Retailers are used to the many changes and trends that have impacted their operations over the years. The latest technology set to significantly alter the industry is mobile, as consumers are increasingly using the devices to search for, compare and purchase products.

The Drum reports that smartphones and tablets have already changed many aspects merchants deal with on a daily basis, such as marketing, sales and customer satisfaction, but businesses need to be ready for more impacts in the near future. Shoppers are becoming more comfortable with the idea of making larger purchases on their devices, meaning that companies can market bigger items to consumers through the channel. In addition, the source notes that more interactive retail experiences can be delivered through mobile, such as the use of location-based services, image recognition and other technological solutions.

Retailers need to start paying attention to mobile solutions for their operations, as supply chain firm Manhattan Associates predicts it will not be going anywhere anytime soon. To best suit the needs and wants of device-carrying shoppers, the source suggests that merchants optimize their websites for viewing on smartphones and tablets, as well as offer mobile POS systems for consumers.

This entry was posted by Retail Pro on Friday, February 8th, 2013 at 5:26 am .