5 Questions To Ensure The Success Of Mobile Technology In Retail

By Peter Sciara, Mobile Solutions Architect at Stratix

Mobile technology use is soaring in retail, and for good reason. IHL Group found retailers that provide mobile sales tools for staff enjoy 77 percent higher sales growth than those who don’t, and those that deploy mobile POS achieve an impressive 92 percent higher sales. It’s rare to see such a spectacular return on investment in technology, and it’s getting a lot of attention. In fact, 57 percent of retailers are planning major foundational investments in mobile POS over the next two years, according to RIS News’ 30th Annual Retail Technology Study.

But the IHL results come with a caveat: results reflect those retailers “deploying effectively.” The fact is, there is a right way to go about a mobile deployment to get excellent results. It requires carefully selecting cases that support larger goals, thoughtful selection of technology, a plan that includes not just deployment but after-rollout maintenance and support, and alignment with a partner that can offer the expertise, partner ecosystem, and services that ensure success at every step.

To ensure their mobile projects are on the right track, retailers should ask themselves the following five questions.

1. How can mobile devices support our customer engagement strategy?

Many retailers have been investing in stores to amp up customer experience and drive traffic and sales. Since the pandemic, mobile has become an even bigger part of that plan. But before selecting a mobile solution, retailers have to connect the dots between the customer experience they’re looking to create and the specific functions a mobile device will need to perform to make that a reality. If they want to deliver a more personalized in-store shopping experience with assisted selling, for example, their mobile solution must include not just the right device, but access to customer insights and in-store analytics to help customize the brand experience. The same is true of extending rewarding customer experiences beyond the store environment with clienteling.

It’s important to consider both customer-facing use cases, like kiosks, and behind-the-scenes customer support functions, like Click-and-Collect picking and packing.

2. What capabilities do our mobile devices need to have to achieve our objectives?

If the associate and customer will share a screen to look at accessories or product options, for example, they’ll need a large screen and perhaps a swivel-mounted docking station. For mobile POS, they’ll need scanning capability, the ability to dip or swipe a card, and perhaps access to a networked receipt printer.

Some retailers maximize the productivity of their devices by accommodating more than one use case: line busting for busy times and replenishment at night, for example, or a kiosk that doubles as a POS terminal for the holiday season, and perhaps leveraging UVB clean technology for disinfection. Will devices be carried, docked, or both? Important features to look for to support specific uses include scanning, availability of a sled for card reading, and ruggedness to survive drops, dust, and other environmental realities. For managers who travel from store to store, Samsung DeX enables them to travel light with just their mobile phone (Samsung Galaxy S8 and above) and still have the productivity of desktop-experience at any hot desk with an HDMI monitor.

3. What form factors best suit our use cases?

Hand in hand with device functionality is device type. If the primary use will be by one associate carrying the device in hand or an apron throughout a shift, for example, smartphone form factors such as the Samsung Note9 or A-Series are likely the best fit.

Wearables such as the Galaxy Watch are emerging as a more direct and sophisticated means of assigning store floor tasks, implementing automated social distancing alerts, or communicating with team members since the associate simply glances at the message and maintains a connection to the customer they’re with. Meanwhile, tablets like the Galaxy Tab S4 series have found their sweet spot for assisted selling, clienteling, kiosks, endless aisle and fixed or mobile hybrid POS.

For example, one plus-size fashion retailer aims to fulfill the complete fashion needs of its shoppers, so the retailer chose Samsung Galaxy tablets, each housed in a thin, lightweight case with a handgrip, so associates have complete mobility to assist shoppers anywhere, searching centralized inventory, showcasing additional styles and colors, and even completing the sale.

4. What is the most effective way to deploy and support mobile devices in our business?

Mobile devices must remain operational, secure, and up to date to achieve retailer goals. Enterprise mobile management (EMM) solutions help retailers maximize the value or their fleet of mobile devices. Samsung Knox, for example, includes modules to configure, enroll, manage, support, secure, and maintain mobile devices by leveraging the Knox platform already built into every Samsung device. According to RSR Research’s “IT Spending in Retail 2018,” retail “winners” are far more likely to be planning to increase spending on mobile device management (MDM) over the next three years than other retailers — 60 percent to 26 percent, to be exact. They know that managing devices intelligently is critical to getting results.

Mobile devices need to be up and running at the point of transaction for a pleasant customer experience. It’s important to have the right Day-2 support structure in place to keep working devices in the hands of all associates to reduce disruptions.

5. What capabilities and expertise do we need from our technology partner to ensure our mobile devices are successful?

High-quality devices and the tools to manage them are foundational to a successful mobile project, but there is a third leg to the stool, and that’s the right technology partner. An experienced mobile partner works on retail mobile projects every day, amassing considerable depth of expertise in what works, and doesn’t work, in every use case. A great partner like Stratix and Samsung offers deep domain expertise, training assistance, and best practice insights, as well as access to an ecosystem of key partners like accessory manufacturers, in-store analytics service providers, and deployment and support talent to ensure an effective and well-integrated solution.

Mobile Is The Future Of Technology In Retail

The future of retail tech is mobile, thanks to these devices’ sleek designs, versatility, and low cost. But succeeding with mobile is all about seeing past the sizzle and sweating the details. Mobile in retail delivers great results — if the solution supports overall goals, uses the right device with the right features, includes a plan for ongoing support, and leverages all the insider knowledge, experience, and partner relationships that come through a great tech partner.