'Net Features : pitney bowes

QR Codes Acceptance Increases

Amberly Dressler — Mon, 21 Jan 2013 17:35:00 GMT

Today’s on-the-go consumers want access to information, coupons – you name it – at their fingertips. As such, the adoption and acceptance of QR codes is growing.

A recent Pitney Bowes survey reports has QR Code usage in the U.S. now at 19 percent, up from 5 percent previously reported by Forrester Research the previous year. Pitney Bowes suggests two elements for this marketing tool. First, QR codes cross traditional and digital channels, adding value to both marketing avenues. Additionally, QR codes are delivered through a mobile channel, which is fast becoming the preferred channel among consumers. Secondly, QR codes, when implemented as part of a cohesive marketing campaign are highly measurable.

Pitney Bowes offers the following tips to marketers and merchants using QR codes:

1. Focus on printed pieces such as magazine ads or packaging

2. Attach a message to communicate the customer value of scanning the code

3. Offer a mobile-friendly landing page

4. Use QR codes to integrate your digital and physical marketing programs

5. Measure and analyze results

6. Acknowledge, thank and reward your customers.

“As marketers move toward measuring real time results of their campaigns, QR codes deliver a few of consumers as them change lanes from one channel to another,” said Justin Amendola, vice president, global SMB digital strategy, Pitney Bowes. “Whether you are a local bridal shop or a multinational packaged goods brand, QR codes are a measurable new marketing tool that’s gaining traction with consumers.”

Download the full QR Code use report. For more QR code usage tips, click here.

Tips, Stats for E-Commerce Holiday Season

Amberly Dressler — Wed, 26 Sep 2012 18:30:00 GMT

Much to most of our chagrin, retailers are already stocking the shelves with holiday décor. Although we haven’t hit October, brick-and-mortar stores are doing what they can to pinch more out of the holiday season. E-commerce sites can do the same.

To do so, it’s not only important to understand which products are most likely to be purchased online, but to also understand the current international online purchasing picture, for companies entertaining the idea of expansion. Pitney Bowes, a provider of business communication software, mailing systems and services, surveyed 4,000 consumers (in France, Germany, the U.K. and the U.S.) asking just that. Books, clothes, magazines, shoes and electronics hold the top-five slots globally, while health supplements, pet supplies, gardening products, Do-It-Yourself products and crafts ranked last of the preferred items for online purchase. The survey also looked at what these consumers purchased in the last year. Magazines counted for 55 percent, of the group's online purchases, books 52 percent, clothes 51 percent and so on.

It’s also important to note that the report, Consumer Trends in Online Shopping and Shipping, found that online purchases of every type of product are on the rise in the last 12 months. According to Goldman Sachs, e-commerce sales are predicted to reach $963 billion globally by 2013, with an annual growth rate of 19.4 percent.

“Consumers continue to delight in having clothes and electronics arrive at their doorstep,” said Craig Reed, Vice President Global E-commerce, Pitney Bowes. “Cross border e-commerce shopping and shipping solutions are expanding retail’s reach this year. It is critical to create a predictable seamless experience for each consumer from the online shopping cart to the moment they open the package at home.”

Additionally, the company offers the following tips for the e-commerce holiday season:

For the consumer in any country, the shopping cart experience must be seamless. E-commerce solutions now automatically calculate cross-border fees, end-to-end shipping and local taxes. They also filter out products that are prohibited from being sold in certain locales by import and export regulations.
Use a multi-channel approach for holiday campaigns. Direct mail, call centers, websites, live chat, texts, social media and email should all be leveraging the same customer data and communicating in a similar tone.
Pace your communications for a two-way conversation to build customer loyalty. Timing and acknowledging previous touch points build intimacy.
Make returns and customer service easy. Consumers will remember and return.
Measure your cross-border success as new technology solutions contribute to the emergence of this revenue-generating trend.

Gain Global E-Commerce Domination

Allison Howen — Mon, 24 Oct 2011 20:30:00 GMT

What is the universal language? Some may say love, while others may say math, science or money. But who would have guessed . . . online shopping?

According to recent research from service provider Pitney Bowes Inc, online shopping is a global habit, with 93 percent of consumers in ten different countries making online purchases, and 49 percent doing so within the last month.

The countries that were studied include Australia, Brazil, Canada, China, France, Germany, Japan, South Korea, the United Kingdom and the United States. The findings reveal that although some aspects of online shopping may differ culturally, the hobby is truly international, and is continuing to grow even further with the rise of better technology.

Top Countries

For merchants that are considering going global, the first question should be, "Which country is next?" Retailers may find that the most success could come from Germany, South Korea or the U.K., which are the top countries for online purchasing at 98 percent. However, even Canada – the country with the least amount of online shoppers – may not be a bad choice, since research shows that four out of every five of the country's consumers (82 percent) make online purchases.

Additionally, one of the biggest standouts from the survey came from China, where consumers are actually more likely to make purchases online than in-stores for every category other than computer hardware and software and jewelry and accessories.

Internationally Wanted Features

How can merchants make their site internationally friendly? By following best practices, because statistics reveal that international shoppers expect four basic things from e-commerce sites: 71 percent want competitive prices, 42 percent desire a broad selection of products, 35 percent simply hope for an easy checkout as well as low shipping and taxing costs.

Although all of the previously stated features are important to online shoppers, the weight of the importance significantly varies depending on the country that the consumer is from. The ease and speed of online checkouts is more important to consumers in Germany and South Korea at 59 percent, while the French, at 37 percent, are more interested in the ability to track an order. Furthermore, 20 percent of consumers in China and South Korea desire accurate delivery-date estimates, while 36 percent of Chinese consumers also want a clear and easy-to-understand return policy.

Business-to-Consumer Communications

And while shopping may be an international hobby, cultural differences require specific types of communication, depending on the country. The study reveals that more than half (59 percent) of consumers still think that e-mail is the king of business-to-consumer communication. However, 25 percent would rather receive information or promotions in catalogs or through direct mail, and 4 percent prefer text messages and social media.

Brazilian consumers, at 72 percent, prefer email communications, while Australians (33 percent) have the highest preference of receiving information through catalogs and direct mail, followed by Germany (31 percent) and the U.S. (30 percent). Furthermore, South Koreans prefer text messaging at 13 percent, followed by Japan (12 percent) and China (9 percent). Social media communications is mostly wanted by the Chinese at 11 percent, followed by Brazil and South Korea at 5 percent apiece.

Think Big

Other noteworthy statistics for merchants include reasons for shopping cart abandonment, such as high shipping costs (67 percent), additional fees (47 percent) and delivery time (39 percent), as well as a list of the top online product categories that include books, videos and music (58 percent), computer hardware and software (41 percent) and consumer electronics (38 percent).

“Given today’s economic situation, international e-commerce is becoming even more enticing as U.S. products are becoming more attractive and affordable for international buyers,” says Jay Oxton, president of mail services, Pitney Bowes.“ However, to be successful, retailers need to ensure they can offer a simple and seamless online shopping experience, and have a clear understanding of consumers’ purchasing, shipping and communications preferences in each market.”

This study shows that e-tailers should be thinking big. According to these statistics, global domination is definitely not out of reach – it is actually just a few clicks away.