Coronavirus and social distancing have us talking about things that were not on the radar at the start of the year. For example, who would have considered the idea of contact tracing being implemented by default in smartphone operating systems? Likewise, we have some older capabilities that might be given new life in the coming months.
One such capability is in-store retail tracking. Through the use of RFID tags, motion sensors and video cameras, retailers have long had the capacity to track retail customers in brick-and-mortar stores. Such capabilities have not been widely embraced because they have been deemed unnecessary. Social distancing might very well change that.
More Space, Less Contact
Now that states are reopening in phases, we are seeing the retail sector subjected to certain restrictions. Social distancing demands more space between retail patrons as they shop. More space between patrons and staff is also required. Physical contact is being discouraged as well.
As such, touchless payments are on the rise. Retail operations are more reticent than ever to accept cash when doing so is avoidable. Customers are being encouraged to pay with smartphones and smart chip-enabled credit cards compatible with tap-and-go systems.
With so much focus on … Read the rest