Many UK retailers are losing out on sales due to poor usability of their mobile web presence, according to Hitting the Mobile Checkout, a new report from eCommerce consultancy, dotCommerce. Only one third of retailers surveyed had dedicated mobile sites available, dramatically impacting a positive buying experience.
The benchmark study, available to download here, assessed 12 leading UK retailers, across various categories using Blackberry, iPhone and Android devices. Each site was marked against 22 criteria across eight categories like ease of use, security and integration with other marketing.
The best performing section was site navigation, suggesting that the fundamentals of the mobile experience are receiving most attention. However, with the Checkout Process and Payment confirmation receiving average scores of 27% and 22% respectively, all this effort may be futile if orders cannot be completed at these vital stages.
Boots (75%) and New Look (68%) scored the highest marks, demonstrating a clearer understanding of mobile shoppers’ requirements. Meanwhile, of the four retail categories we examined, fragrance brands showed the worst performance, making up three of the four poorest scoring brands versus footwear, cosmetics and cookware.
“These findings paint a clear picture of the mobile challenge retailers must tackle today,” says Ben Staveley, Head of eCommerce. “Growing consumer expectations and a fiercely competitive market make this an area where getting left behind is a big risk and yet, a very real possibility.”
The Hitting the Mobile Checkout League Table
75 Boots
68 New Look
68 Argos
62 Bobbi Brown
62 Office
60 Estee Lauder
56 Russell Hobbs
55 ECO Kettle
55 Fragrance Direct
54 The Fragrance House
51 House of Fraser
45 The Perfume Shop
dotCommerce’s benchmark report, Hitting the Mobile Checkout, offers over 35 best practice guidelines and top tips for effective online retailing, with practical information and real-world examples.
