• The Mobile Nudge: Gently Edging the Customer On
    While there are the big deals, like a half-off-the-price sale, that can drive a consumer to a location and cause a sale, sometimes it's just a little nudge that is needed to drive the customer to purchase more than what was initially intended. This involves targeting offers and providing incentives, such as discounts, to cause the shopper to move beyond their current consideration.
  • The $1,000 App: When Your App Can't Do It All
    Even though some apps are extremely targeted, there are times that a business needs to go outside to supplement what they offer. The recent announcement by a private aviation company that it had partnered with another app provider had me wondering. How can a business provide products or services outside of its core competencies?
  • The Numbers Around Mobile Commerce
    Coming to the end of the first quarter of the year, we thought it time to review some of the numbers around mobile commerce. Some of the forecasts and predictions are likely to come true and others, maybe not so much. No matter how you slice the data, all the numbers are basically heading up.
  • Great Deals Drive Mobile Consumers
    Everybody likes a great deal. This was shown again recently when a Groupon offer to buy a $10 Starbucks electronic gift card for half price drew a large response. Mobile shoppers are being faced with an increasingly large number of offers and discount deals. The question is if the bar has been raised.
  • Mobile & the Transformation of the Role of the Cashier
    As more retailers arm their sales associates with mobile technology to assist with in-aisle shopping, I have to wonder about the future role of the cashier. Although many retailers installed self-checkout systems long ago, the introduction of tablets and smartphones into the mix changes the equation.
  • Mobile Payments Backed by Credit Cards? Not So Much
    With credit companies considering charging fees to mobile wallet companies and consumers turning to alternative payment methods when buying from mobile devices, the complexities of the mobile payment landscape continue. It turns out there are different payment methods preferred for Web-based vs. mobile-based transactions.
  • Is There a Limit to Mobile Self-Service?
    Using smartphones while shopping is evolving to allowing more power of product scanning by consumers, leading to them checking out using their mobile device. Walmart and many other stores have had self-checkout lines and terminals for years. The question is where mobile will fit in the process.
  • The Customer Role in Teaching Mobile to Salespeople
    Using mobile during the shopping process, such as by price comparison and price matching, can be a challenge for all salespeople to be well versed in. This is where mobile shoppers can actually help in the process by making salespeople aware of what is possible.
  • The Hidden Influence of Mobile at Retail
    Smartphones and tablets are placing an increasing behind-the-scenes role in the process of shopping. Many consumers use their mobile devices for research and price comparisons before heading to the store, posing a challenge for retailers.
  • The Road to Motion Commerce
    Mobile commerce could become more physical as more motion capabilities are incorporated into smartphones and tablets. Information between sales associate and mobile shopper could be shared by bumping devices together, as one example.
« Previous Entries