2021 Trends In Mobile Marketing
By Rosie Nguyen
In today's mobile-first world, people will spend more time online with mobile than any other device. The rapid changes in technology have led to consumers becoming more tech-savvy than ever. Understanding the latest trends, you can apply them to your brand and enhance the customer experience. Keep an eye on 2021 trends in mobile marketing!
(Source: AppFollow)
1. Chatbots are more prevalent
With mobile apps on the rise, chatbots are increasing in popularity among businesses and consumers. Chatbots are artificial intelligence (AI) systems that enable customer engagement via messaging, text, or speech. Many brands employ chatbot platforms such as Facebook Messenger, WhatsApp, WeChat, Slack, or text messages to their website and apps. Facebook's expansion with Facebook Messenger has been allowing businesses to connect better and assist their customers. Indeed, chatbots are becoming a necessity in specific industries.
According to a recent survey, 36% of Americans have used a chatbot to interact with the brand in 2019. By 2024, Insider Intelligence predicts that consumer in retail spends via chatbots worldwide will reach $142 billion—up from just $2.8 billion in 2019.
2. M-commerce on the rise
The rise of smartphones has fundamentally changed shopping behavior. Customers utilize mobile devices because technology provides convenient access and makes shopping easier, leading them to incorporate m-shopping into their habitual routines.
According to Business Insider Intelligence, the volume of m-commerce will hit $488 billion, or 44% of e-commerce, in 2024. Moreover, 85% of people choose native applications over mobile websites. With the rapid growth of app usage, it will be a significant contributor to sales growth, especially with Millennials and Gen Z holding massive spending power. These tech-savvy users can boost volume, as they're more likely to do a wider share of shopping on their smartphones.
Moreover, social media platforms, such as Facebook, Instagram, Twitter, and Pinterest also offered "Buy" buttons that let shoppers make purchases without leaving the platform.
3. Mobile Wallets
Digital payment methods are undergoing rapid change in a short time. Due to the pandemic, contactless payment is becoming more prevalent. In the survey done by pymnts.com, 13% of American smartphone users claim to use Apple Pay, 24% use Walmart Pay, 5% say that they use Samsung Pay, and 7% use Android Pay.
Besides, mobile wallets are great opportunities for companies to keep the customers loyal and make their purchases more convenient. Starbucks app is one of the best examples, being the most frequently used loyalty coupon app. The app allows users to store and collect loyalty points, easily order coffee and pay on the go.
4. AR In Shopping & Retail
AR Technology is nothing new, but how to bring it to the next level makes it a game changer. Recently, many retailers, such as Amazon, Uniqlo, IKEA, Sephora, successfully incorporate AR technology to give consumers a virtual option to shop. For example, IKEA's app allows customers to see what furniture and other products might look like in their own homes using AR technology.
Not only in shopping online, but AR is also a great solution to deal with social distancing policies, which affect retail during the COVID-19 pandemic. It can offer customers who cannot come to an in-person store, the advantages, convenience, and growing acceptance of virtual fitting room technology indicate that it will remain popular for years to come.
According to the 2020 IBM U.S Retail Index report, 41% of respondents were interested in trying a virtual fitting room to enhance their shopping experience, while 18% had answered that they had already tried the technology. As AR technology matures, the comfort of consumers will only increase.
Sources:
10 Augmented Reality Trends in 2021: The Future Is Here - Andrew Makarov
18 Key Mobile App Development Trends To Watch In 2021 - Michał Rejman
Chatbot Market in 2021: Stats, trends, and companies in the growing AI chatbot industry - Insider Intelligence
Rise of M-Commerce: Mobile Ecommerce Shopping Stats & Trends in 2021 - Andrew Meola
Webs of Influence: The Psychology of Online Persuasion - Nathalie Nahai
