Smartphones are finally coming of age, and users are doing things regularly on their phones that have been long-promised by industry leaders.
Surf the Internet over a blazing fast network? Check. Connect with friends and families via social networks? Done. Manage your Christmas shopping online? Sure. Handle regular auto checkups for your car? There’s an app for that. It’s all there, and more.
eMarketer cities have high-levels of growth for mobile apps in many consumer categories below.
Increases in the use of web apps are leading the charge. Developers around the globe are creating easy-to-use web applications for mobile, and smartphone users are feeling more comfortable with using apps. That’s helping brands to create their own customer-friendly apps, further enabling online shopping and customer loyalty.
Car brands and car dealerships are getting more savvy with web apps. Mobile users are even considering using dealership web apps to buy used cars right in the palm of a buyer’s hand.
Edmunds | Kelly Blue Book
With the ease of purchasing in the palm of one’s hand, mobile smartphones are helping to move auto buying into a new area. Top auto ratings sites like Edmunds.com and Kelley Blue Book are offering user-friendly web apps, according to the NY Times. When customers walking into a dealership have the advantage of knowing a car’s average selling price in a certain area of the country, it’s an indispensable tool to have. These apps are also offering online costs calculators to assist in knowing amounts for the monthly loan payments.
Additionally, auto buying apps can even replicate the ‘buy here pay here‘ model of auto financing, common to car dealerships for many years. Instead of traditional dealerships showing cars first and then figuring out financial logistics later, ‘buy here, pay here’ dealership models check your credit worthiness at the start, and then will show prospective customers the cars in their acceptable financial ranges. It’s efficient and productive.
Google | Web Applications
Google too will likely see enhanced engagement from car drivers with new web apps. The web giant recently brought out a street view feature for its Maps application on Apple and Android smartphones. Google maps on smartphones has changed the way many of us drive and move around, whether it’s used for destination directions, best local restaurants, or just for a sense of location. The app features maps with 3-D buildings, voice guided turn-by-turn GPS navigation, driving, public transit, biking, and walking directions, street views, local search and business reviews and more. Users can plan a route for driving, biking or just walking. There’s also a live navigation function that works well.
Considering how far mobile apps have come in recent years, it’s exciting to see the changes in using mobile apps for online shopping. Hopefully, these resources will help you see the potential in enabling your device for more than viewing an occasional YouTube video.
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