Although the major holiday shopping days have passed, retailers should not let themselves grow lax in their sales efforts during the next few weeks. According to surveys by RetailMeNot, nine out of 10 U.S. consumers still have more gifts to purchase before the end of December, and merchants should be prepared to meet the demands of nearly 200 million customers throughout the country. 

Many of these consumers (88 percent) said they will wait until the last minute before buying everything they need, while nearly all parents (95 percent) will likely do so. Retailers should ready themselves for an influx of customers requesting expedited shipping for online purchases, as well as large crowds in their stores after December 20. 

One issue that merchants should pay particular attention to is the length of their lines. According to RetailMeNot's survey, 53 percent of respondents consider checkout lines to be the most stressful part of their holiday shopping, and 40 percent say the same about the crowds. Alleviating these feelings will rely on great customer service and powerful point of sale software that can quickly complete each transaction and keep a steady flow of customers in and out of the store. 

Using the latest retail software can streamline the point of sale, improve inventory management and extract consumer insight from the number of sales and other touch points that customers engage with every time they research or purchase an item. More than ever, the most up-to-date software and hardware helps drive success, from ecommerce to brick-and-mortar merchandising. 

Because of technology's importance in retail, decision-makers are investing more in it than ever, according to recent findings from Integrated Solutions for Retailers. The source noted that this is a response to an increasingly informed consumer base, many of whom expect price matching or who might know more about a store's products than its staff.

While only 50 percent of retailers in 2009 agreed that they invested in technology helpful to their success, this increased to 70 percent in 2013. Meanwhile, many of the remaining respondents felt that their companies were not sufficiently budgeting for the latest software and hardware. Sometimes this was for economic reasons, but other surveyed professionals suggested that decision-makers were neglecting that side of the business. 

The rising role of mobile technology in retail
Integrated Solutions for Retailers found eight key areas where retailers were investing more in technology, with many upgrading or adding to their POS systems to enable ecommerce or mobile commerce, as well as to manage their workforce or provide added smartphone- or tablet-focused capabilities to their operations. 

Emphasizing mobile technology may be important to both brick-and-mortar stores and online sales, as some stores are already issuing tablets to their staff members to assist with in-store assistance or speed up the purchase process. The tools can also grant more portable insight into inventory and store operations, and 48 percent of respondents to the study stated that they were investing in mobile POS hardware. Smartphone-based payments becoming commonplace seems closer to a reality than ever, and some merchants are preparing for this in the coming year. 

Understandably, budgeting for retail intelligence systems was also high, with the source noting that it experienced the highest year-over-year growth out of any retail software investments. Possessing a greater understanding of the customer, worker and business all remain critical to keeping shoppers in the store and improving efficiency. 

Because of the important role technology plays in many retail activities, decision-makers should seek comprehensive software options that can integrate all of these processes as adeptly as possible. 

Smartphones and tablets have become regular shopping devices for consumers, allowing them to research products or, at times, even process payments through apps or mobile wallets. However, some retail industry professionals are also using the technology to improve their store operations. 

Retail Solutions Online detailed many of the advantages to deploying a mobile point of sale solution. Some of the benefits will be helpful during the holiday shopping season, but their benefits extend well past Black Friday and the days after. The source highlighted that this POS platform can enhance the overall shopping experience by speeding up the pace of transactions and dealing with the long lines that many businesses endure throughout November and December. 

By deploying a mobile POS system, merchants can also clear out some of the floor space devoted to shopping lanes mostly intended for peak shopping periods. This in turn can be used to display more products. 

As smartphones and tablets grow in popularity, many staff members will also need less training in their use, as they will already be acquainted with the technology. This could help onboard the large volume of temporary employees hired during the holiday season. 

The mobile nature of tablets and smartphones can also enable workers to assist customers on the storeroom floor, rather than limiting interactions to the checkout area. This increases employee' productivity as well as the shopping experience. 

Take mobile POS step-by-step
Retail Solutions Online highlighted one problem that some organizations are running into with their mobile POS, and that is that many companies are "paralyzed" from trying to fully deploy smartphone- and tablet-based technology into their operations. Rather than trying to create a comprehensive solution that covers all aspects of the business, decision-makers can focus their efforts on using the devices for one part of the business, and then another, as they slowly build up to a more comprehensive platform. 

The additional efficiency afforded by smartphone- and tablet-based POS, though, makes the move a hard one to ignore. The cost savings, floor space and mobility of the workforce can benefit retailers, and likely create an uptick in productivity. Gradually implementing a few parts of this process into the holiday season may help streamline the shopping experience and, come next year, make an even better, more productive use of time for staff members and customers alike. 

While customers may sometimes spend more than an hour shopping as they browse or try out products, all that time in the store may not matter if they encounter a problem at the point of sale. At least that is what a recent study from Tensator indicated, with the company finding that nearly one in three shoppers walked out of a location without completing their purchase because of problems during self-checkout. 

Furthermore, 84 percent of polled customers stated they needed assistance when using the self-checkout line, which may account for why the majority of respondents preferred using staff-operated registers. Half of respondents were also unsure about where the line started when using the service. While merchants know they must be aware of poor customer experiences, this is more difficult to notice without enough oversight of self-scan areas. 

"This research makes very interesting reading against the backdrop of growing online retail sales, where queuing and the checkout experience is so different," said Cathy Barnes, professor of retail innovation at Leeds Metropolitan University. "Shops need to pay increasing attention to the experience they provide in store to ensure they do not drive consumers away to competitors or other channels." 

Potential solutions
To avoid customer dissatisfaction, merchants deploying self-checkout POS systems should ensure that their software runs smoothly and that it is focused on providing a simple customer experience. While the platform should be easy to understand, additional help to assist shoppers can also reduce the chance that customers won't finish their transactions. More clearly marked lanes may also minimize the amount of confusion about where a line starts and ends. 

Retailers might also consider eliminating self-checkout lines. Jewel-Osco chose to remove them earlier this year, according to the Daily Herald. Rather than attributing the change to problems at checkout, Jewel spokeswoman Allison Sperling stated that the company wanted to focus on providing more personalized service. Loss prevention was cited as a secondary reason for the decision. However, this runs the risk of alienating customers who prefer the option. One critic of the self-scanning option, Jeff Weidauer, vice president of marketing and strategy for Vestcom, remarked that it is like shopping online – but for some consumers, that may be exactly what they want, so long as brick-and-mortar locations can replicate its convenience. 

Arguably the greatest impediment to customers using mobile wallets has been the technology's relative inconvenience. At the point of sale, both retailers and shoppers alike want a fast, streamlined experience that lets the consumer swiftly slip out the door and for the register clerk to move onto the next person. For years, this has meant using a credit card, as it can quickly be swiped to complete a transaction. 

While PayPal already moved toward its app becoming a mobile wallet earlier this month, it has recently enhanced its features by creating the PayPal Beacon, according to USA Today. Previously, mobile wallets often used NFC technology that was not always reliable or easy to use. Meanwhile, the Beacon uses a phone's Bluetooth technology to process payments. 

The three-inch high device plugs into a wall socket and can authenticate PayPal app users automatically while they are in a store, USA Today reported. Rather than needing a complicated technology dedicated to processing payments, merchants using Beacon can run a mobile wallet payment through their retail POS software. The technology will also be open to third-party developers so that they can create shopping apps. 

"This is the one thing I'm most excited to launch since joining PayPal," said PayPal President David Marcus, according to the source. "This is the first thing I think that is better than swiping a credit card."

Initially, only a select few brands will be able to use the devices, while a major roll-out is expected for 2014, USA Today noted. 

Apple also joins the mobile payment movement
Just as PayPal announced its Bluetooth-based mobile wallet, Apple has done the same. Internet Retailer reported that Apple will be releasing the iBeacon, which also uses Bluetooth technology to process mobile payments. Much like PayPal, Apple already has a robust database of payment information due to iTunes. This could enable the tech giant to break into the mobile payment market in a way that other companies have thus far had difficulty with.

Beyond just the convenience issue, Internet Retailer  added that energy use has been a barrier to mobile wallets. While Bluetooth technology traditionally required considerable battery power, Bluetooth Low Energy options, as can be found on later versions of the iPhone, minimize this matter. Regardless, retailers should remain aware of the way that mobile may transform POS in the near future. 

Arguably the greatest impediment to customers using mobile wallets has been the technology's relative inconvenience. At the point of sale, both retailers and shoppers alike want a fast, streamlined experience that lets the consumer swiftly slip out the door and for the register clerk to move onto the next person. For years, this has meant using a credit card, as it can quickly be swiped to complete a transaction. 

While PayPal already moved toward its app becoming a mobile wallet earlier this month, it has recently enhanced its features by creating the PayPal Beacon, according to USA Today. Previously, mobile wallets often used NFC technology that was not always reliable or easy to use. Meanwhile, the Beacon uses a phone's Bluetooth technology to process payments. 

The three-inch high device plugs into a wall socket and can authenticate PayPal app users automatically while they are in a store, USA Today reported. Rather than needing a complicated technology dedicated to processing payments, merchants using Beacon can run a mobile wallet payment through their retail POS software. The technology will also be open to third-party developers so that they can create shopping apps. 

"This is the one thing I'm most excited to launch since joining PayPal," said PayPal President David Marcus, according to the source. "This is the first thing I think that is better than swiping a credit card."

Initially, only a select few brands will be able to use the devices, while a major roll-out is expected for 2014, USA Today noted. 

Apple also joins the mobile payment movement
Just as PayPal announced its Bluetooth-based mobile wallet, Apple has done the same. Internet Retailer reported that Apple will be releasing the iBeacon, which also uses Bluetooth technology to process mobile payments. Much like PayPal, Apple already has a robust database of payment information due to iTunes. This could enable the tech giant to break into the mobile payment market in a way that other companies have thus far had difficulty with.

Beyond just the convenience issue, Internet Retailer  added that energy use has been a barrier to mobile wallets. While Bluetooth technology traditionally required considerable battery power, Bluetooth Low Energy options, as can be found on later versions of the iPhone, minimize this matter. Regardless, retailers should remain aware of the way that mobile may transform POS in the near future. 

Smartphones and tablets are infiltrating consumers' daily lives, allowing them to complete a variety of tasks from anywhere and at anytime. Now, retail brands are joining in on the trend by adopting these devices to keep their operations running. One way in which merchants are using the gadgets is to provide customers with a reliable and fast point of sale solution.

Mobile Payments Today reported that, according to the Local Commerce Monitor from BIA/Kelsey, 40 percent of companies said they currently accept mobile payments. In addition, 16 percent of respondents stated they have plans to adopt mobile POS technology throughout the next year.

Retail Digital wrote that new POS systems could pave the way for a new retail experience. Giving shoppers the ability to pay with their mobile devices or allow them to purchase items from anywhere on the sales floor not only brings in more revenue for merchants, but also contributes to higher customer satisfaction and retention.

For retailers that want to improve patron loyalty and boost sales, implementing POS solutions that offer quick and streamlined transactions is one of the best strategies for accomplishing these goals.

Customers are constantly looking for ways to make their shopping experiences more convenient, and retailers are happy to oblige. To accommodate patrons who want faster and more streamlined transactions, businesses have a wealth of tools at their disposal. But one element that has been receiving more focus from brands recently is mobile point of sale technology.

Traditional cash registers are located at fixed points throughout stores, meaning that customers have to find the products they want, walk over to the registers and often wait in line. However, with mobile POS solutions, the normal checkout process is changing. Now, employees are equipped with mobile devices that can accept credit and debit card payments, giving shoppers the chance to complete their transactions quickly from any point in the store. Retailers of all sizes are seeing this as an opportunity to leverage the technology to boost customer satisfaction and their revenue.

Small merchants taking to mobile POS
For smaller retailers, staying ahead of the competition and their larger counterparts is a vital part of operations. Fortunately, mobile POS is helping them do just that, as Media Post reported that the technology is becoming more popular with developing retailers. The source cited research from the Local Commerce Monitor by BIA/Kelsey, which found that 40 percent of small companies are currently using mobile POS systems to process transactions. This is an increase from the 28 percent that said the same last year.

And while improving convenience for customers is one of the main reasons cited for adopting the technology, smaller merchants are enjoying that benefit as well.

"The key is they're not thinking of this as digital," said Steve Marshall, director of research for BIA/Kelsey. "They're not using mobile platforms because they're digital – they're using them because they're convenient."

Larger brands steadily adopting mobile POS
But the emergence of mobile POS within the retail industry is not only limited to smaller merchants – large brands are also getting in on the trend, according to Mobile Payments Today. Citing research from the Yankee Group, the source explained that 32 percent of U.S.-based retailers with more than 500 employees are currently using mobile POS systems. An additional 29 percent have plans to roll out mobile POS technology within the next year.

The source explained that analysts are expecting these solutions to continue to grow in popularity among retailers, especially as the holiday shopping season approaches. These systems provide more convenience for both consumers and merchants, which is an essential element for a great retail experience.

Whether it's managing finances, playing games or catching up on news, consumers are increasingly using smartphones and tablets to complete a variety of daily tasks. This has led to an emergence of mobile devices being used in retail stores and on their websites, as shoppers use their gadgets to browse for and purchase the items they want.

Because of this widespread trend, mobile has become a strong focus of many merchants, as they implement solutions that help them cater to customers who prefer to use their smartphones and tablets for shopping. Forbes reported that, according to research from IHL Group, mobile point of sale systems are increasingly being adopted by retailers. The study revealed that throughout North America, the mobile POS market will account for more than $2 billion in hardware and software sales by the end of this year. Currently, that market is at $5.7 billion globally, highlighting the importance that merchants are placing on mobile technology.

In fact, many industry experts believe that if businesses don't adopt mobile solutions, they risk losing valuable patrons. In an article for Fierce Mobile Content, Jordan McKee from the Yankee Group asserted that mobile systems are a "must have" for retailers if they want to retain customers and bring in new business.