The last decade saw enumerable mobile checkout systems hit the market. Everything from Square and PayPal to dozens we’ve never used (many of which are multi-million dollar companies.) The proliferation of the software, and the massive flow of data in both directions, has forced retailers’ hands in finding ways to manage it; no more ignoring it.
There was a recent webinar by some industry experts called “Optimizing Mobile Services to Power Next-Gen Omnichannel Stores“ (lengthy title, tons of info.) As stores rely on mobile shoppers, they must be able to experience the same type of service from their couch, office, or in the store. This has posed a problem with inventory, delivery, last-mile limitations, BOPIS, and up-selling. As mobile services continue to evolve and innovate, it is likely we will see some solutions for these dilemmas.
The deeper these services become interwoven in a store system, the less likely they are to do away with them. As far as we can tell, mobile shopping and in-store experiences are becoming more intertwined, making them a mainstay in our retail environment.