Tech Spending 2013: Mobile Makes Its Mark

December 2012 Integrated Solutions For Retailers

By Matt Pillar, editor in chief

From assortment planning to returns management and all points between, mobile devices are fast becoming the retailer’s indispensable multi-tool.

Yes, mobile computing is a recurring theme in findings from this year’s retail tech spending report. This, however, is not another report about mobility. Rather, it’s a report on the technologies and operations solutions in which retailers will invest in 2013, with some retrospective commentary on the 2012 events that are driving these investment decisions. It just so happens that for the first time since we began our annual tech spending preview in 2009, mobile devices and mobile application access are playing a profound and cross-disciplinary role in how retail technology and solution budgets are being shaped. We’ll highlight that role as we explore the findings of our annual retail technology spending survey here.