The evolution of mobile commerce research. A scientific mapping analysis

This paper presents a bibliometric analysis in the Mobile Commerce (MC) field to assess publication trends and thematic developments from 2000 to 2023. Using data from the Web of Science Core Collection and the SciMAT tool, the study identifies five stages in the evolution of MC, segmented according to technological advancements, and proposes a technology-driven periodization. Strategic diagrams and evolution maps are used to classify themes into motor, basic or transversal, specialised and peripheral, and emerging or declining categories. The results show a growing body of literature, reaching a peak in 2012 and maintaining sustained interest until 2022. Significant shifts in research themes are observed, moving from early technological aspects to user acceptance, satisfaction, consumer behaviour, trust, mobile marketing, and more recently, artificial intelligence and sustainability. The findings highlight that, despite ongoing challenges related to security and infrastructure, MC has a positive impact on economic growth and the continuous evolution of business practices. The study concludes by identifying future research directions, including customer journey analysis, value co-creation, and the integration of emerging technologies such as blockchain and augmented reality.