I’ll be going on a much-needed vacation early next month, which calls for some new clothes for the trip. Something tells me that what I normally wear in Upstate New York won’t do me any favors for the Florida heat. Shopping at the mall last weekend, I found myself waiting in lines at the counter at almost every store – something that happens far too often.
Unfortunately for the store, those long lines are what drive customers away – sometimes for good. But it’s not just the customer’s impatience that makes them hop out of line and go to a different store; what they do in line may impact their decision to leave just as much. Today’s consumers are constantly connected with technology, and if they’re not engaged by the retailers, they’ll find a way to entertain themselves with their smartphones. In fact, 84% of consumers are likely to use their smartphones in-store to help with their shopping experience, according to a Google report. And of those smartphone users, 44% utilize their mobile device in-store to make price comparisons.
Waiting in line gives consumers that additional opportunity to surf the web, compare prices, and shop around on competitor sites. What else would they do, talk to the people around them? Probably not, because we’re more likely to seek social interactions online than in person these days (which is pretty sad).
So what can a store do to reduce these lines, engage customers, and create a better overall shopping experience? Empower the workforce with mobile computing solutions. While some smaller businesses may resort to options like Square or QuickBooks Go Payment to allow workers to process payments on their phones, Honeywell’s Captuvo SL22 and SL42 Enterprise Sleds caught my attention. Not only can this attachment swipe credit cards and process payments, but it also scans 2D barcodes for inventory purposes and interacts with store loyalty cards as well. With this capability, retail employees can check people out as they assist customers, check inventory on the floor, and engage the customers for that optimal shopping experience.
Smartphones have led to more empowered customers in retail stores. The best way to combat these empowered customers is with empowered employees, which is exactly what a mobile solution such as the Captuvo SL22 and SL42 provides. After all, as a retailer, would you rather risk losing a customer due to long lines and price comparisons on smartphones, or would you rather keep a customer for life by engaging them and providing the best retail experience available?
At L-Tron, we know that there’s no single mobile POS solution that works for all retailers – each store has a different set of needs. We’ll work closely with you to deliver the best, optimal solution that tailors to your specific needs.
About the author
Jason Shanley is a member of L-Tron’s content creation team. His background in communication and technology provides him the deep knowledge base required for the articles he authors. Jason can be reached at Info@L-Tron.com or (800) 830-9523.