What If Lines Could Be Eliminated
Posted by Marcus LaRobardiere on Apr 20, 2018
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I have walked out of stores dozens of times due to long checkout lines. Would a mobile point of sale (mPOS) or mobile checkout solution have prevented me from leaving? Yes, most likely. I will try items on, find something I like, head to the checkout counter, actually grimace upon seeing the length of the line, and then haphazardly fold my item(s) on the nearest display table before walking out. An item has to be something I’ve long been searching for or something that really looks too amazing to leave behind in order for me not to walk away when faced with a long line, but unfortunately, my shopping experiences rarely involve either of those special circumstances. And I know I’m not the only one.
While I’m personally grateful for the significant amount of money I’ve saved by not buying items I clearly wasn’t all that attached to, the state of my bank account is not the retailer’s concern. Its concern is making sure that I am making those purchases that have me on the fence.
For those of us who are chronic line avoiders to walk out of a store having actually made a purchase, retailers need to make the checkout process as pleasant as possible, but they rarely do. With only 21% of retail associates having access to a mPOS, the vast majority of brands leave customers no choice but to wait in the long lines that form behind traditional POS terminals.
Providing retail associates with an mPOS allows them the freedom to move around the store with shoppers, staying engaged and continually available to answer questions and provide recommendations. And it empowers each and every salesperson on the floor with the ability to perform transactions as soon as a customer is ready to buy.
The 79% of retailers that are not implementing mPOS technology in their stores are missing a huge opportunity to boost conversions on the sales floor. In light of the declining foot traffic in brick and mortar stores in recent years, brands need to be doing everything possible to appeal to the shoppers who do make it into their physical spaces.
