In recent years, many retailers have rolled out solutions that rely on mobile beacon technology in their stores, only to find that these solutions have failed to yield the results that users craved. The problem hasn’t been with mobile beacons themselves. The technology still holds a lot of potential, which some retailers are using to…

I went for a walk last week and wandered into a bookstore, where I stumbled upon two books that I wanted to buy. The problem: I’d left my wallet at home. I asked the cashier whether the store accepted mobile payments. He wasn’t sure, so he had me wave my phone in front of the…

Twenty-five percent of diners consider a restaurant’s technology when deciding where to eat, according to the National Restaurant Association. Among millennials (ages 18-34), it’s even higher: 32 percent, when they’re choosing among quick-service restaurants. One of those technologies is pay-at-the-table, which 63 percent of all customers surveyed say they’re willing to use, up from 48…

When I learned that one of my favorite stores had introduced the purchase option to buy online and pick up in the store (BOPIS), I was delighted. Then I tried it. I expected to be able to pick up my purchase quickly, bypassing the checkout lines. Instead, I was directed to the back of the…

With competition growing, retailers are looking for even more ways to operate efficiently while providing the kind of shopping experiences that will keep customers in stores longer and returning more often. The good news: There’s no shortage of new technologies. Now the bad news: There’s no shortage of new technologies. And even more are on…

Recently, I drove to a large, brick-and-mortar bookstore in search of a specific novel. Although the book was on best-seller lists only a few years ago, the store didn’t have a copy in stock. A sales associate offered to order it for me, telling me I could drive back to the store and pick it…