U.S. retailers both big and small are increasingly implementing mobile point-of-sale (POS) devices in their stores. Going mobile allows them to make transactions on the sales floor and improve customer service.

While smaller retailers may only need payment processing options integrated with a smartphone or tablet, larger retailers are implementing sophisticated mobile POS systems. They’re seeking solutions that offer inventory tracking, ordering, transaction history and other additional features.

In fact, 32 percent of U.S. retailers that employ more than 500 staff members have already implemented mobile POS according to a recent Yankee Group IT survey.

Twenty-eight percent of North American retailers plan to implement mobile POS by the end of 2013 according to a recent IHL Group study, raising this year’s mobile POS hardware and software sales to $2 billion. The research firm also reported that mobile POS devices will take over 12.4 percent of traditional POS shipments by 2016. Until then, 85 percent of larger retailers will use mobile POS devices in addition to their traditional systems.

Large retailers who have picked up mobile POS include Apple, Home Depot and J.C. Penney.

•  Apple uses their own devices to accept payments in their retail stores.
•  Home Depot, who issued mobile POS devices to their U.S. staff in 2010, uses them to accept payments and manage inventory.
•  J.C. Penney reported that a quarter of their POS transactions were made on mobile devices. The company has said that it wants to give all of its employees a mobile POS device.

However, Greg Buzek of the IHL Group reported that the majority of North American retailers are implementing mobile POS slowly and methodically, first solving key operational issues as to not disrupt their existing workflow.

Those who have implemented mobile POS have experienced bottom-line benefits. The Yankee Group report estimated that large retailers can save more than $15,000 and about 75 square feet of floor space by purchasing mobile devices, as cash wrap terminals can be costly and bulky. They also estimated that high-end retailers with 50 stores that produce $525 in sales per square foot could generate $1.2 million in additional annual sales by replacing three cash wraps with mobile POS devices.

So not only do mobile POS systems initially save stores money, but they also eventually make them more money. Increased revenue and floor space allow for reallocation of resources, improved customer service, shorter lines and – ultimately – happier customers. Large U.S. retailers are paving the way for the rest of the retail industry.