The pandemic and resulting impact in work, home, and leisure routines has also generated a surge in mobile app usage. A study just released from Airship finds an incredible surge across almost all app categories in the March-June period, when so many people found themselves at home. And while they were at home, many found mobile apps as the optimal way of continuing to connect with all aspects of their lifestyle.
As we have shared in this blog since the beginning of the pandemic, consumer behavior is changing radically. Limitation on consumers’ ability to go into stores or businesses to interact with merchants the way they used to has made investment in mobile app technology a must-have for all businesses. Those who choose to conduct business in the same way they did before March are leaving themselves vulnerable to being left behind as this new reality emerges.
Comparing March through June activity in 2020 to 2019, the health care (+60%), media (+55%), and entertainment (+40%) categories led in app usage growth. And compared to the February year-over-year app activity, the biggest change was with Business apps.
Three companies that have seen their business explode since the pandemic are Wal-Mart, Target, and Amazon. They were each perfectly positioned to shift their shopping experience from in-store to online with curbside pickup, and not surprisingly, each provides an excellent mobile shopping experience.
There is no reason why any business – regardless of size – shouldn’t be able to compete with these retail behemoths in the mobile space. And ceding this turf to them will just empower consumers to shift their spending to them.
While we have no way of knowing if – or when – things will return to normal, it’s safe to assume the importance of mobile apps in all aspects of commerce will remain. And this is especially important for any business that depends on the revenue burst from the holiday shopping season – providing a mobile app/shopping experience is going to be key to your success.
