As consumers become more attached to mobile devices and apps,and as recordkeepers incorporate functions to make plans moreparticipant-friendly, one area that's seen substantial growth isthe capability for mobile transactions in 401(k) plans.

According to Corporate Insight's Retirement Plan Monitor, whichtracks 19 of the biggest recordkeepers, 13 of the firms—68percent—provide at least one transaction on either a phone app,tablet app, or optimized mobile website.

Of these 13 firms, 69 percent feature a mobile site, 62 percentoffer a phone app and 46 percent provide a tablet app that includeat least one transaction capability.

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That's a substantial jump from the February 2014 report, whichoffered the firm's first analysis of mobile app transactions. Backthen, only five of the 17 total firms (29 percent) offered atransactional app, including four phone apps and one tabletapp.

Every firm covered in the current report enables participants toadjust contribution rates from at least one mobile platform. That'sthe most commonly offered mobile transaction, by a long shot.

No other transaction is available on more than one mobileplatform of at least half of the firms covered in the report, andcertainly not among the coverage group as a whole.

Half of the firms in the current report provide a mobile fundexchange transaction, 33 percent offer an optimized futureinvestment allocations change transaction and 25 percent provide anoptimized rebalance account option.

Among other findings, the report said that 50 percent of thefirms it covered enable users to conduct transactions in terms ofspecific dollar amounts; 50 percent offer quick links to applicablefund information; and 58 percent provide quick links to applicableplan details.

The Principal features a mobile-friendly rollover requestprocess, while Vanguard and T. Rowe Price provide mobile-friendlyloan requests.

In addition, the report said, “The firms covered … provide aninconsistent selection of design and help features on thetransaction interfaces. While all firms present relevant plan dataon at least one transaction interface, such as current contributionrates or holdings details, only 42 percent supplement the data withcharts or graphs. Two-thirds of firms offer help options, such asdetailed instructions, FAQs or balloon tips.… Only one firm,Merrill Lynch, requires participants to enter their accountpassword in order to submit a transaction from a mobileplatform.”

While firms are getting on board regarding mobile transactions,it's apparent from the report that there's still a way to go inproviding participants with a consistent and seamlessexperience.