Providing the most personalized shopping experience possible has long been the goal of the retail industry. Serving individual customers' needs can create significant loyalty and long-term interest in returning to a brand, which is why some companies have looked to shopping apps to enhance their in-store operations. 

While these kinds of app services are not yet widespread, they have gained considerably more clout since Apple decided to offer them as of December 6. Apple's iBeacon technology ties GPS and an app together to assist customers. Shoppers visiting Apple stores will be able to use their iPhone to guide them through the location, helping them to pick up orders, upgrade their devices or purchase products. This is not the first such type of technology, with Macy's and J.C. Penney both having implemented mobile notification and guidance systems within their stores in the past. 

With retail technology still undergoing a number of changes, merchants will want to utilize versatile software that can be customized to account for mobile shopping and apps that might link with or provide customer data to the business. Improving the shopping experience can lead to better sales as well as a better understanding of consumers.