If online shopping is the new face of retail, then the tablet is giving it a makeover. According to Mashable.com, more consumers are using their tablets to shop online, outpacing the use of smartphones. By 2014, one in three people, about 89.5 million, will have a tablet.
Recent research shows that tablets are gaining traction among online shoppers. Shoppers in three age groups have used their tablet more than their cellphone to shop online: 79 percent of people 18-34, 50 percent of people 35-54, and 43 percent of people older than 55. And purchases made from a tablet are larger than those made from a phone. The average online order from a tablet is $123, compared to an average of $102 when ordered from a desktop and $80 when ordered from a smartphone.
About 58 percent of people with tablets use them at home, where online shoppers are more likely to buy. More than 50 percent of those people prefer to use their tablets to shop online. Recent research also found that roughly a third of tablet users check prices before shopping in a brick and mortar store.
Tablets are here to stay and their use will continue to grow tremendously. Many retailers need to embrace these devices and support them in their e-commerce efforts. This is also an important reminder for retailers to think about the changing consumer technologies. As consumers’ buying habits and methods continue to change, retailers need to be thinking about choosing flexible business services that allow them to adapt.
Source: Mashable, April 2012
