Online shopping has surged in popularity and flexibility over just the past few years. And the advent of smartphones has 
further changed the way we shop. Smartphones allow consumers to carry a wealth of information wherever they go. The combination of Internet and telephone access is a powerful tool in the hands of any shopper. The following features and capabilities detail some of the ways that smartphones have revolutionized and will continue to change the way we shop.
1. Barcode Reader Apps
Barcode scanning apps, such as iPhone RedLaser or pic2shop, allow a shopper to instantly compare product prices and availability across stores. This has an immediate influence on shopping trends. Being able to quickly see what competing stores have to offer means that consumers can pursue the best deals and preferred styles. This effectively puts the pressure on markets to step up their availability and tailor their prices.
2. Smartphone Product Showcase
Retailers are learning that customers are more frequently exposed to their products on the internet than in storefronts. Product reviews and browsing without visiting a physical location make online viewing preferable for most shoppers. And while online product displays are a staple of the online market, brands seem to understand the ubiquity of smartphone shoppers. Detailed, high-resolution product displays and product information are easily accessible on a smartphone, even while shopping. This means that online market displays are more commonly being tailored specifically for smartphones.
3. Mobile Payment and Ordering
Smartphones offer remote access to almost any contemporary convenience. From paying for your cappuccino at Starbuck’s to ordering and tracking your Domino’s pizza, smartphone apps allow a stunning variety of options. In some cities, even groceries can be ordered through a smartphone. This radical shift means a dramatic reconfiguring of the international marketplace. Smartphone access to goods and services heralds a streamlined shopping era. Traditional service industry models may quickly become outdated, replaced by more accessible and technologically advanced ones.
4. Total Information Access
Having Internet access and built-in map applications on your phone means that you can look up any location. If you’re in an unfamiliar neighborhood, you can quickly find the nearest store. And if you find that an item you need is out of stock in a particular store, you can easily look up the nearest store that does have that product in stock. The value of this feature as it pertains to physical shopping cannot be overemphasized. Faster, more streamlined errand runs are easy to route, and sudden changes of plan are easy to work around and incorporate into your day. This means that retailers have to consider physical accessibility and proximity to other major retail locations. Consumers are less likely to visit physical locations if it looks like they’re out-of-the-way on their smartphones.
5. Mobilized Media
Because most movies, books, music, and TV are available electronically, physical copies are becoming a less popular purchase. Whether for personal enjoyment or as a gift for loved ones, media is most easily accessed online. Publishers and production companies are forced to keep up with the transition, offering online movie service gift certificates and Internet-based product unveilings. Smartphones are further streamlining this ubiquitous media access. Smartphones condense most features of a mobile phone, mp3 player, and computer into an extremely portable gadget. Consumers are now given an easy, digital option for accessing their favorite media and giving the gift of entertainment to family and friends, and retailers are forced to keep up with the change in demand.
Everyday Tools
Smartphones have evolved to be a common tool for everyday use. Their application and influence extend beyond shopping and into the minutiae of regular life. Smartphone owners regularly consult their devices for recipes, use them to keep in touch with friends and family, and even use them professionally for work and research. The ubiquity of smartphones prefaces their role in virtually every aspect of life. Their influence has already been felt by the retail environment, and it’s not slowing down anytime soon.
Author Bio: Sandy J. is a freelance writer and avid shopper. She loves bringing shopping know-how to the public and helping people save money on everything from everyday needs to technology to car insurance and health insurance
