There is no doubt in
anyone’s mind that the impact of mobile devices on the retail industry has
meant a veritable sea change in the way merchants conduct their businesses, as
well as the way shoppers shop. But what are the main advances that any business
can make use of with a view to increasing productivity?
The Shop-on-the-Go
Improvement
Most retailers already
have the importance of having a website and social media pages down pat.
However, there is an added bonus to be had by securing a spot in the app stores
as well. With studies showing that 80% of the time mobile device users spend on
these devices is devoted to apps, it’s clear that browsing the web has taken a
backseat and it isn’t just a passing fad. As such, the benefits of engaging
with your customers through an app are self-evident - you can not only provide
your target audience with valuable information on all your products, but also
make online shopping available for them. Not to mention that it saves you time
and manpower, as well as, with integrated social-media options, providing you
with a sure-fire way of assessing your reach and the word-of-mouth your
business drums up online.
The Smartphone-as-Cash-Register Improvement
The advent of credit
card-swiping add-ons for mobile devices has opened a new and exciting way for
small businesses to stay relevant, and solvent, by allowing them to flourish in
any kind of setting. Whether you’re peddling your wares at a fair or you come
upon a too-good-to-pass-on business opportunity while vacationing in Maui, with
the mobile app-powered credit swiper mounted on your device, you can charge
customers and issue receipts in no time. While some of the apps available in
stores may require a fee for the swiper itself or the service provided, others
are completely free of charge - you can check out the one offered by www.moblized.com
if you’re having trouble believing such a thing as free help for the little guy
is possible!
The Self-Checkout
Improvement
The fun and
user-friendly marriage of smartphones with QR-code technology is proving to be
profitable too. The boon comes in the shape of self-checkout apps that allow
customers to scan the barcodes on products as they go about adding them to
their carts. Once they’ve ticked everything off their shopping list, shoppers
stop by the self-checkout terminal, which scans the QR code generated inside
the phone app and prompts buyers to choose how they intend to pay for their
products - right there, at the terminal. No more queues at the cash register
and no more cashiers on the payroll equals a win-win for all concerned.
The Create-Your-Own-App
Improvement
We have already
addressed the benefits of fitting your business with an app, which are huge to
say the least - so are the costs of creating one such app, you might retort.
It’s easy to preach about how, in the long run, the results will outweigh the
initial price tag - let’s put a pin in preaching, then, and consider there is a
painless alternative. For the thriftier small business owner, the initial
investment can be done away with, by resorting to one of the many mobile app
creation platforms that get the job done with close to no coding know-how
necessary. This innovation saves start-ups and small businesses thousands and
even tens of thousands of dollars, while letting them all enjoy a piece of the profits
pie.
The floodgates now
opened, mobile apps will surely become the norm in the way retailers connect to
their customers. The sooner those who haven’t yet embraced the medium ensure
their burgeoning enterprises adopt the new business model, the sooner they will
reap its benefits.