It can be by accessing a mobile-optimized website or downloading an application to get the information they need, but whatever the method, smartphones and tablets have made their mark on consumers' daily lives. People are increasingly using these gadgets to complete a wide range of tasks, from checking their bank accounts, playing games or catching up on the latest news, among other things.

And now, these devices are being used to research, compare and purchase merchandise from retailers. This has been a mostly welcome trend, as it has given merchants more opportunities for boosting their customer satisfaction and capturing new business. However, there are some companies that may have thought mobile commerce would be a fleeting idea. But they might want to think again, as several recent reports have shown that mobile won't be leaving the retail industry anytime soon.

IPhone sales on the rise
Consumers are catching on to the smart device trend. CNet reported that Morgan Stanley Analyst Katy Huberty predicted Apple's sales of its iPhone gadget for this year's second quarter, and she estimated that there will be a total of 29 million devices sold throughout the last three months once the final numbers come in. This is above other forecasts of 26.5 million, the source explained, and it could bring in $36 billion in revenue for the tech giant. The news provider noted that Huberty garnered her estimates after studying demand data and other expectations.

Leveraging the mobile influx
These findings may not come as a shock for many, but for retailers, the information should be enough for them to get a jumpstart on their mobile strategies or improve upon their existing methods. There are many ways to do this, and Goshen News offered some suggestions for merchants that want to ensure they are fully leveraging mobile technology to boost their operations.

Because mobile commerce is and will become more of a "common consumer practice," the news provider recommended that merchants first determine which features and capabilities their mobile-optimized sites should have. This can be done by asking patrons what they want to access from their mobile phones to make the shopping experience more streamlined and enjoyable. Getting the word out about mobile offerings can be done by word of mouth in stores, through emails and even advertisements if retailers choose to go that route, the source noted.

And of course, implementing mobile point of sale solutions is perhaps one of the best ways to make sure that customers can use their devices to shop as they want, helping to increase loyalty.

This entry was posted by Retail Pro on Thursday, July 25th, 2013 at 6:20 am .