Tag: starbucks

Whole Foods Markets embraces mobile payments

| February 18, 2014

Whole Foods Markets teams with Square to enter into mobile commerce

Whole Foods Markets has partnered with Square in order to be more accommodating of mobile commerce. The grocery retailer has taken note of a rise in the use of mobile devices among its customers and has become well aware of the mobile commerce trend. Consumers throughout the U.S. are beginning to demand new mobile commerce services and Whole Foods Markets has turned to Square in order to accommodate consumer needs. Square is currently considered one of the most successful mobile payments organizations in North America.Whole Foods Market - Mobile Payments

Square helps Starbucks find success in the mobile sector

Square has been part of some of the most successful mobile commerce initiatives in the world. Starbucks partnered with Square in order to engage mobile consumers more aggressively. In 2013, it was reported that Starbucks managed to generate more than $1 billion in revenue through mobile payments alone. These payments were handled by Square’s mobile commerce platform. Whole Foods Markets believes that it can find similar success through its own mobile commerce initiatives.

Test phase will determine consumer interest in mobile payments and the viability of expanding mobile commerce services to other stores

Whole Foods Markets will be testing its mobile payments venture in a limited number of stores initially. The pilot testing phase is meant to help the company better understand mobile commerce and help determine whether mobile commerce is something its customers would participate in. Depending on the success of the testing phase, Whole Foods Markets will expand its mobile commerce initiative to more stores throughout the U.S.

Many consumers remain concerned about mobile commerce security

Square has been working to make mobile commerce mainstream for some time. The company’s partnership with Starbucks has effectively solidified mobile commerce with many consumers throughout the U.S., but many people are still somewhat leery of mobile payments. The concern that many people have when it comes to mobile commerce has to do with the security of their financial information. Mobile commerce has become a popular target for malicious groups that seek to exploit a consumer’s financial information through hacking and other such practices.

Starbucks leads the way in mobile payments

| August 5, 2013

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.

Mobile Payments at StarbucksConsumers 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.