I pointed to my favourite example: Amazon and shoelaces. I explained that I don’t give a hoot about shopping for shoelaces — I just want
it done. I want them delivered next day and I don’t want to spend more than a jillisecond thinking about it. Life is short. Taking 30 minutes
out of my day to go hunting for shoelaces is a poor use of time. I demonstrated being able to locate and order shoelaces in about 10 seconds with the Amazon mobile app.
Then I talked about Pizza Express. Then I explained Masabi’s mobile ticketing. Then…
I ran out of examples.
I briefly remembered that Ocado in the UK does (or did, in 2009 if memory serves) 7-8% of its whole revenues through mobile. I quoted that.
The chap wasn’t having any of it, saying that these were just isolated issues of particular need and that in 10 years time we’ll still be
shopping via a ‘proper’ (desktop) computer.
Setting aside the fact this chap has his head in the sand, I wondered if you had any good examples of mobile commerce that you could tell me
about? Just a sentence or two. I need to bolster my example array beyond just quoting Amazon or eBay stats.
If you’ve got a second, stick a quick one-liner comment below telling me about your favourite M-Commerce example?
Pizza (Dominos) and the Cinema (Movies app etc).
Ticketing, Banking Transactions & Bill payments from Mobile eases my life a lot, no more going to branch or ticket counters.
any specific branded examples Pankaj?
Matt, what’s the most expensive item you’ve bought via mobile?
Check out http://rentwant.com. Use your mobile browser to view listings of what people are renting around you (location based). It enables people to rent idle items they own to people around them. It essentially creates a location based, rental marketplace.
I’m going to check that one out thank you squawkBOX!
Now that is very cool!
Tesco’s and Ocado’s are great examples of mCommerce
ASOS just launched iPhone and & iPad apps with full checkout ability, Wagamama has an app where you can order your food and pay to collect at one of their restaurants, then you have the plethora of travel apps – Expedia, PremierInns, Trainline, Virgin Trains (which you covered by Masabi). Want to go to the Cinema? well then just fire up the Odeon or Vue apps / mSites to find out whats one near you and then book a cinema ticket.
It’s amazing when you actually start looking how many examples you find, I have just scratched the surface here!
In India I use
Banking – ICICI Bank – http://www.icicibank.com/Personal-Banking/onlineservice/mobile-banking/mobile.html
Ticketing – bookmyshow.com – http://in.bookmyshow.com/mobile/
Utility payments – NGPay – http://www.ngpay.com
Ah very interesting indeed!
Hi Ewan! Its just been launched out of Melbourne Australia.. Im helping the guys out a bit.. Glad you like it. 🙂
Always do grocery shopping on the iPad – The Ocado app is a pleasure to use and much better than trudging down supermarket isles.
Amazon is a no-brainer and as you’ve already mentioned, it sells everything under the Sun. One of the cool features i’ve recently discovered on it is the image recognition. Take a photo of something – a water bottle for example, and Amazon will go away and search to find that specific item/ bulk of items for you to then add to your basket. Brilliant.
eBay is obviously a great one. Keeps me right up to date with anything i’m bidding on and means i never miss the last few minutes of an auction.
Addison Lee – One of the best working, fully connected travel apps out there. No phone calls, put in where you are (use my location) and where you want to go and if you’re paying by cash or card (done through the app). Within a couple of seconds you get a quote through – confirm if you want to go-ahead and the taxi is usually there within about 5 mins. Confirmation comes through via text that your taxi has arrived, reg number, driver’s phone number and the fact he’ll wait for 20 mins if you’re not there before going.
Domino’s Pizza has always been an advocate of mobile commerce. With iPhone, Android and iPad apps you can order a pizza in a few swipes and pay via PayPal which is great (just for clarity Somo, a client of mine, built the Domino’s apps – but they’re still fantastic apps)
Mobile commerce is getting there, but it does need a few more examples.
ohh yes ! paying a convenience fee is better then wasting time as you pointed out & that seems to be more then enough reason for using a mobile service. Interesting days ahead as more and more people are atleast starting to make micro transactions on mobile. Mobile is the most Convenient medium. Trust & Reliability is the only question on people’s mind here. e-commerce n m-commerce are all the same.. the lines have blurred IMHO.
Following your blog from the workshop a few weeks ago – Thought this was quite a good example but probably already seen it!
http://www.telegraph.co.uk/technology/mobile-phones/8601147/Tesco-builds-virtual-shops-for-Korean-commuters.html
I have seen it Louise — it’s a brilliant example of the kinds of things this new technology can offer isn’t it? 🙂
—
Ewan MacLeod
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Amazon is good example.. and the use of the Amazon Kindle app is better then shoelaces! Interflora do a great app in Denmark (but not UK for some reason) which works a treat. I have used the Argos app (the shame) but it does do what it says on the can and does it well. Ocado app works well and I use it when I remember. I am told, but not used it, that the Screwfix app is very good as well.
Oh, and this is all on Android. Not that I am biased (well not much) but it does show that there is a lot of innovation and development for the Android platform and mCommerce is one that has really taken off.
I’m a big fan of Masabi and will be going to Masabi Towers soon to see some of the stuff they are doing with the new NFC phones from RIM.
It is worth keeping an eye on what O2 are going to be doing in the next few months as well.
Excellent points!
A note on Interflora Ray — I really think they need to deliver something decent into market!
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Ewan MacLeod
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Indeed. You would think that that a company like interflora is ripe for mCommerce. There is a sense of “the now” about ordering flowers at times.. and I am surprised they do not have a UK app
I built a mobile commerce site for Direct Golf UK earlier this year, so I would say business are slowly getting the point that mCommerce is starting to become important for customers out there.
that’s good to hear Andrew!