UK retailers are widely adopting mobile technology to increase in-store productivity according to the findings of the Mobility in Retail Survey 2005, conducted by Martec International in association with Microsoft. Whilst in 2004, only 28 percent of the UK�s leading retailers had adopted or planned to adopt mobile technology, less than a year later the survey reveals that mobile solutions are now being used or are planned for use in-store by 83 percent of respondents.
Retailers are turning to mobile technology for a range of applications, to increase sales and/or reduce costs at store level. The most popular uses for mobile applications and devices are access to email, calendar and contacts information (78 percent); stock checking and replenishment data (63 percent); and price checking (63 percent). Retailers are also using mobile technology to record markdown pricing, check warehouse availability and goods receiving/ordering. 49 percent of retailers, many of which have invested in mobile solutions over the past year, say that their mobile technology spend is set to increase further.
The most important mobile technology initiatives to date are claimed to be in the areas of electronic point of sale (EPOS) and stock control. Technology trials are also underway in a number of innovative areas including mobile POS, and the introduction of handheld scanner systems to reveal detailed product information for both staff and customers at the shelf edge. For those which have not yet implemented mobile projects but intend to do so, stock checking and replenishment are identified as priorities (26 percent), followed by queue busting (11 percent) and price checking (11 percent).
Retailers are turning to mobile technology for a range of applications, to increase sales and/or reduce costs at store level. The most popular uses for mobile applications and devices are access to email, calendar and contacts information (78 percent); stock checking and replenishment data (63 percent); and price checking (63 percent). Retailers are also using mobile technology to record markdown pricing, check warehouse availability and goods receiving/ordering. 49 percent of retailers, many of which have invested in mobile solutions over the past year, say that their mobile technology spend is set to increase further.
The most important mobile technology initiatives to date are claimed to be in the areas of electronic point of sale (EPOS) and stock control. Technology trials are also underway in a number of innovative areas including mobile POS, and the introduction of handheld scanner systems to reveal detailed product information for both staff and customers at the shelf edge. For those which have not yet implemented mobile projects but intend to do so, stock checking and replenishment are identified as priorities (26 percent), followed by queue busting (11 percent) and price checking (11 percent).