The world of business retail is a constantly changing, hectic and sometimes overwhelming beast. Any tried and true successful business has to always be on the lookout for change and be able to consistently evolve when changes arise in the world of retail. This includes the recent increase in the use of tablets in retail business settings. A portable and customizable tablet, as is its construction and designed use, is just the latest in ways that retail business has attempted to bring more customer satisfaction to their clients.
So how does the use of a tablet in a retail setting benefit both the customer and the business? Used as a retail technology solution, tablets have expanded the ways in which a business can service and provide customer support. Therefore, tablets have become the new “face” of any retail experience, in fact, retail in-store tablet use is almost becoming a standard for many big name retail giants.
Named by some as mobile technology’s “third wave” tablets provide many useful features for retailers and are the reason why many retailers are seeking to include them in the newest implementation of their business and marketing strategies. These include, offering in-store payment processing, customer self-service, product displays, signage and in-store advertising and what is described as the “picture this” selling strategy.
Probably the biggest plus of using tablets in retail applications is giving the customers ease of use in terms of payment processing. Gone are the days of hard to use, bulky and outdated cash registers and banking systems. Today, most retailers have opted to trade in their old models for the friendlier hand-held options. Their sleek design and look, coupled with their updatable software and data collecting abilities make tablets an even better choice for being a payment option.
Also positive for the customer and business is the tablets ability of self service. For example, Panera has recently begun rolling out new fast line kiosks that allow customers to place their orders without having to wait in long lines. Another plus of customer self service is that if a company has a loyalty program, with a self service tablet, a customer can search for products and use their rewards to buy and purchase those products or services. This only enhances customer experience and satisfaction.
For smaller retailers with limited space, the use of a tablet as a display or for advertising reasons helps to streamline and improve the layout of an area, without compromising in terms of product display. By using a tablet to advertise for sales and new product listings, a company can save space and paper as well as remaining current with modern technology and marketing ideas.
The final component that makes tablet use in retail settings an extreme positive is that having a tablet in store lets retail companies offer the ability of “picture this” selling. This basically reiterates the old school “touch and feel” idea of going to a retail store in the first place. By allowing a customer to see a product in action, via a tablet, not only shows the customer what exactly they are buying into but also gives another key selling feature and point for the company. This allows customers to experience a company’s brand in the best light possible.
Using a tablet in a retail setting is a great way to engage customers, drive sales and improve in all areas of marketing strategy.
