Omnitrol Networks, real-time sensor-driven operational intelligence and item-level traceability solutions provider, recently launched a new generation of its Retail Smart-Store software application. The new system is designed to eliminate in-store stock-outs, optimize store-to-store transfers and reduce markdowns. In addition, the upgrade features customer analytics that enable retailers to proactively shift stock levels based on customer interaction with store products.

“The use of RFID within the retail sector has shown tremendous improvements in inventory accuracy and rapid replenishment, resulting in as much as a 50+% improvement in operating profits,” said Raj Saksena, CEO and President of Omnitrol, in a press release.

 
Taap.it Live Local, a Manhattan-based mobile application company, recently launched an app to drive consumer traffic into neighboring stores throughout the U.S. “Local stores represent 99.7% of all employer firms; they keep our country running and we can’t turn our backs to them,” said Dave Balkaran, Director of Business Development at Taap.it, in a press release. Based on a shopper’s location, Taap.it enables consumers to find items in their cities from local stores and make purchases using their mobile device for same-day or following-day pickup. According to the release, Taap.it has a sharing system in place which allows consumers to rate the items inside of a store and share the rating with friends in an effort to earn points and redeem prizes. The company currently has signed more than 5,000 New York City businesses. Taap.it is available on the Apple App Store and Android Market free of charge.

Mobile commerce has come to the forefront during the 2011 holiday shopping season as a way for consumers to browse and buy anywhere and at anytime. Although m-Commerce purchases are a small fraction versus those made online, transactions completed via mobile devices are expected to reach $6.7 billion in the U.S. by the end of 2011, according to analysis by eMarketer, a digital marketing, media and commerce analyst group. During 2012, sales are expected to boost another 73.1% to $11.6 billion, the company said.

eMarketer indicated that m-Commerce is “on a steep upward trajectory,” with sales increasing 91.4% in 2011 versus 2010. According to the report, titled “U.S. Mobile Commerce Forecast: Capitalizing on Consumers’ Urgent Needs,” 97% of mobile subscribers 14 and older will be smartphone owners in 2012. The firm also forecasts that 37.5 million U.S. consumers within this age segment will make at least one purchase via their mobile phones during 2012, up from 26.8 million this year.