Retailers in particular showed a strong interest in deploying mPOS solutions over the next couple years to provide shoppers with more personalized service and payment convenience while gaining countless opportunities to close the sale, according to survey results released by Motorola Solutions, Inc.


Retailers are embracing mPOS pilots and trials to eliminate the high cost of traditional cash registers and accept customer payments – including magnetic stripe and chip and PIN-based credit, debit, gift and loyalty cards, as well as near field communications (NFC) payments via mobile phone – wherever and whenever needed. Fifty-five percent of those surveyed even plan to incorporate the ability to take cash as part of their mPOS operations. The mPOS allows businesses to offer customers brand new conveniences that improve the quality and speed of service and increase loyalty.


Other survey findings:

 


  • Sixty-six percent of retail respondents are interested in mPOS, while 42 percent of retail respondents are currently piloting or starting trials within the next 36 months, and the majority is focused on using mPOS for sales associates on the store floor or line-busting.

  • More than seven in 10 (71 percent) retailers that indicated interest in mPOS are using or planning to use it to improve customer service and also intend to provide access to inventory management (51 percent), pricing (48 percent) and merchandise returns (42 percent) applications.

  • In December 2011, Motorola's holiday shopper survey found that one-third of store visits ended with an average of $125 unspent due to missed opportunities to purchase. The survey also found that inefficient payment processes were one of the leading contributors to those lost sales. More than 43 percent of shoppers agreed that their shopping experience improved when store associates used mPOS devices.

  • Sixteen percent of surveyed retailers currently have an mPOS solution deployed, while less than 9 percent have completely mobile or portable checkout systems.

  • On average, retail respondents anticipated replacing more than 36 percent of their fixed POS as a result of migrating to an mPOS.
    “As retailers battle for shoppers’ hearts and wallets, mPOS serves as a valuable tool that can help turn browsing into buying,” said Michelle Crissey, Customer Solutions lead, Motorola Solutions.

“When the power of mPOS is in the hands of every retail associate, shopping becomes an experience and associates are always in a position to make the sale.”



The survey was fielded from December 2011-February 2012, targeted to full-time experienced employees in the retail, hospitality and field service industries in North America, United Kingdom, France and Germany. It was designed to reveal interests and experiences with the use of mPOS solutions. A total of 541 respondents completed the survey without knowledge of Motorola Solutions’ sponsorship.