During a recent webinar, presented by Retail TouchPoints, titled “The Road to In-Store Mobile Commerce,” Steve Rowen, of RSR Research, shared key findings from the company’s 2011 edition of its annual store benchmark survey.  Survey findings showed that 70% of respondents have utilized technology-enabled touch points for store associates for more than a year, a significant increase from 49% in 2010.  And 25% of respondents said they now are providing store managers with mobile technology-enabled touch points, up from 14% in 2010.

According to Rowen, mobile technology presents a prime opportunity for retailers to increase foot traffic and drive in-store engagement.  In fact, 73% of retailers said “deeper customer engagement that builds loyalty through mobile channels is the most valuable opportunity we have today.”

Let’s Get Mobile!  Contact DecisionPoint Systems, Inc. for additional information about our mobile retail solutions that enhance the shopping experience and drive loyalty.

Is your re-labeling and markdown process as efficient as it could be?  Are your employees spending valuable time going back and forth between a stationary printer?  In-aisle printing from wireless mobile printers closes the loop between pricing strategy and execution so you can increase efficiency and better utilize labor.  With a mobile printer and handheld mobile computer you can quickly and accurately prepare markdown labels, audit shelf prices and print new product or shelf labels right in the aisle.

DecisionPoint’s partner Zebra Technologies has created an ROI calculator so you can see what kind of cost savings you can realize after moving from a fixed printer configuration to a mobile printing solution.  Try out the Mobile Retail ROI Calculator today.

Let’s Get Mobile!  Contact DecisionPoint Systems, Inc. for additional information about mobile price management applications.

Macy’s recently launched their new Backstage Pass campaign that utilizes 2D QR codes to provide access to fashion advice and tips from style icons.  Macy’s is just one of many retailers adopting QR codes to differentiate themselves by providing a more interactive shopping experience.  Retail Touchpoints also recently reported on the growing use of Microsoft Tag 2D bar codes.  According to a recent report by IHL Services and RetailConnections, this type of enhanced marketing is on the rise, with 21% currently using 2D bar codes and an additional 40% saying they have plans to add the technology within the next 12 to 24 months.

Let’s Get Mobile!  Contact DecisionPoint Systems, Inc. to learn more about customer-facing applications that enhance the shopping experience.

In our June 28th post I provided information about Zebra’s new QLn mobile printer that is ideal for retail applications such as shelf labeling.  Customer input was vital to the development of the QLn series and it boasts innovative technology that improves productivity.  Check out the video below to learn more about the QLn and its enhanced features that meet customer demands.

Let’s Get Mobile!  Contact DecisionPoint Systems, Inc. for additional information about mobile printing solutions for retailers.

You may have noticed that coupons have been going through some updates the past few years.  In addition to the standard UPC-A bar code that manufacturers have been using on coupons for decades, GS1 DataBar has also been added.  The use of both bar codes is part of the transition phase to a DataBar-only coupon system.  June 30th marked the date that the Joint Industry Coupon Committee (JICC), set to completely transition to the new GS1 DataBar bar code.  However, because DataBar is a voluntary standard you will see that some manufacturers postpone the switch to later this year.

Manufacturers will see numerous benefits when they make the switch though.  GS1 DataBar is a robust bar code that holds much more information than the UPC-A and enables:

• Automatic expiration date checking
• Validation of specific offers and purchase requirements
• Reduced fraud due to improved validation

Retailers will also realize the benefits of improved scan rates, faster checkouts and a reduction in the need for cashier intervention.  Retailers will need to ensure that their bar code scanners and POS software support the new code in order to realize these benefits.  Are you ready?

Let’s Get Mobile!  Contact DecisionPoitn Systems, Inc. for additional information about bar code scanners and POS software that support GS1 DataBar.

In our Oct. 30, 2009 post I provided information about the benefits that image capture provides to a variety of businesses with mobile workers.  Mobile computers with integrated high-resolution cameras also provide benefits to retailers working within the four walls.

With a constant flow of inventory arriving at stores every day, there are bound to be some damaged or defective shipments.  Equipping workers with mobile computers or digital imaging devices enables them to capture images of damaged goods at the time of arrival to reduce liability and provide photographic evidence of item condition.  In addition to photographic evidence, retailers can also create and store documentation to streamline the returns process.

Let’s Get Mobile!  Contact DecisionPoint Systems, Inc. for additional information about mobile devices with integrated cameras that enable proof of item condition applications.

DecisionPoint Systems is proud to announce that it has been named a select member of the Motorola Solutions 2010 Pinnacle Club for outstanding sales and partner performance in 2010. The Pinnacle Club recognizes top Motorola PartnerEmpower business partners for their overall sales performance and partnership. DecisionPoint accepted this award at Motorola’s Annual Partner Expo on March 7, 2011 in Las Vegas, NV.

“This honor recognizes DecisionPoint as one of the top U.S. providers of both in-premise and field-based workforce solutions as well as RFID solutions. Our partnership with Motorola Solutions ensures our clients receive the latest technological advances as part of their complete mobility solution,” said Nicholas Toms, CEO of DecisionPoint Systems.

Read the entire press release to learn more about DecisionPoint Systems receiving Motorola Pinnacle Club status, or download the press release here.

Let’s Get Mobile!  Contact DecisionPoint Systems, Inc. for additional information about end-to-end mobile solutions.

In our November 15th post I shared a little bit of information about QR codes and how they’re being used to enhance the shopping experience.  QR codes have been an everyday part of life for consumers in Japan for several years and are used extensively as a marketing tool.  It appears interest in this popular 2D bar code is growing in the U.S. and many consumers are using their smartphones to capture the QR codes to receive product information, coupons and more.  Check out the video below from Cleveland news station WEWS that discusses the codes popping up in their local businesses and the benefits they’re providing retailers.

Let’s Get Mobile!  Contact DecisionPoint Systems, Inc. to learn more about customer-facing mobile applications that utilize QR codes.

Customer-facing mobile applications and mobile bar codes have been growing in interest and the ability to send bar codes to a user’s smartphone enables applications such as mobile ticketing, mobile coupons and mobile loyalty programs.  But there are many different challenges associated with managing bar code information on a smartphone’s LCD screen compared with printed bar codes.  In order to ensure that mobile bar codes are readable on a variety of displays you must have a detailed understanding of:

• Bar code specifications
• Display characteristics
• Bar code reader limitations
• Effects of screen rendering software
• Bar code choices

Let’s Get Mobile!  Contact DecisionPoint Systems, Inc. for additional information about mobile bar code applications and bar code imagers designed to read 1D and 2D mobile bar codes.

In our January 17th post we provided information about the advantages of mobile bar codes and the convenience they provide to customers.  Motorola recently released the DS9208 hands-free imager that has the flexibility to scan 1D and 2D bar codes—whether printed or directly from a smartphone screen.  Check out the video below to learn more about this versatile scanner that offers industry-leading scan speeds.

Let’s Get Mobile!  Contact DecisionPoint Systems, Inc. for additional information about 2D imagers like the DS9208 and end-to-end retail solutions.