Investors are always on the move, and they expect their financial websites to move with them. Our Investor CenterTM website is being updated to automatically identify the type of device the investor is using (such as a laptop, iPad or mobile phone) and then present the appropriate version of the site. In technical terms this is called a “responsive design.”
Why is this important? Just four years ago, less than 1 percent of shareholders accessed Investor Center using a smartphone. Today, that number has grown to more than 5 percent and is expected to increase dramatically in the coming years. Savvy users, when accessing from their mobile devices, expect a clear, simple interface rather than a complex full-featured website. A single website cannot provide the best experience to all users.
The mobile website is being designed for investors on the go. Users can quickly check balances and transaction history. When needed, a user can easily link directly to the full version of Investor Center.
We will be rolling out this intelligent design feature this spring. Computershare clients should be on the lookout for additional announcements.