Get All Access for $5/mo

How M-commerce Is Changing the Landscape of E-commerce in India Every 7 in 10 Indian consumers prefer to purchase using mobile devices, shows a Paypal report

By Shipra Singh

You're reading Entrepreneur India, an international franchise of Entrepreneur Media.

Shutterstock

It is believed that m-commerce or mobile commerce will be the next disruption in e-commerce space. A recent report by online payment company PayPal shows that every 7 in 10 Indian consumers prefer to purchase using mobile devices.

It comes as no surprise then that almost 51 per cent of online sales volume is via mobile devices in India, compared to 39 per cent global average.

CONSUMER ONLINE MOBILE PAYMENTS: CURRENT DEVICE USE

TOTAL INDIA

TOTAL GLOBAL

GENDER

GENERATION

M

F

Gen Z (18-24)

Gen Y (25-36)

Gen X (37-51)

Boomer (52-66)

Older (67+)

Smartphone

87%

66%

87%

86%

88%

88%

85%

79%

71%

Tablet

20%

23%

19%

22%

14%

23%

24%

17%

29%

Total Mobile

88%

71%

89%

88%

89%

90%

85%

80%

71%

Base: All respondents (2000), Male (1342), Female (658), Gen Z (658), Gen Y (865), Gen X (400), Boomer (70), Older (7)

India seems to be running much ahead in the m-commerce disruption as globally only 43 per cent consumers prefer using mobile phones for shopping.

Indian consumers spend an average of INR 10,000 per month via mobile devices and as much as 83% consumers make an online purchase via mobile phone at least once a week.

MOBILE COMMERCE: FREQUENCY

TOTAL COUNTRY

TOTAL GLOBAL AVERAGE

Several times a day

32%

9%

Daily

17%

8%

Several times a week

26%

18%

Weekly

8%

13%

Every 2 weeks / Fortnightly

5%

11%

Monthly

7%

14%

2-3 times in the last 6 months

2%

7%

Once in the last 6 months

1%

3%

Less often

1%

5%

Never

1%

12%

Of the several spending categories, consumers spend the most in bill payments, followed by clothing & accessories and food & drinks.

Consumer Mobile Commerce by Category

Percentages will not add up to 100 because of multiple responses.

Indian Consumers Big on Social Commerce

Under m-commerce purchases through social media have been on arise. About 57 per cent of the total Indian respondents admitted making a purchase via social media in the last six months. Millennials—those born between 1981 and 1996—have made maximum purchase via social media platforms.

Shipra Singh

Entrepreneur Staff

Freelance Journalist

News and Trends

"45% of All Ongoing Hydropower Projects in India are Ours": Patel Engineering

Patel Engineering reported a turnover of INR 4,400 crore in the last fiscal year, with a projected 10 per cent growth for the current year.

News and Trends

PB Fintech to Enter Healthcare Sector with New Wholly-Owned Subsidiary

The new entity, which is expected to be named either 'PB Healthcare Private Limited' or 'PB Healthcare Services Private Limited,' will focus on providing healthcare services.

Side Hustle

'Hustling Every Day': These Friends Started a Side Hustle With $2,500 Each — It 'Snowballed' to Over $500,000 and Became a Multimillion-Dollar Brand

Paris Emily Nicholson and Saskia Teje Jenkins had a 2020 brainstorm session that led to a lucrative business.

Business Ideas

63 Small Business Ideas to Start in 2024

We put together a list of the best, most profitable small business ideas for entrepreneurs to pursue in 2024.

Science & Technology

5 Rule-Bending AI Hacks to Make Your Mornings More Productive and Profitable

By 2025, AI will transform productivity by streamlining workflows and cutting costs. Major companies like Microsoft, Google, and OpenAI are leading the way, advancing AI into "Phase 3," where tools act as digital assistants. Discover 5 AI hacks to boost efficiency and redefine your daily routine.

Leadership

Should I Stay or Should I Go? 8 Key Points to Navigate the Founder's Dilemma

Here are eight key signs that help founders determine whether to persevere or let go.