Smartphone sales increase 101 percent in March

Online smartphone sales increased a whopping 101 percent year-on-year in March, far surpassing that of tablets, according to the latest IMRG Capgemini eRetail Sales Index.

Transactions carried out on tablets increased a mere 6 percent year-on-year last month compared to smartphone sales. During the first three months of the year, smartphone usage increased nine times that of tablet usage, 96 percent compared to just 11 percent for tablets.

"Sales via smartphones continue to surge ahead, growing at 9x the rate of sales completed on tablet devices during the first quarter of the year," said Tina Spooner, chief information officer, IMRG. "There is no doubt that larger screen sizes have enhanced the user experience on smartphones over recent years which is a key factor in the shift towards shopping on these devices."

Total online sales increased 11 percent in March compared to February this year, with the average basket value hitting 82 pounds. "Smartphone is the fastest growing channel in the UK online retail market - conversion rates were 50 percent higher in Q1 than the same period last year and average online transaction values reached a record high of 85 pounds during March," added Spooner.

"Not surprisingly, many retailers are placing a significant focus on their mobile strategy as consumers shift towards handheld devices when purchasing online."