A new generation of wireless communications is offering advantages to retailers that were previously unavailable, reports Aberdeen Group.
The analyst has published On-Premises Mobile Retail: Empowering Deeper Customer Engagement, written by Andrew Borg.
Mr Borg is Aberdeen Group's senior research analyst for mobility and wireless communications, identifying industry best practice and disseminating his findings throughout the relevant channel.
He claims that recent technological advances mean that the use of electronic devices in retail environments is no longer limited to cordless barcode scanners.
Rather, high-end equipment like smartphones and tablet PCs can accelerate the checkout process, improve inventory control and narrow the gap between online and real-world modes of operation.
"A well implemented wireless infrastructure can become a strategic on-premises retail asset, enabling new capabilities that improve the in-store experience," Mr Borg writes.
He suggests that, as well as offering new opportunities to retailers, this generational shift could also see old, accepted methods of operation become challenged.