Thanks to the internet, we no longer have to leave our homes when shopping on Amazon or availing of services from RingCentral. It was only natural that it would make a move from the computer to our smartphones and tablets which is so much more convenient for a lot of people, leading to more buyers of mobile phones and tablets.
These days, more and more retail stores are taking the e-commerce route by allowing their valued customers to shop for their products through their own mobile apps. However, it is not only limited to actual buying but now extends to alerting the consumer for any coupons they may use for discounts and the like. It is said that in the near future, stores will be using tablets to retrieve the wish list you created while you were home and gives you what you need. No more lines at checkout. This presents such an incredible opportunity for retailers to cater to their more technologically inclined customers and give them more reasons to patronize their store.
However, smaller retailers still see e-commerce as a threat and do not see it as an opportunity. This will greatly hinder their chances to increase business since online shopping is already a reality. This is why retailers of any size must have e-commerce on their side since it really is a blessing for business. For other companies that have already embraced this modern way of shopping, they can now consider focusing their efforts on things other than their customers’ shopping methods. This is the time to think of how their staff can make use of mobile technology to make the retail experience easier and more pleasant. There could be a way to eliminate long lines and short tempers. One suggestion would be to make the company’s inventory much more transparent to the consumer by using iPads or other tablets and placing them inside the store so the customer knows what is available and what is not. If they want to, they can pre-order an item at your store with the tablet and have it sent to their homes, free of charge.
Instead of trying to stem the flow of mobile shopping, retailers everywhere should try and find a way to get it to work for them. After all, technology is made to make life easier and it should apply to businesses as well. There are already a lot of major retailers that offer special deals when going through their mobile site but will still require the physical presence of the customer. By making shopping a hassle-free experience as much as you possibly can, you are creating relationships with the customers that no amount of marketing can buy.
There is no escape from technology and by adopting a wise e-commerce plan, you can ride the wave of technology to better your business.
