US retailers incorporating ecommerce into operations
Retailers across the United States are aware of the fact that consumers are increasingly taking to the internet to research, compare and buy products. To accommodate these shoppers, many businesses that did not have online storefronts are now launching their websites and other merchants are incorporating digital elements into their operations to keep their internet-connected customer satisfied.
Brick-and-mortar stores offering ereceipts
Retailers are now offering their in-store consumers the option to receive their sales receipts either as printed copies or by email, reports USA Today. This is being done for several reasons, as more companies want to save paper and money on printing. Additionally, merchants are offering this digital choice so that they can market directly to their shoppers.
The source states that a study by Epsilon revealed that approximately 35 percent of retailers across the country currently send their customers ereceipts if they so choose. Of this number, half provide the option at all of their brick-and-mortar stores. Some of the businesses that have made the move to emailed receipts are Macy's, Whole Foods, Sears and Kmart. Banks are even getting in on the trend, as Citibank and Wells Fargo have said they plan to give their customers the choice to have their ATM receipts emailed to them.
Despite these digital offerings within retail stores, more consumers are going online to buy items. This purchasing trend is being helped by mobile devices such as smartphones and tablets, which gives customers the chance to be connected from anywhere and at anytime.
Ecommerce steadily increasing in the US
As retailers continue to increase their ecommerce and digital offerings, even in their brick-and-mortar locations, they are seeking the help that is needed to maintain the systems and solutions they are giving their shoppers. According to recent research by WANTED Analytics, businesses are putting more effort into their websites to feature their products and services, and this is resulting in boosts in hiring of information technology professionals to keep these online storefronts up and running.
The research found that ecommerce hiring has rose by 9 percent in October 2012, compared to the same time a year ago. From October 2010, retail IT employment increased by 40 percent. Some regions are seeing more need for hiring, the report states. These areas include New York, Boston, Seattle, Chicago and San Francisco.
