Poor mobile websites are costing businesses sales, according to a new report from eCommerce consultancy dotCommerce.

The study, called Hitting the Mobile Checkout, found that 50 per cent of dedicated mobile sites dont load on Android phones, while users could not complete a purchase on 91 per cent of sites on a BlackBerry device. 

Only a third of retailers surveyed had dedicated mobile sites available.

The study assessed 12 leading UK retailers across various categories using BlackBerry, iPhone, and Android devices. Each site was marked against 22 criteria across eight criteria such as ease of use, security, and integration with other marketing, says dotCommerce.

The best performing section was site navigation. dotCommerce says this suggests that the fundamentals of the mobile experience are receiving most attention. However, with the Checkout Process and Payment confirmation receiving scores of 27 per cent and 22 per cent respectively, the company says that effort on the navigation may be futile if orders cannot be completed. 

Boots (75 per cent) and New Look (68 per cent) scored highest. Fragrance brands showed the worst performance, making up three of the four poorest scoring brands.

“These findings paint a clear picture of the mobile challenge retailers must tackle today,” says Ben Staveley, head of eCommerce. “Growing consumer expectations and a fiercely competitive market make this an area where getting left behind is a big risk and yet, a very real possibility.”

The study is available to download from the dotCommerce website.