Since the advent of ecommerce, shoppers have had the opportunity to buy items at any time that they want. However, the limitations of desktops and even laptop computers meant that in many cases, consumers were still restricted to buying items in a store or while they were at home. Yet with the introduction of smartphones and tablets, along with Wi-Fi access from almost anywhere, many consumers are now always in the consideration phase of purchasing new products, according to recent eMarketer findings. 

Mobile trends have led to the "always-on" shopper who is almost always just a smartphone away from buying an item. Because of this, eMarketer anticipates that mobile purchases will account for 19 percent of U.S. ecommerce sales in 2014, and 26 percent by 2017. 

The source noted that this still accounts for a small fraction of total sales, but it does represent a shift in consumer mentality. Merchants will want to deploy robust ecommerce software that can meet this new shopping paradigm and seamlessly handle online sales regardless of where they originate or at what time.