Smartphones and Tablets Will Have 'Dramatic Impact'

Analysts have already said that tablets would transform the PC market, but IHL Group now says that, coupled with smartphones, such devices will have a similar, if not more acute, effect on the retailer-consumer relationship.

Right now, POS (point-of-sale) installations and pretty much ever retailer installation has specialized hardware.

This might not exactly last for long, now that tablets, and smartphones, are becoming more prominent than ever.

According to IHL Group, by 2015, 2.7 million tablets will be shipped every year for use in North American retail and hospitality, about 450% more than today.

Likewise, handheld devices, especially non-rugged ones, will increase in sales particularly much during the 2012-2015 period.

“The advent of mobile devices is a Gutenberg moment that is revolutionizing many aspects of the shopping experience,” said Greg Buzek, president, IHL Group.

“A complete transformation of the customer experience will occur at clothing and department stores over the next three years. Store personnel will be able to greet shoppers with their device, access purchase history, help customers accessorize, and even walk around as a personal shopper and check out the consumer — all from the same device.”

Similarly, tablets will see increased use in table-service restaurants, as customers will get to place their won orders via devices built directly into the table.

Those interested can read Mobility: A Gutenberg Moment for Retail, A Threat to POS in full (it can be found here).

“The desire for the ‘Apple Store experience’ among retailers is being driven at the CEO level on down, and its momentum is undeniable,” Buzek said.

“For years, retailers have been looking for technology to both provide associates with more data on the products they are offering, and recognize and reward customers as they come through that door. Mobile devices are making this possible.”