Mobile technology the way forward in retail, report finds

More than two thirds of consumers believe mobile technology as the most effective way to provide a faster shopping experience, according to the latest State of Mobility in Retail report by mobile and IoT management solutions provider SOTI. 

The report shows 67.3% of consumers perceive mobile technology as the most effective way to provide a faster shopping experience, while more than three-quarters (76%) of consumers want in-store staff to use mobile devices to provide a better in-store experience, and one-third (32.6%) are unwilling to sacrifice personal data security to improve their in-store experience.

The State of Mobility in Retail report, "From 'Bricks to Clicks': Navigating the Retail Revolution," commissioned by SOTI in partnership with Arlington Research, surveyed 4,000 global respondents to gauge their opinions and readiness to engage with retail IoT and mobile technology that enhances the omnichannel experience.

Highlights from the report reveal insights beyond the physical retail store, with almost 1 in 3 (31.4%) consumers saying they're comfortable with emerging delivery methods such as delivery drones and more than one-quarter (26.9%) with the idea of autonomous vehicle delivery.

"Retailers need to implement modern strategies to stay relevant and wake up to the fact that consumers want mobile and IoT technologies which enhance and personalise the shopping experience," says Shash Anand, vice president of product strategy at SOTI.

"It's essential that retailers integrate these business-critical technologies into their business to ensure they can deliver the speed, convenience and customisation that employees and customers expect. As the online and offline worlds continue to merge, the time for retailers to invest in mobility and IoT solutions is now," Anand says.

Nearly half of consumers (47.1%) believe self-checkout improves their in-store shopping experience, the report shows.

"Retailers who rely on mobile technology need to ensure the technology works, because customers want to find what they need quickly, pay for their purchases and get on with their day.

"Retailers must ensure they have a trusted mobility and IoT management solution in place to ensure in-store technologies work all the time, the way they're supposed to, with no downtime, while ensuring security and compliance," says Anand.