How are consumers using mobile to engage with retailers?

By CDS on

May 14, 2014

- Point of Sale, Retail Technology, Retail Trends

Mobile technology has become a major player in recent years, and it has had a lasting impact on the retail sector. However, recent reports have shown that while consumers are using their smartphones and tablets to research purchases frequently, the rate of people actually buying goods with these devices is much lower than many may think. Better understanding how people are interacting with retail stores through various channels can help merchants develop more effective marketing and sales strategies and make it easier to choose the right ecommerce software for their needs. Mobile purchasing still lagging A Gallup poll conducted in March 2014 revealed that most consumers prefer to purchase big ticket items worth at least $50 in-store (60 percent) or through a computer (34 percent). Only 4 percent of shoppers who participated in the survey said they had spent $50 or more using their mobile devices, whether through the retailer’s website (3 percent) or mobile app (1 percent). While purchasing through mobile channels may not be the most prominent path to the point of sale, the lower numbers suggest that there is room for improving the mobile shopping experience. For instance, the Gallup poll revealed mobile technology led to more brick-and-mortar shopping for 22 percent of survey participants. Mobile ecommerce strategies to boost sales Retailers with physical locations may want to capitalize on this by focusing on multichannel marketing strategies. Retail Week pointed to click-and-collect as a rising trend that retailers may want to explore. This service allows consumers to select and buy items online through their mobile device or computer. The purchase is then made available at a local brick-and-mortar location where the shopper can easily pick it up. Retailers can also consider developing mobile-friendly websites with secure POS software that could give consumers the confidence to make larger purchases on their phones and tablets. A better mobile site experience could increase brand recognition and loyalty. According to Gallup’s survey, when customers are more invested in and engaged by a brand, they tend to spend more with that retailer. Fully engaged shoppers spend about 23 percent more than the average customer. By focusing on the user experience, offering an intuitive mobile site design and increasing security at the point of sale, retailers may see a rise in mobile sales. The fact of the matter is that mobile technology is here to stay, and while there are still kinks to be worked out in terms of mobile retail, merchants that focus on improving their mobile shopping experience will be able to stay at the forefront of this developing consumer sector.

Mobile POS gaining traction with retailers of all sizes

By CDS on

September 25, 2013

- Point of Sale, Retail Technology, Retail Trends

Customers are constantly looking for ways to make their shopping experiences more convenient, and retailers are happy to oblige. Customers are constantly looking for ways to make their shopping experiences more convenient, and retailers are happy to oblige. To accommodate patrons who want faster and more streamlined transactions, businesses have a wealth of tools at their disposal. But one element that has been receiving more focus from brands recently is mobile point of sale technology. Traditional cash registers are located at fixed points throughout stores, meaning that customers have to find the products they want, walk over to the registers and often wait in line. However, with mobile POS solutions, the normal checkout process is changing. Now, employees are equipped with mobile devices that can accept credit and debit card payments, giving shoppers the chance to complete their transactions quickly from any point in the store. Retailers of all sizes are seeing this as an opportunity to leverage the technology to boost customer satisfaction and their revenue. Small merchants taking to mobile POS For smaller retailers, staying ahead of the competition and their larger counterparts is a vital part of operations. Fortunately, mobile POS is helping them do just that, as Media Post reported that the technology is becoming more popular with developing retailers. The source cited research from the Local Commerce Monitor by BIA/Kelsey, which found that 40 percent of small companies are currently using mobile POS systems to process transactions. This is an increase from the 28 percent that said the same last year. And while improving convenience for customers is one of the main reasons cited for adopting the technology, smaller merchants are enjoying that benefit as well. “The key is they’re not thinking of this as digital,” said Steve Marshall, director of research for BIA/Kelsey. “They’re not using mobile platforms because they’re digital – they’re using them because they’re convenient.” Larger brands steadily adopting mobile POS But the emergence of mobile POS within the retail industry is not only limited to smaller merchants – large brands are also getting in on the trend, according to Mobile Payments Today. Citing research from the Yankee Group, the source explained that 32 percent of U.S.-based retailers with more than 500 employees are currently using mobile POS systems. An additional 29 percent have plans to roll out mobile POS technology within the next year. The source explained that analysts are expecting these solutions to continue to grow in popularity among retailers, especially as the holiday shopping season approaches. These systems provide more convenience for both consumers and merchants, which is an essential element for a great retail experience. (Source: http://www.retailpro.com/News/blog/index.php/2013/08/19/mobile-pos-gaining-traction-with-retailers-of-all-sizes/)