensitive information that is seemingly flying through the air.

NFC Devices Make Mobile Payment Easy

The NFC technology makes payment more interesting than ever before. All it requires is that consumers need to tap their NFC device against an NFC terminal or signal receiver, and the transaction is complete. Yes, Of course, these automatic connections simplify the consumer experience to complete all of your purchases and transactions but then, safety is a question.

Bear in mind, safety is always a priority when making mobile payments!

Ability to Track and Predict Consumer Behaviour

Guess how? This indirect and valuable feature of NFC help frequent buyer cards already tracked enabling the unique two-way communication ability to track, categorize, and instantly turn the personalized information into a marketing strategy unique to the consumer.


Easy and quick, the technology is already moving us towards a more intimate relationship with the businesses and marketers who sell the goods consumers know and love.