Brits will spend £27bn via mobile devices in 2017
According to a report by VoucherCodes.co.uk and the Centre for Retail Research, UK shoppers are expected to spend £27.02bn using mobile devices this year, which is an increase of 26% from the £21.51bn spent in 2016.
The report also noted that total online sales in the UK are expected to increase to £67.38bn this year, as compared to £60.43bn last year. Also, the number of online shoppers using mobile devices in the UK is expected to increase by five million this year to 28 million.
While 27.9% of total retail sales in Europe this year are projected to take place on mobile devices, the percentage in the UK is much higher (40.1%) due to the widespread use of contactless payment systems such as Android Pay and Apple Pay.
Commenting on the report, Claire Davenport, Managing Director at VoucherCodes.co.uk, said: “These latest figures confirm the increasing significance of mobile to both retailers and consumers, which is now the main driver for the continued growth of the online retail sector. This year, 40 pence of every pound spent online will come from a mobile transaction, a reality that retailers simply cannot ignore.
“To remain competitive and respond to customer demands, it is more vital than ever for UK retailers to evolve their mobile offering. This can be done by providing an optimised and mobile-friendly online shopping experience, developing truly seamless customer experiences across all channels and harnessing the power of targeted mobile marketing to drive footfall. As a nation, we are embracing mobile spending far more than our European counterparts — proving that the UK’s consumers and retailers are very open to digital innovation in retail.”