M-commerce is a quickly growing component of the e-commerce realm. Many online retailers have already taken steps to optimize their stores, sales processes and customer service to better reach shoppers using smartphones and tablets.
Search engines are getting in on the mobile trend, too. Recent news of Google’s change in ranking search engine page results based on mobile-friendliness has pushed many organizations to make that aspect a higher priority. As Forbes pointed out, this update has a major impact on companies that rely on the Internet as a source of incoming customers and sales. Businesses that improve their usability in regard to mobile will be easier to find. Those that don’t will face some significant problems in remaining relevant with an increasingly mobile-focused consumer base.
A Less-Recognized Area of Mobile
In the rush to develop mobile-friendly e-commerce sites, many companies often forget the importance of setting up an identity verification tool. With mobile phones now serving as a point of contact and a tool for shopping, it’s common for customers to use their phone number during the checkout process. This can pose serious problems for businesses relying on phone numbers to verify customer identity. It is crucial that businesses implement an identity verification tool, such as Whitepages Pro’s Identity Check, when going thorough this process.
It’s no secret that mobile phones have instituted a major shift in the way both the general public and businesses use such technology. It’s common for people to only have a cellphone and to use that number exclusively as a point of contact throughout the many facets of their lives. Without the ability to confirm the identities tied to mobile numbers, it will become more difficult for online merchants and sales organizations to act quickly and accurately, whether it’s verifying leads or making sure orders are shipped to the right address. This in turn makes it more likely that they could lose market share to competitors.
This change isn’t just limited to the U.S., either. Emerging markets such as India and China are also seeing an increasing level of conversion to mobile-first commerce, as highlighted in Indian commerce news source Business Standard.
Being Mobile-Ready in All Respects
The shift in the way people search for and buy products is ongoing and isn’t likely to end anytime soon. As new types of technology are introduced, new potential channels for commerce are introduced. Businesses have to be prepared for future changes and make sure their operations are optimized for the present. Part of that preparedness involves having the right data verification processes in place. With Whitepages Pro, companies can more accurately manage the many phone numbers and other points of identity data provided by customers, be they for completing a product order or moving a potential client further through the sales funnel. Without a system to accurately manage this information, businesses put themselves into a position of vulnerability.
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