Retail customer trends point to the growing popularity of mobile devices for shopping and payment transactions. Smartphones and other gadgets are constantly on hand and connected to the Internet, which means they're increasingly the go-to devices for shoppers. Consumers use them to browse retail selections, make purchases from apps and mobile websites, look up additional product information and even make in-store payments. 

Research by Adyen revealed that payments on mobile devices increased by 55 percent in 2013, accounting for almost 20 percent of all transactions worldwide, Network World reported. The preference for mobile payments is only expected to rise, especially as innovative technology continues to provide additional convenient options for consumers.

For that reason, it's important for merchants to implement smooth payment processes for customers using mobile devices. In addition to security, shoppers are swayed by the convenience of the process. Sub-par technology and poor implementation can cost retailers sales as customers abandon their shopping carts and choose more accessible services. According to Jumio's 2013 mobile commerce analysis, retailers lost over a quarter of their mobile profits because customers had difficulty completing transactions on their gadgets. To capture these sales opportunities, retailers need to make sure their checkout pages and payment options are up to speed with the rest of their retail technology.

This entry was posted by Retail Pro on Friday, February 21st, 2014 at 10:00 am .