October 9, 2024

How Mobile POS Software Enhances Omnichannel Retail

Stockroom workers analyzing online customers orders on digital device, preparing packages for shipping. Diverse employees working at merchandise logistics in warehouse. Close up shot

With the recent rise in eCommerce and then the return to brick-and-mortar shopping over the past few years, 73% of shoppers consider themselves “omnichannel.” This transformation has resulted in higher expectations for in-person shopping experiences. Consumers crave the personalization, easy access to information, and on-demand service that online shopping offers. In fact, PwC research reveals that 51% of consumers say they’re less likely to continue to be loyal to a brand if in-store and online shopping experiences aren’t both easy and enjoyable. The challenge for retailers is finding a way to meet these consumers’ demands while operating efficiently to capture the 30% higher customer lifetime value that omnichannel shoppers represent. Mobile point of sale (POS) solutions are key elements of successful omnichannel retailers’ business strategies. Mobile POS software enhances the following omnichannel retail processes. 

Online Order Fulfillment

Omnichannel businesses that don’t use drop-shipping for online orders can enhance picking from their in-store or warehouse inventory with mobile POS solutions. Mobile POS software allows employees to replace paper with digital orders. Accessing pick orders on a mobile device reduces the number of lost orders and errors. It also makes it easier for employees to multitask, picking for multiple orders at one time and picking items in a logical order, for example, frozen foods last for a grocery customer. 

Mobile POS software also contributes to informed decision-making company-wide. Because employees immediately update inventory data as they pick, employees and online shoppers have updated item availability information. Store managers also have near-real-time data, allowing them to react to low stock levels with greater agility. 

Retailers can measure the return on investment (ROI) from increased efficiency and productivity, lower labor costs for online order fulfillment, and fewer errors and the costs to correct them. 

Buy Online, Pickup in Store 

Omnichannel shoppers take shopping journeys that combine digital and physical interactions, like buy online pickup in store (BOPIS), which 67% of U.S. consumers have adopted. Retailers must optimize BOPIS experiences to win these shoppers’ loyalty. Mobile POS software puts order and customer information at employee’s fingertips, allowing them to assist customers quickly and efficiently. Furthermore, the ROI from using mobile devices to assist BOPIS customers also includes the ability to capture incremental revenue when customers arrive to pick up their orders. Salesforce points out that incremental revenue can be significant, adding $28 billion to the 2023 holiday shopping season total. The best mobile point of sale software will allow employees to add items to the order when customers arrive at the store without requiring the customer to wait in line. 

Endless Aisle 

Omnichannel shoppers expect the same easy access to information when they’re shopping in-store that they have online. Instead of leaving shoppers to use their smartphones to find the items they want – maybe on a competitor’s website. Mobile POS software allows sales associates to help shoppers find what they want. The solution will confirm that the item is in stock and its location in the store. It can also find items in the retailer’s warehouse or distribution center for shipping to the customer’s home or the store for pickup. Retailers see ROI by saving sales and increasing customer satisfaction and loyalty. 

Line Busting 

Mobile POS software and purpose-built devices create the optimal line-busting solution. The best mobile point of sale software allows employees to pre-scan items to shorten lines and reduce wait times at the checkout. Cashiers can restore pre-scanned transactions and quickly accept payment at the checkout. Employees can also use mobile POS solutions to accept payments from customers who use their own mobile devices to scan purchases, creating a convenient, streamlined in-store shopping experience. 

Security and Fraud Mitigation 

Omnichannel shoppers are comfortable with self-checkout, but it can mean losses for retailers due to errors, items that shoppers forget to scan, and intentional fraud. The best mobile point of sale software allows retailers to confirm self-checkout purchases. The employee uses a mobile device to scan high-value or easily forgotten items, like a case of food products under a shopping cart basket, to ensure the customer paid for the entire purchase.

Payments, Anywhere 

Mobile POS devices with multiple connectivity options allow retailers to accept payments in various omnichannel engagements in any location. Retailers can accept payments curbside, at fruit and vegetable farmstands at harvest time, and at a customer’s front door when delivering pharmacy or grocery orders. The best mobile point of sale software will also enable receipt printing or sending a digital receipt. With this functionality, retailers and grocers can meet customers’ expectations for on-the-spot, personalized, convenient service. 

Retail Management 

When sales associates track all activities on traditional POS terminals and mobile devices, managers gain a 360-degree view of their operations. This near-real-time data allows them to understand their customers better and capitalize on buying trends and customer behaviors with more agility. Also, collecting and updating data via mobile POS software in addition to other in-store and digital touchpoints gives managers a single source of truth to guide decisions about their operations and organizations. 

How to Find the Best Mobile Point of Sale Software

Retailers evaluating mobile POS software solutions will benefit from looking beyond its features at the user level to understand how it integrates with their overall omnichannel operation. Data silos are detrimental to customer experiences and efficient operations. 

The best model is to deploy hardware-agnostic software so that employees use the same POS application wherever they work: at the counter or on a mobile device. This model also allows employees to transition from mobile devices to stationary terminals when necessary, such as when pre-scanning for line busting or scanning items at a sidewalk sale for payment inside the store. One software solution that runs on all devices also makes new employee training and cross-training easier.

A successful omnichannel operation requires flexible mobile POS software that allows you to enhance customer experiences and efficiency. Request a demo to see howThriVersA mobile POS allows you to optimize retail performance your way!