New Research Finds Consumers Use Mobile Devices for Product Information Whether Shopping In-Store or at Home

BOSTON, April 5, 2017 -- A majority of consumers rely on their mobile devices to research what to buy. In fact, a notable 77 percent of shoppers use a mobile device while shopping in-store, according to the second annual consumer study commissioned by Salsify, the only product content management (PCM) platform for distributed commerce. This compares to just 35 percent of shoppers who opt to speak to a salesperson if they have questions about a product.

With so many turning to mobile while shopping in-store as well, the need for strategic and informed product content has never been more essential. In fact, 87 percent of consumers say accurate, rich, and complete product content is very important when deciding what to buy.

"Consumers are increasingly turning to their mobile devices to answer product-related questions, like price and availability, while they shop," said Jason Purcell, CEO and co-founder of Salsify. "This year's research again demonstrates just how critical it is for every brand and retailer to have a systematized approach to maintain robust and relevant digital content to retain shopper attention and win sales."

Ecommerce leaders must prioritize the mobile experience. The research indicates that consumers between the ages of 18 and 29 are most likely to use a mobile device when shopping online (84 percent), followed closely by the 30 to 44 group (78 percent). The 60+ set is least likely to shop online via mobile device, with just 36 percent straying from more traditional shopping methods for the convenience of mobile.

Findings also highlight a significant opportunity for brands to capture market share with product content. The most common paths to purchase online leave room for influencing shoppers. A majority of shoppers (87 percent) begin shopping on either Amazon or Google. However, while only 4 percent of consumers who start on Amazon will buy somewhere else, 38 percent who start a search on Google will buy from a different retailer. This means that brands and retailers have a tremendous opportunity to win sales by improving their product data on Google.

Additional findings from Salsify Consumer Research include:

• Inaccurate product content leads to costly returns and customer churn: 50 percent of shoppers have returned an item they bought online because it did not match the product description. Fifty-four percent of those who returned items are less likely to buy from that vendor again.
• Shoppers need robust product content before buying: 70 percent of shoppers need to see at least three product images and 86 percent want to read at least three product reviews before purchasing a product.

Methodology
The study was conducted by Salsify using the SurveyMonkey Audience Panel. During September 2016, more than a thousand online shoppers were surveyed about what impacts their decisions when they shop and buy. Download Salsify's ebook on its latest research here.

About Salsify
Based in Boston, Salsify's SaaS-based Product Content Management platform powers the creation, management, and syndication of product content across the distributed commerce ecosystem. Salsify transforms product content management from an administrative burden into a driver of new revenue, increased productivity, and market share growth. For more information, please visit: http://www.salsify.com.

Media Contact
Jill Rosenthal
InkHouse (for Salsify)
Salsify@InkHouse.com