Expert Opinion: Mobile, social to finish 2014 strong

“Without question [mobile] will be huge in 2014. We saw the largest spike of mobile Christmas shopping ever last year and will definitely set another record this year. The beauty of mobile and social in a combined fashion is that it provides consumers with unprecedented access and control. I can look on an app and read reviews and then go into the store to purchase,” said Alex Yoder, CEO, Ebiquity.

Social, too, will hold increased power heading into the holidays, and those just from Twitter and Facebook.

“[Every] single mobile consumer ap leverages a social function today. I don’t go out to eat, get my dry cleaning done, hire a car, or refill my prescriptions without leveraging mobile and social functions. I just bought two pair of shoes on Zappo’s today and posted it on Facebook from within the Zappo’s interface,” said Yoder.

Looking ahead to the 2014 holidays, Yoder suggest we’ll see continued innovation from mobile and social platforms as consumers continue not only to adopt mobile and social applications, but as those consumers change the way they engage and interact across the mobile and social spaces. And, looking out over the next few years, Yoder believes even more will be done across mobile and social.

“It won’t be long before we are price shopping for a doctor’s services on a mobile ap–price, referrals, insurance taken, automated appointments–just around the corner,” said Yoder.