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Jan 08, 2021 (Heraldkeepers) -- The past few decades have seen a rising trend of mobile and other digital payment modes, which has almost pushed physical cash payments to the backstage! Ever since the coronavirus pandemic outbreak, shopping and payments have become contactless in nature.

Besides, with the implementation of new technologies and smart devices, along with mobile payment systems and online sales, customers are finding new ways to pay for their online purchases. In fact, this is the need of the hour for everybody, no matter what your business type is, to prevent the spread of the virus!

Additionally, thousands of mobile apps are coming up each day to cater to the unique needs of the digital audience. Today's customers have become smarter and more informed, which enables them to make better and more focused buying decisions.

This change in customer behavioral patterns and buying trends are giving brands tough competition to keep up with the dynamic market. The fun fact is by 2021, 3.8 million people worldwide are expected to use smartphones, and the number is likely to rise continuously in the upcoming years.

According to yet another study, 59% of shoppers found that being able to do mobile shopping is essential while deciding which retailer or brand to purchase from.

Needless to say, the rate of online shopping companies will face in the years to come will drastically increase. This also means that you need to optimize your website for mobile devices and provide all kinds of mobile payment options to boost your conversions.

To get started, here's a list of some top mobile technology trends that you should consider integrating with your online portal and eCommerce store in 2021.

1. Artificial Intelligence and Machine Learning

AI and ML almost need no introduction as it has already gained huge popularity, especially this year. These two technologies are expected to remain the top mobile technological trends in 2021 and several years beyond, along with more modifications.

The amalgamation of Artificial Intelligence and Machine Learning with mobile apps helps to automate tasks, increase productivity, enhance user engagement, promote seamless customer experience, and accelerate business growth.

2. Virtual Reality and Augmented Reality

An AR application is built to unite digital audio, visual, or other digital media into the real-life environment. VR, on the other hand, is having an immersive experience into the digital world with an impactful 3D vision, which totally shuts out the real world.

Some of the applications of AR and VR technologies can be found in healthcare, gas and oil industry, public safety, marketing, and tourism. 3D vision enables customers to make better buying decisions as it creates a stunning visual impact on them.

3. Internet of Things (IoT)

IoT or Internet of Things is a revolutionary technology that has provided diverse opportunities to businesses offering mobile shopping experiences. IoT refers to a network of physical "things" embedded with software, sensors, and other technologies for exchanging data with several systems and devices over a working Internet connection.

In short, IoT is a network or system of Internet-connected devices designed to provide automated control to the end-users. By adopting IoT technologies in mobile apps, one can control smart gadgets remotely. These devices might include smartwatches, fitness bands, and other smart wearables.

4. Chatbots

Since today's consumers can't wait to get a valid answer to their queries or doubts, it's essential to have a smart chatbot that will guide and reply to them instantly, especially during your non-working hours. The best thing about chatbots is that they offer 24/7 services, eliminating the waiting time of your customers, who are looking for an immediate solution.

Therefore, chatbots can –

Provide higher customer satisfaction and user experience.

Offer round-the-clock services to your consumers.

Give quick responses almost without requiring a human associate.

5. Cloud-based Mobile Apps

Cloud technology is the new cool in the mobile world, especially for entrepreneurs, who can store a huge amount of data in a cost-efficient manner. If you unite this technological trend with mobile apps, it will boost your productivity, storage capacities, and team collaboration.

Several apps collaborate with giant databases to use several cloud technologies, including Microsoft Azure, and of course, Amazon Web Services (AWS), which are designed to offer them good cloud computing backup. Examples of famous mobile applications using cloud technology are Google, YouTube, Twitter, and Pixlr.

Some of the advantages of using cloud-based mobile apps include –

You can recover your old data. In fact, you can store all your vital business and customer data over the cloud for a lifetime, without losing them.

Mobile cloud computing technology supports multiple platforms, which means you can access all your data from any device or operating system having an internet connection.

You can store and recover any data from any location across the globe using mobile cloud computing technologies.

6. M-commerce

M-commerce or mobile commerce, referred to the use of wireless handheld gadgets, such as tablets and smartphones, to carry out online commercial transactions. The activities that can be done using M-commerce may include paying bills, purchasing and selling products and services, online banking, and many others.

The benefits of using M-commerce are –

It offers an enhanced user experience.

It allows you to generate higher ROI.

You will get several advantages with traditional retail sales.

It provides better location tracking facilities, as well as personalized notifications.

It boosts your productivity and cost-efficiency.

The top brands using M-commerce technology in their mobile apps include eBay, Starbucks, Amazon, and Walmart.

7. Digital Authentication and Mobile Wallets

Buyers are most likely to abandon their carts if they don't get a safe, secured, and fast mobile payment system. In fact, some prefer mobile transaction systems having digital authentication processes, particularly while paying via mobile wallets.

Many mobile wallets are offering two-step or multi-step authentication facilities to ensure a secure environment while transferring funds over the internet. This typically includes entering a pin or fingerprint verification, since a majority of the smartphones and tablets today come with fingerprint scanners.

8. 5G Wireless Technology

5G technology is the latest drift in the mobile world that has tremendous capacities in store for the next year. Brands are expected to be more agile and efficient, and will be able to improve the responsiveness of their eCommerce sites.

Using 5G technology, large amounts of data are expected to get transmitted over wireless bands at rates as much as 20GBps on high speeds. Implementing top-level 5G technologies will be tremendously beneficial for your mobile business app, because customers are very impatient.

Buyers today love to shop from a site that's super-smooth and fast, and that allows them to checkout and place their order on-the-move!

COMTEX_377378871/2582/2021-01-08T00:26:44

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The MarketWatch News Department was not involved in the creation of this content.