Last week we posed the question, “Does your business need a mobile app?” In part two of Mobile Your Business with Mobile Apps we continue the conversation with some solid facts and a look into how big brands are capitalizing on the recent app craze.
Mobile apps are not just for games and social networking. Consumers are surfing, shopping, and searching for your brand via the mobile web. If you’re not mobile ready then you’re missing out on a huge opportunity to reach your customers where they are the most, their Smartphone device.
If you’re still asking yourself, “does my business need a mobile app” then take a look at some of these stats, trends, and examples of how utilizing mobile apps can increase revenue and branding initiatives for your organization.
Small Business & Consumer Stats
Businesses in every industry are realizing that mobile applications are not just a phase but a necessity when it comes to reaching your consumers. Smartphone users are spending 74 minutes a day surfing the mobile web, and 81 minutes a day using mobile apps. (1) If your business isn’t taking note of this upward mobile trend, you’ll be left behind.
Here are a few more stats on how small businesses are embracing apps:
- 72% use some form of mobile apps for daily operations
- 38% view mobile apps as an essential part of their business strategy
- 49% use mapping and GPS tools
- 24% use location-based services
- 20% use mobile credit card payment services (2)
Consumer Trends
- Globally, consumers are expected to spend $119 billion by 2015 through their mobile phones
- Accounting for about 8% of all e-commerce activity
- Steady trend upwards
- Increasing smartphone penetration
- Faster mobile broadband speeds
- Increased user comfort (3)
Since the launch of the Apple App store in July 2008 the app market has continued to accelerate at a rapid pace. All of the business and consumer trends showcase a continued expansion of mobile business opportunities for small and large companies alike!
Maximizing Your App Potential
Larger brands are embracing mobile technology and are seeing huge results in return. You don’t have to be a mega brand to make an impact on your consumers while increasing your bottom line. Start with a vision and a goal for how you can reach your customers. Do you know what they want? Are you listening?
Check out a few examples of how the following brands are maximizing their mobile potential, and in the end, reaching their customers on a whole new level.
Pizza Hut
“It’s no longer going to be a cool thing to have a mobile app. It’s going to be a customer expectation.” – Baron Concors, Pizza Hut CIO
Pizza Hut’s mobile app makes building your dinner fun and interactive. The intuitive user interface lets you build a pizza from the crust up, order some wings, pasta, or whatever else your palate is craving, then submit your order for pickup or delivery.
The Results:
- Over 2M downloads
- Within 3 months, Pizza Hut app revenue was $1M
- Within 12 months, app revenue was $7M (4)
Expedia TripAssist
Expedia’s goals for their TripAssist application was to provide a mobile marketing solution, implement real-time brand awareness, while maintaining their competitive advantage.
TripAssist is available on the iPhone, Android, BlackBerry, and Windows Mobile with the following features:
- Research flights, hotels, destinations
- Manage/update itineraries
- Notifications, flight alerts
- Handle travel while mobile
- Make purchases
The results:
- Over 55,000 trips booked in first year (2009)
- More than doubled in 2010
Amazon
“Over time, tablet computers could become a meaningful additional driver for our business.” −Jeff Bezos, Amazon CEO
Amazon has changed the way consumers shop online, so why wouldn’t they look to dominate the mobile space. With Amazon’s free mobile app you can browse products, compare multiple items, read customer reviews, and purchase directly from your phone.
The Results:
- Substantial growth in purchasing while mobile
- More than $1B sales per year from mobile
- Kindle books now outsell hard cover books
eBay
eBay was forced to re-evaluate their business model after Amazon took over the online shopping throne. But now, with investments in mobile and local technologies, eBay is beefing up their mobile presence and learning that adaptation is crucial in this fast growing tech market.
The Results:
- Over 45 million downloads
- Users can buy, sell, and check eBay prices via bar codes
- $2B in mobile transactions in 2010
- Continuous, significant mobile growth (6)
Businesses in every industry can take notes from the aforementioned companies and apply many of the same concepts and ideas to their own mobile strategy. The number one and most important fact is…your customers are mobile.
Many companies shy away from mobile technology because they are afraid of the unknown. The statistics are available and there are many companies out there that can assist in developing your mobile strategy. So do your research, make a plan, and take your company mobile!
top image courtesy of Flickr, blakespot
Resources:
1) Mashable
2) Information Week, March 2011, 2246 small business owners
3) ABI Research
4) Dallas Business Journal, August 2010
5) Amazon Press Release
6) eBay 2010 earnings report
Continue Reading Mobilize Your Business with Mobile Apps! Pt. 3
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