#USA #New York #Connected Retail #Mobile Technology #Retail Productivity

The Future of Retail: Mobile Apps Set to Double by 2026

According to the latest findings from the 2025 Connected Retail Experience Study, a collaborative research initiative by Incisiv, Verizon, and Cisco, the retail industry is on the cusp of a technology-driven transformation. The study reveals that the adoption of mobile applications is projected to double by 2026, marking a significant shift in how retailers manage operations and engage with customers.

Trends Reshaping Retail

The study highlights four key trends reshaping the current retail landscape:
1. Critical Labor Challenges Drive Technology Investment: The retail sector continues to grapple with critical workforce challenges. A staggering 98% of grocery retailers and 88% of specialty retailers report difficulties in hiring and retaining staff. As a result, 81% of retailers are prioritizing technology investments designed to enhance associate productivity.
2. Essential Role of Mobile Technology: Mobile technology is anticipated to become a cornerstone of retail operations. Currently, only 19% of retailers utilize mobile apps with in-store capabilities. However, this number is expected to rise to 42% by 2026, emphasizing the growing reliance on mobile solutions to streamline processes and improve service delivery.
3. Personalization at Scale: Retailers recognize the importance of personalized shopping experiences, yet there is a notable struggle to implement effective strategies. Only 13% express satisfaction with their current personalization efforts, indicating a need for advanced capabilities beyond simple segmentation.
4. AI Adoption for Operational Efficiency: Artificial Intelligence (AI) is taking center stage as retailers focus on high-value use cases. A significant 90% of retailers believe that AI integration is imperative for future competitiveness. Nearly half of those surveyed are actively testing or adopting AI solutions, particularly for workforce optimization and inventory management.

Challenges and Solutions

The retail environment is at a pivotal point, influenced by shifting consumer expectations and labor constraints. As Gaurav Pant, Chief Insights Officer at Incisiv noted, "The focus on convenience, driven by labor challenges and changing consumer expectations, is fundamentally reshaping how retailers approach technology investment and customer experience."

Technology solutions such as AI-enabled inventory tracking, video analytics, and mobile applications are designed to help retailers overcome these challenges. To support these advanced technologies, retailers are investing in robust network solutions, including 5G business internet and private networks, which promise enhanced speed and resilience in service delivery.

Sabrina Gonzalez from Cisco stated, "As retailers venture further into their digital transformation journeys, the focus is increasingly on creating powerful, modular, and intelligent solutions that enable smarter insights and faster decision-making."

Looking Ahead

The 2025 Connected Retail Experience Study underscores the urgent need for retailers to adapt to evolving market conditions. As they embrace mobile technology, they not only enhance operational efficiency but also improve customer engagement. The doubling of mobile application deployment by 2026 could be the catalyst that propels the retail sector into a new era of productivity and personalized shopping experiences.

For those interested in exploring the comprehensive results of the study, further details can be found on Incisiv's official website. The ongoing evolution in retail underscores how crucial it is for businesses to remain agile and forward-thinking in a rapidly changing landscape.