Three Start-up Ideas On Mobile Commerce
Mobile commerce or more widely known as M-Commerce is all about the boom of applications and other services that are readily accessible from mobile devices with internet capabilities. It includes new technologies, business models and other services. In other words, it is the ability to buy and sell services via handheld devices such as cellular phones, tablet computers and personal digital assistants or PDAs. M-commerce also enables users to access the World Wide Web without the need to plug their devices into. It is different from the traditional e-Commerce due to the fact that mobile phones and mobile devices impose very different control compared to desktop computers. Consequently, they also open many new doors to a surge of new mobile applications and services. They are present wherever you are, making it easier to find restaurants, keep in touch with family or make it easier to pay bills online.
Since that is already the case, it is now very hard to ignore the significance of getting into mobile commerce. A lot of businesses now are accepting mobile payments as it is now beginning to make sense. If you want to consider implying mobile commerce to your business too, here are some tips to help you start.
1. Know all the options. While there are many options to choose from for mobile fund transfers, for a lot of businesses, there are two good choices. First is to use devices like the Pay Anywhere device. It is possible by using a smart phone or tablet with an attached card reader device that processes credit card payments whenever needed. In fact, this type of point of sale payment option is even used in banks and other enterprises like restaurants. The second basic option to use is the “contactless payments”. This basically allows buyers to pay for their choice goods, products and services by using just the information from the client’s virtual credit card stored on a mobile device. The mobile device will be the one to communicate wirelessly by means of a payment terminal.
2. Talk to your bank. If your business is already registered with a merchant account on one of the major banks, never hesitate to ask if they offer extensions such as mobile payment service for your business. Banks will generally assist you on your needs to integrate other options for you to receive payments and keep your business going. Some already have the mobile payment option like Citibank but if your bank doesn’t offer it yet, third party companies can help you there. All you have to do is sign up to them and install their app to your devices, and then you’re good to go.
3. Always be connected. Whatever mobile commerce you choose for your business, you still need to connect it to your current system of operation. Of course this will mean some changes in your accounting transactions, task management and client relationship that may sometimes not mean much to your business. You may not see the results in a week or a month or so but and changes is sales may not be significant at first. Never lose heart, other businesses are already integrating this method and it brought them better check out options.
Mobile device point of sales and other contactless payments are now making sense to various types of businesses. However, these processes may also have some limitations. While you can see that this is a very good option for your business, decide if this is a type of option you and your customers are ready to enjoy.
