Retailers are choosing to abandon their conventional e-commerce websites in favor of apps
Mobile shopping is becoming more common in India, but some consumers are not convinced that retailers should abandon their websites for an app-only approach. This is the case with Myntra and Flipkart, two of the largest e-commerce entities in the country. Both companies are opting to push shopping from a mobile application, choosing to abandon their websites altogether. While shopping on a mobile app may be considered convenient for consumers, removing the options that these consumers have may be a problem.
Apps may be making it less convenient to shop from a mobile device
Young consumers have shown a great deal of enthusiasm when it comes to mobile commerce. These people tend to spend a significant portion of their time on the Internet, using a wide variety of apps to interact with others and for the sake of entertainment. They also make use of mobile apps to do their shopping, but they also visit e-commerce sites directly, either with their desktop computers or mobile devices. As retailers begin abandoning their websites, consumers are finding it harder to shop online.
Mobile shopping apps tend to lack the functionality of e-commerce websites
Mobile shopping apps can be convenient, but they often lack the selection of products that can be found on conventional e-commerce sites. Apps also do not support large pictures, which can make it more difficult for consumers to see the products that they are interested in. There are also functionality issues with applications that can make shopping from a mobile device more complicated than it is meant to be. While websites are not perfect, they may offer consumers more options when it comes to shopping, especially when it comes to product selection.
Mobile shopping is gaining traction throughout India
Despite the problems of mobile apps, mobile commerce continues to thrive in India. More consumers are choosing to shop online with their smartphones and tablets than ever before. This trend is expected to continue gaining momentum over the next several years, making India one of the leasing mobile commerce markets in the world.
PCI Security Standards Council releases new security mandates that e-commerce enterprises must follow
E-commerce enterprises could be penalized if they do not abandon their outdated security protocols. The PCI Security Standards Council has released mandates that businesses must follow, requiring retailers to move away from Secure Sockets Layer (SSL) and embrace Transport Layer Security (TLS) protocols. SSL is a standard security technology that establishes an encrypted connection between a server and those accessing it, but this technology is beginning to grow outdated, especially as cyber attacks become more sophisticated.
Digital attacks are becoming a major threat for the e-commerce world
The PCI Security Standards Council has introduced new security mandates as a response to recent, high-profile digital threats, such as Heartbleed and Shellshock. These threats have caused significant turmoil in the digital space, and e-commerce enterprises may be exposed to risks that have yet to be detected. The organization is now urging e-commerce companies to make changes to their web servers so that they are compatible with TLS protocols. These companies are also being tasked with abandoning SSL support.
Security standards may have an impact on the mobile commerce space as well
These new security mandates will also affect the mobile commerce space. The mobile space has become a valuable target for malicious groups that aim to exploit financial information. Commerce applications are still relatively new, and the companies responsible for these apps are not yet versed in the various risks that exist in the digital space. As such, many apps lack the security they need to find mainstream success and adoption. New security standards could help solve this problem, offering consumers peace of mind when they participate in mobile commerce.
Many companies are still not fully compliant with security standards from the PCI Security Standards Council
Notably, many companies still fail to comply with security mandates issued by the PCI Security Standards Council. According to a recent survey from Verizon, 28% of companies are not fully compliant with security standards nearly a year after they received validation for their security protocols. This could become problematic, as these companies may be unnecessarily exposing themselves to digital risks.
