Worldwide shipping firms could benefit from the growth in mobile commerce (m-commerce) after it was claimed that we are now at a "tipping point" where consumers expect to be able to purchase goods and arrange a parcel delivery using their mobile phones.

IMRG, the e-retail body, reckons that many businesses are yet to exploit the potential of m-commerce.

It has come up with a list of reasons why retailers should optimise their websites to allow shoppers to buy goods with their mobile phones.

The number one reason is that m-commerce is booming, IMRG says, and is predicted to be worth $119 billion (£74.5 billion) by 2015.

Indeed, this figure is backed up by a report from IE Market Research that claimed total mobile payment transactions, including online purchases and bill payments, would reach $1 trillion (£630 billion) by 2014.

In addition, IMRG points out that a mobile offering allows much better communication with consumers.

Finally, mobile optimisation will prevent leakages to competitors, with 25 per cent of people saying they would look elsewhere if they cannot browse items on a website via their mobile phones.