Original Publication - Retail Gazette - 22nd December 2011
Technology professionals working on m-commerce tools for smartphones and tablets are being paid significantly more than their contemporaries who are employed in traditional e-commerce roles, new research suggests.
According to business & technology staffing firm ReThink Recruitment, the typical salaries of IT staff working on e-commerce tools for smartphones and tablet computers are 20 per cent higher than those of workers in general e-commerce employment.
Data from the survey indicates that junior designers working in the mobile sector are earning approximately £350 per day, compared to the £280 per day taken home by those developing platforms used on a laptop or desk.
Meanwhile, program managers working in m-commerce are earning approximately £600 per day, which is around £100 more than employees in similar positions with just an e-commerce focus.
ReThink’s study claims that the rush to enhance mobile retail sites combined with the limited supply of qualified and experienced contractors in this field is pushing up pay.
And with consumers’ use of mobile technology only expected to grow in the years ahead, especially in terms of paying for shopping or ordering online, as well as QR codes, there are set to be an increasing number of m-commerce employment opportunities within the retail industry going forward.
Iain Blair, Director at ReThink, said: “We are seeing a large wave of work as retailers beef up their mobile retailing offerings.
“They see m-commerce as an exciting new sales avenue and are more aware than ever of the potential boom in revenue from giving customers a highly customised and slick mobile browsing experience.
“Customers are no longer just using these tools to find their nearest store or check the opening and closing times. They are increasingly expecting to see 360 degree product views, to place orders internationally, to double check a high street store has the right size and colour of a design of shoes – and all these require extensive expenditure in IT.
“This is now a top priority for all the major retailers. Most see it as far more critical than more traditional areas of spend, such as investment in store payment systems or upgrading store fittings.”
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