How Locationing Services Can Help Retailers Boost Profits

By Pat Glennon, Vice President, North America Retail & Hospitality, Zebra Technologies

Smartphones have invaded every aspect of our daily lives, including shopping. In fact, 71 percent of shoppers who use their smartphones to do research inside a retail store say it’s an important part of their retail experience, according to a survey on “How Digital Connects Shoppers to Local Stores” conducted by Google, Ipsos Media CT and Sterling Brands.

Unfortunately, a whopping 66 percent of customers surveyed say they’ve tried to uncover information while in a store and couldn’t find the information they were looking for. Meanwhile, more than 40 percent said they were left frustrated and were more likely to shop elsewhere.

The reality is that technology is changing the way customers navigate through their favorite retail shops. Today, most shoppers are already using their smartphones inside stores – yet many are not coming back when they can’t find the information they need.

So as a retailer, wouldn’t you like to offer customers a better in-store customer experience by delivering the information your shoppers need on the devices they’re already carrying?

Fortunately, there’s an easy way to provide customers with the information and education they need to make a purchasing decision. Today, in-store networks and data analytic systems allow you to tap into a smartphone’s Wi-Fi and Bluetooth® Smart technology, to engage in highly customized and personalized interactions with customers.