New research commissioned by affiliate marketing pioneer Tradedoubler and carried out by Forrester Consulting has shown how mobile commerce is transforming consumer behaviour.

The European study revealed that 53% of smartphone users are now buying goods and services on their devices, while 71% of smartphone users are researching potential purchases via mobile. Overall, around a quarter of all mobile research sessions end with a purchase being completed on the phone itself.

Mobile devices are also used in-store: 42% of users have compared prices while shopping, while 13% have actually switched to a different shop after spotting a more attractive offer.

However, the mobile experience is still a problem for many consumers, with 26% saying they’d  buy via mobile more frequently if websites were better optimised for their phone.

Urban Gillström, CEO of Tradedoubler, said “This research represents a wake-up call for all businesses that still believe an m-commerce strategy is a ‘nice to have’ rather than business critical. Consumers increasingly expect a seamless, multi-touch, multi-channel experience across mobile, online and in-store platforms. The future belongs to the advertisers that can deliver that, but it can be difficult for them to know where to start. We have undertaken this research as part of our commitment, not just to creating a world-leading mobile affiliate marketing and analysis platform for our customers, but to helping organisations across the industry better understand what they can do to take their first steps in m-commerce.”

Tradedoubler’s research involved more than 2,000 smartphone users in the UK, France, Germany and Sweden.