With mobile apps being developed at the warp speed of innovation, it’s not the content they’re offering that will lead trends in 2023, but rather how they respond to users’ ever-increasing demands for convenience, efficiency, and privacy, that will sort the leaders from the pack. This means that the proliferation of mobile commerce (m-commerce) via in-app purchases is likely to drive growth, along with enriched user experiences and greater security at a time when threat actors are just as innovative and determined to succeed as legitimate platforms and brands.
These trends are increasingly relevant to the South African market as app adoption has soared thanks to increased smartphone penetration as devices become more affordable, and the South African population becomes more connected than ever before.
This is all at a time when consumers spent US$167 billion directly on premium app purchases and in-app extras across the world, while brands invested US$336 billion of advertising spend into the app market – which all means that the turnover of in-app commerce during 2022 exceeded a half a trillion dollars.
Apps aren’t just for gaming and commerce. Of the app categories highlighted in the State of Mobile 2023 report, three app categories captured 50% of all mobile time spent, and they were all in video and social. TikTok is now one of only two non-game apps to pass $6 billion in all-time consumer spending, with more than 3.5 billion downloads – double those of much older YouTube!
If that’s the context in which apps are being developed and marketed, what are the trends likely to be led by during the remainder of 2023?
Click into m-commerce
The mobile gaming sector is growing at an exponential rate, creating significant gaming commerce opportunities, with this industry pushing the boundaries of technology to create cutting-edge and highly immersive entertainment experiences. This gives brands significant commercial opportunities to draw on developers’ skills and creativity to find enticing ways to engage with gamers who are consumers. At the same time, it gives marketers myriad new opportunities to reach their intended audiences via in-app advertising and purchasing relevant to consumers in markets, regardless of their maturity level.
Keep things convenient
Improvements in productivity and efficiency brought about by the increased adoption of mobile services are benefiting consumers and brands, which means that mobile must now be at the heart of brands’ business strategies. An effective mobile strategy makes it possible to reach audiences at scale, improve customer shopping experiences, and boost online conversions. It’s also important to highlight the rise of e-payments, which has added momentum to the popularity of digital shopping.
Simultaneously, it’s estimated that mobile wallet usage will expand to 4.8 billion mobile wallets by the end of 2025, coinciding with consumers’ increased focus on security and responsiveness as they become disillusioned with traditional banks and legacy financial systems.
Be sure about security
While the regulatory environment has responded to privacy and safety concerns with POPIA in South Africa and GDPR in Europe, users remain concerned about the privacy and security of their personal data, even more so as identity theft, phishing, and other online crimes become more common. This presents challenges to app teams as they have to increasingly protect privacy and user data via steps such as authentication and encryption while being transparent about the data they collect, and how they protect it.
Keep things simple… seriously!
With so many apps available to complete tasks as diverse as gaming and finance, productivity and fitness, app users can be overwhelmed with the options at their fingertips – and in a market like South Africa, where data costs are still high, many don’t enjoy the full optimal experiences that their devices and apps could offer. A near-distance file-sharing platform that supports online and offline, like SHAREit, consolidates all a phone’s files under one umbrella and helps users manage them in a more convenient and seamless way. In 2022, the app took transformative steps to optimise the mobile experience and make users more productive. Besides the high-speed file-sharing feature, it also has features such as Phone Cleaner, Phone Booster, Battery Saver, and File Manager which help boost mobile smartphone performance when playing games.
“SHAREit is ranked as the top leading app by downloads globally in the Utility and Productivity / File Management – Top 20 Global App Subgenres in 2022 according to State of Mobile 2023 report from Data.ai,” says Chanel Hardman, country manager for SHAREit in South Africa. This includes its prestigious ranking as the No.4 media source globally in volume and power rankings in non-gaming categories, No.7 in all categories on the In-App purchases (IAP) index and No.8 on the global retention index across all categories for driving huge volumes according to AppsFlyer.
“At SHAREit, we work with more than 700 global advertisers to help them with awareness campaigns, user acquisition and seamless user monetization via extensive audience networks – all of which respond directly to the trends the market anticipates during 2023,” she adds. “This is true across all app categories in South Africa, but particularly in shopping, food and grocery, and video streaming options.”
For more information about SHAREit, please visit: www.ushareit.com
Brandstories Disclaimer:
Brandstories is not liable for the contents of the information published on this platform. The information which subscribers publish on this website is for general information purposes only and Brandstories facilitates the ability for viewers and subscribers to access this platform. Subscribers who publish their content on Brandstories are held responsible for their own content. This includes ensuring that it is factually accurate, grammatically correct, free of spelling errors, and does not contain unsavoury content that could result in legal action. In the case of linguistic translations, the onus is on the client to ensure that the translation is accurate. In no event does Brandstories make representations or warranties of any kind, expressed or implied about the completeness, accuracy, reliability, suitability or availability with respect to the information supplied and published. This website includes links to other websites, including third party websites. Brandstories does not recommend, endorse or support any views that are held by subscribers publishing information, and within these links provided. Furthermore, Brandstories does not have control over the nature, contents and availability of information contained on these sites. Any form of reliance readers and consumers may place on information published on Brandstories is strictly at their own risk. Brandstories makes every effort to ensure that the website is up and running smoothly at all times, however Brandstories does not take responsibility for, and will not be held liable for times when the website is temporarily unavailable due to technical glitches that are beyond our control.
You may also like
-
LUX* Belle Mare: Feasting on Authenticity
-
Club Med Val d’Isère: ’45 Things We Adore’
-
One million plastic bottles become luxury goods
-
The quest for certainty in e-commerce delivery
-
When it comes to parcel delivery, few names resonate on a global scale quite like DPD. The company’s reach, credibility, and the esteemed network it belongs to are nothing short of phenomenal. In this article, we delve into the vast expanse of DPD and its associated companies around the world, unveiling a picture of unmatched expertise and commitment. At its core, DPD South Africa is backed by Geopost, the majority shareholder. Geopost, a true multinational juggernaut, operates in 49 countries across all continents. It boasts an extensive network of expert delivery brands, each a leader in its respective domain. These include DPD, Chronopost, SEUR, BRT, Speedy, and Jadlog, collectively serving as a testament to Geopost’s global prominence. With 57,000 dedicated employees, Geopost is on a mission to make commerce more convenient, profitable, and sustainable for its customers and the communities it serves. A remarkable feat is Geopost’s commitment to becoming an international reference in sustainable delivery. It stands as the first global delivery company to have its roadmap to Net Zero by 2040 approved by the Science Based Targets initiative (SBTi). Geopost’s influence spans borders and is setting an industry standard that others can only aspire to reach. Local Partnerships and Powerhouses In the local arena, DPD South Africa enjoys the support of The Laser Group, a minority shareholder. The Laser Group is a proudly South African company, proudly majority black-owned, and holds the distinction of being one of the largest independent logistics businesses in the country. This local collaboration adds a uniquely South African touch to the global excellence that DPD embodies. An International Partner of Unmatched Stature Geopost, with its DPDgroup, reigns supreme as the largest international parcel delivery network in Europe. DPDgroup seamlessly blends innovative technology with local knowledge, creating a flexible and user-friendly service that benefits both shippers and shoppers. Geopost’s revolutionary Predict service, for instance, has set a new industry standard for convenience, ensuring that customers stay closely connected with their deliveries. With a colossal workforce of 122,000 delivery experts and an astonishing network of more than 58,000 Pickup points, DPDgroup achieves an awe-inspiring feat – delivering 8.4 million parcels each day, amounting to a staggering 1.9 billion parcels annually. The Global Success Story Continues The DPD business units function as the parcel delivery network of GeoPost, a holding company with sales soaring to €11 billion in 2021. Geopost is owned by Le Groupe La Poste, underlining the significance and reach of DPD’s corporate family. In sum, DPD isn’t just a parcel delivery company; it’s a global powerhouse that epitomizes excellence in logistics. Its association with Geopost and the extensive network of delivery brands it encompasses speaks volumes about its global standing. DPD isn’t just delivering parcels; it’s delivering on a promise of unparalleled service, worldwide. By the Numbers: DPD’s Global Impact Number of parcels delivered every single day: 7.5 million Annual Revenue: €11 billion Countries DPD can ship to via its network or partners: +230 Delivery Experts: 97,000 Countries in which DPD operates: 50 Number of parcels delivered per year: 1.9 billion https://www.dpd.com/za/en/