Technology is revolutionizing the retail landscape. By 2016 it is estimated that global retails are expected to reach a staggering $1,321.4 trillion, a 67 percent increase from 2011. With the freedom to compare prices, greater efficiency and the growing prevalence of same day delivery offers – the allure of eCommerce is drawing more consumers each day.
The proliferation of mobile technology has also been an enormous driver in the retail world in recent years. Nearly 80 percent of all smartphone owners today use their phones at least once monthly to shop, while more than 1/5th of all consumers habitually utilize mobile devices to enhance their shopping experience. Our smartphones let us compare prices, read reviews, obtain digital customer service, and learn more about the products we see in stores. Consumers today can even purchase items from competitors online while standing in the showrooms of brick-and-mortar retail outlets. So the future of shopping looks bright for consumers everywhere. To learn more about the ways technology is influencing your shopping experience, take a look at this illuminating infographic produced by online retailer Gift-Library on The Future of How We Shop.
photo credit: Jared Kohler/CNET