Alibaba and Globals will be establishing an incubator to help mobile commerce and mobile Internet startups
China’s Alibaba will be establishing a startup incubator for mobile Internet and mobile commerce in Bangalore, India. The project will be set up in partnership with Globals, an Indian mobile and analytics solutions company. The two companies have taken note of the meteoric rise of digital commerce, a rapidly increasing number of consumers opting to use their mobile devices to shop for and purchase products online and in physical stores.
Alibaba continues to invest heavily in the mobile space in order to establish dominance in digital commerce
Alibaba has already invested quite heavily in both the electronic and mobile commerce sectors. The company is considered China’s largest online retailer organization and rivals both eBay and Amazon in the global market. Over the past few years, Alibaba has been focusing more of its attention on the mobile space, opting to support mobile projects and platforms that allow consumers to use their smartphones and tablets to shop online.
India is one of the world’s fastest growing mobile markets
India is often characterized as one of the world’s fastest growing mobile commerce markets. The expansion of the mobile Internet throughout the country has made it possible for more consumers to participate in mobile commerce. As consumers becoming increasingly mobile, more startups are beginning to emerge that aim to provide valuable services to these consumers. In order for these startups to become successful, however, they must have the appropriate financial support and, in some cases, access to experienced consulting services.
New incubator will provide support for mobile commerce startups in India
The incubator that Alibaba and Globals will set up is expected to be launched in May or June of this year. The incubator will provide startups with mentoring and financial aid, pairing companies with the appropriate financiers and consulting services that they need. The incubator could be a boon for the numerous mobile commerce startups that are beginning to emerge in India, which could bolster the overall mobile market of the country
Mobile shopping has been growing quickly in China over the past year
Mobile shopping in China saw tremendous growth in 2014, according to a study from iResearch. The firm’s study highlights the growth of mobile commerce throughout the country, noting that many consumers have begun to shop online and in physical stores with their mobile devices. This trend is not unique to China, of course, as mobile commerce has been seeing healthy growth throughout Asia. The region is considered one of the fastest growing mobile commerce markets in the world.
Mobile spending triples in China throughout 2014, reaching new heights and encouraging retailers
According to the study from iResearch, mobile spending tripled in 2014 over what it had been in 2013. More people opted to shop with their mobile devices and they were more likely to spend larger sums of money while doing so. Mobile commerce saw 239% growth over the past year, while conventional e-commerce experienced on 49% growth. Mobile commerce accounted for 33% of all online sales made in China in 2014, a significant increase from the 14% that was recorded in 2013.
Demand for mobile commerce services is on the rise among interested consumers
China’s mobile commerce scene is dominated by a few large companies, such as Alibaba, but there are many services that are available to mobile consumers. These services make it possible to shop for and purchase products in physical stores with a mobile device. Smartphone penetration is on the rise throughout the country, which is leading to a greater demand for mobile payment services. This demand is expected to continue growing as more consumers become comfortable with mobile commerce.
Expansion of mobile commerce will continue, powered by retailer adoption and the demands coming from consumers
Mobile commerce is likely to continue expanding throughout China, powered by the initiatives that many retailers and Chinese banks are taking to engage mobile consumers. Conventional e-commerce still dominates the retail space, but mobile is beginning to play a more important role therein. Retailers are beginning to understand that if they do not engage mobile consumers, they may be missing out on promising opportunities.
