SensorTower2025 State of Mobile: Retail Goes Global, But Growth Gets Complicated
Summary
The article highlights that 2024 marked the fourth consecutive year of growth in retail mobile app downloads (6.6 billion) and in-app time spent (41.9 billion), driven by global digitization. However, the US experienced a 9.6% decline in downloads and 4.5% drop in time spent, attributed to inflation and a correction after 2023's explosive growth. Chinese e-tailers, notably Temu, have become major disruptors: Temu alone accounts for 8.3% of global downloads, compared to the US's 11.9% (a decreasing share since 2021).
Key consumer preferences include low prices, same-day delivery, free shipping, and pre-loaded payment methods that reduce cart abandonment. In retail media, Walmart and Target lead with 20M and 10M monthly active users, and 50B and 25B impressions respectively. Food delivery apps are mobile-first, while traditional pet stores like Chewy have untapped mobile potential.
Actionable takeaways: adopt omnichannel strategies, leverage app-based loyalty, and focus on seamless, affordable experiences to stay competitive against global challengers.
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