Competition between mobile commerce companies may soon erupt
Competition within the mobile commerce sector has long been fierce, but as more companies become comfortable with the technological aspects of this sector, competition is beginning to heat up among large mobile commerce groups. ROAM, a specialist in mobile commerce technology, is expecting to see strong growth in the coming years. The company is set to add 50 new employees to its workforce, surpassing Square, another mobile commerce company.
ROAM begins catching up to Square
Square is currently considered one of the leaders in the mobile commerce sector. The company has deployed mobile point-of-sale systems to retailers and other businesses throughout the U.S. Square also boasts of being involved in one of the most successful mobile commerce partnerships in the world between itself and Starbucks. ROAM, however, is beginning to catch up to its competitor. Over the past four years, ROAM has deployed more than 2 million mobile commerce systems throughout the U.S.
ROAM manages to attract businesses interested in mobile commerce
ROAM has not experienced the level of growth that Square has largely due to the fact that the company’s technology is designed for reseller partners. ROAM CEO Ken Paull suggests that the company is a “well-kept secret,” but that does not necessarily detract from its influence within the mobile commerce sector. As the company continues to grow, it is becoming better positioned to directly compete with Square, which has managed to establish a strong foothold within the mobile commerce sector due to brand loyalty.
ROAM offers wide variety of mobile commerce services to merchants
ROAM claims to provide merchants with the full gamut of mobile commerce services. Paull suggests that no other company provides merchants with more services than ROAM, which has made the company relatively popular among businesses that are interested in mobile commerce. ROAM provides both hardware and software to these businesses, and allows them to be branded according to the client that is making use of these technologies.
Starbucks finds success on the mobile payments front
Mobile payments are becoming more common in the U.S., especially as businesses show interest in new forms of commerce and begin catering to consumers with smartphones and tablets. One company has managed to establish a powerful lead on the mobile payments front and may serve as a powerful example of what can be accomplished by engaging mobile consumers. That company is Starbucks, which has been involved in mobile commerce since teaming with mobile commerce firm Square only a few short years ago.
10% of company’s transactions come from mobile devices
Starbucks and Square have developed a mobile payments system that leverages QR codes and, in some cases, NFC technology to allow consumers to pay for products with nothing more than their smartphone or tablet. During the early stages of the company’s endeavor, Starbucks did not expect to see a great deal of support for its mobile commerce initiative. Consumers, however, proved that they were more than willing to embrace the service being offered by the company. Now, mobile payments represent 10% of the company’s total transactions in the U.S.
Consumers flock to Starbucks’ mobile commerce service
Part of the reason consumers seem to enjoy mobile payments is due to the convenience that it represents. Consumers can pay for nearly anything by simply waving their mobile device at a payment terminal. Starbucks also offers a reward program for those that make mobile payments, further piquing the interest of consumers. The company notes that many of its consumers happen to be tech-savvy individuals that are interested in engaging in new technologies they are not necessarily familiar with. This may be yet another reason why Starbucks has managed to find success in the mobile commerce arena.
Many consumers concerned over security of financial information
While mobile payments have been growing popular in the U.S., many consumers have shown resistance to the idea of mobile commerce. Several platforms designed to cater to this sector, such as Google Wallet, have failed to win any significant support from consumers. Many people cite security concerns for their lack of interest in mobile payments, while others consider mobile commerce to be nothing more than a passing fad.
