Merchants using cutting-edge retail software and technology likely tuned into the recent Apple event that saw the debut of the iPad 3. The new tablet device will go on sale next Friday, March 16, and may provide retailers with even more opportunities to use the iPad as a part of their store operations.

The iPad 3 will come with a quad-core A5X processor that will improve power and speed, a high-definition screen, 4G network connectivity, a 5-megapixel camera equipped to record pictures as well as videos and a battery that lasts up to 10 hours.

Many merchants already use tablets for a variety of purposes. Some leverage them as tools for sales associates, helping them look up product information. Others utilize the devices as point-of-sale (POS) terminals.

Of course, retailers aiming to make mobile part of their online shopping experience also need to take note of the new iPad.

"Consumers are transitioning their dependency on desktops to tablets," Pamela J. Goodfellow, consumer insights director at BIGinsight, told Internet Retailer. "Retailers have to constantly work to improve the style and functionality of their sites to keep up with new innovations in the tablet arena."

This entry was posted by Retail Pro on Wednesday, March 7th, 2012 at 10:21 am .