The impact of mobile devices on retail technology management
Mobile devices, including smartphones, tablets, portable computers and wearable gadgets, have transformed the corporate and consumer landscapes forever, especially as adoption of these modern assets has reached close to critical mass in recent years. Although virtually every industry has been positively impacted by enterprise mobility, certain businesses have had a bit more to gain from the shifting tides of digital commerce, notably retailers.
Some of the most successful retailers have embraced mobile technologies as new methods of driving long-term revenue increases through the targeting of consumers who enjoy making purchases through these devices. Those who have not adopted these strategies and other retail technology solutions should do so soon, as studies indicate the average customer is more interested in a complete shopping experience that includes storefront, website and mobile environments.
Tangible advantages of mobile
The Pittsburgh Post-Gazette recently reported that roughly 50 percent of all traffic in online retail originated from mobile devices this past August, which represents extensive growth given the 4 percent recorded the same period in 2010. According to the news provider, one study from Accenture revealed that nearly one-quarter of American consumers intend to make purchases this year, or 6 percent higher than in 2013.
In a word, brick-and-mortar retailers are not necessarily losing ground to online competitors, but rather being forced to expand upon their operations to ensure that digitally driven prospects are not lost to the other guys. The source explained that the National Retail Federation has predicted that holiday sales will be up 4.1 percent this year, but that this forecast will only manifest into reality if the sector fully embraces multi-channel economics.
Without at least some foundation in the World Wide Web, retailers will simply not enjoy the same types of revenue growth opportunities as those who have omniscient footprints across a wealth of channels and environments.
How to get started
Retail industry technology has progressed significantly in a relatively short period of time, and decision-makers should ensure that they are keeping pace with the progression of innovation. By first beginning to embrace mobile platforms and applications that can lead to stronger customer relationship management, then moving into more advanced strategies that leverage ecommerce software, retail analytics and other technologies will help the retailer get up to speed on modern industry demands before long.
