Mobile point-of-sale devices speeding customer service

Alternative credit options such as mobile payments are increasingly part of the retail landscape, as consumers are swiping their phones more often to purchase goods.

Now, more retailers are implementing mobile point-of-sale devices to allow them to accept payments on the sales floor and lessen the amount of time customers spend waiting to get through checkout, Mobile Payments Today explained. One factor that could help further speed adoption of mPOS is the holiday season, as customers look to get in and out of stores quickly.

Furthermore, mPOS systems can also enable sales staff to check inventory on the devices, and if in stock, accept payment for the respective merchandise immediately. If these products aren't in-store, sales associates can order them on the spot and have them shipped to the customer's home, according to the news source.

"Over the last year, we've seen larger U.S. merchants install mPOS solutions so their staff can take payments from customers while walking around the store," Jordan McKee, an analyst at Yankee Group, said. "This unchains the staff from the cash wrap, and allows them to interact more closely with customers on the sales floor."

A recent study from IHL Group found that 28 percent of North American retailers plan to adopt mPOS in some form by the end of 2013.