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How Mobile Is Changing The Future of Retail

Mobile, mobile, mobile. Maybe 2013 really is the year for mobile’s breakout party. There has been an explosion of mobile talk at tech conferences all over the country. The most recent SXSW 2013.

In a panel chalk full of mobile experts mobile was discussed as the future of retail. There take on it was thought provoking for an aspiring mobile marketer. It turns out there are more than one way to skin a cat when it comes to driving retail revenue through mobile marketing efforts.

Future of Retail Part 1 – Driving Leads

When you talk mobile marketing this is the most common topic. How to drive new leads via mobile traffic? How to drive local mobile traffic for higher conversion rates? All very good questions and worth exploring. Unfortuneatly for retail – there are too many still asking those questions rather than implementing solutions. Chris Mason said it this way during the SXSW panel:

surprisingly, for all the talk about the importance of mobile devices in reshaping the consumer experience, many retailers are behind with their mobile technology. To that end, Mason said that, of the top 500 retailers, 60% have a mobile consumer interface. This means, he noted, that for the first time, the relationship between the customer and the retailer is being shaped in a world where “the customer is ahead of the retailer.”
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So what you might be asking?

Well it’s obvious that there are some seriously sweet opportunities for an enterprising consultant. The retail market desperately needs your services to prepare for and drive mobile traffic.

Future of Retail Part 2 – Driving In-Store Revenue

Mobile marketing isn’t just about driving leads. Some retailers are thinking outside the box when it comes to mobile implementation. Wal-Mart wants consumers to use mobile apps in-store for an interactive approach.

Bergh explain that Wal-mart has focused on improving customers’ experiences once they’re in the store with their mobile apps, as opposed to using mobile as a way to bring customers in. To that end, the store has launched things like it’s price checker app, which allows customers to get prices and stock information about products, once they’re in the store.
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Future of Retail Part 3 – The Mobile Wallet

This is where the rubber really meets the road. This is the technology that’s been promised and retailers are waiting for. Retail will see a significant merge with mobile when consumers can scan products and pay for them all through a mobile app.

What do you think is the future of mobile marketing? Share your ideas and concerns in the comment section below.

One thought on “How Mobile Is Changing The Future of Retail

  1. This will be one of the next big technology upgrades in marketing for consumers and retail. There are to many devices out there right now for people to focus on instead of just one device called mobile such as smart phones, I-pads, I- phones and etc. Once the public will learn how to use these devices and become comfortable with these devices then the retail aspect of mobile from the marketing stand point will take off big time!

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