Automotive, leisure and cycling product retailer Halfords has rolled out PayPal’s Mobile Express Checkout solution on its mobile site, offering its customers the option of paying for purchase via PayPal from the site. Halfords was able to simply integrate PayPal’s Mobile Express Checkout, via PayPal’s collaboration with DataCash, Halfords’ outsourced payments services provider.
DataCash works with a number of key strategic partners, including PayPal, to deliver an extensive range of products and services, providing merchants with a one-stop solution that allows them to maximise all conversions through a multichannel approach.
“Smartphone usage is soaring and this is becoming one of the most popular ways to go shopping,” says Chris Corbin, head of multichannel at Halfords. “Customers are buying on the move and even researching from mobiles as they shop. Halfords is pleased to give smartphone customers the option to purchase with PayPal, and we hope it enhances the online experience of our growing smartphone customer base.”
Mobile usage and payments has evolved considerably over the last two years, especially when purchasing physical goods. In 2009, the global mobile transaction value for physical goods was documented at $30bn (£19bn), which is foreccast to increase to $237bn by 2013, with over 445m mobile subscribers forecasted to regularly purchase physical goods and services via their handsets, according to Informa Telecoms and Medias Mobile Payments and Banking: Worldwide Market Analysis, Strategic Outlook & Forecasts to 201. 
Halfords has received over 12,000 orders since its mobile site launched in July this year, and expects mobile conversion rates to continue to grow with the introduction of PayPal’s Mobile Express Checkout solution. Halfords implemented PayPal on its online site via DataCash over a year ago, and this now accounts for around 25 per cent of the retailer’s online payments. PayPal recently announced that over 1m unique transactions have been completed using PayPal on mobile phones.
DataCash managing director Paul Burton says: “It is becoming increasingly important for merchants to invest in a multichannel payments strategy, which includes providing customers with the latest payment options rapidly. The increased take up of mobile browsing is proven, and we see it as critical for our merchants to be able to capitalise on this trend, converting mobile browsers in to sales opportunities.”
