Rethink Retail: connecting with today’s mobile consumer

Mobile technology has made today’s consumer more connected and empowered than ever before. The in-store shopping experience continues to evolve as customers instantly access information about products, pricing, inventory and more – both about the store they’re standing in and about competitors’ offerings as well. In short, people are showrooming.

As a result of these new consumer behaviors, it is critical for brick-and-mortar retailers (and especially wireless retailers) to employ omnichannel strategies to engage with customers across all channels: online, mobile and in-store.

Introducing mobile devices, apps and interfaces to the in-store environment improves the overall customer experience, as services like in-store pickup/returns of items purchased online, in-store mobile POS, tablet-assisted browsing and drop shipping of out-of-stock items become increasingly popular.
 
The end goal for brick-and-mortar retailers should not be to defeat showrooming, but to integrate the mobile technologies necessary to convert all walk-in customers, whether they’re there to showroomor not. With the right combination of information, convenience and efficiency, retailers can deliver the in-store experience today’s consumer is looking for.