Over the past couple of years, Apple has been taking steps to overhaul its retail operations and customer experience with the iPad.
From iPads for employees equipped with RetailMe and Concierge software to manage store operations, to iPads loaded up with software for the Genius Bar, to iPads with Smart Sign software sitting beside every product display in the store, Apple has overhauled its retail stores with the iPad.
This advanced haptics system would also work with almost every portable Apple device, including iPhones, iPod Touch devices, iPads, MacBooks, and even TVs, video projectors and e Ink displays.
AT&T, Apples first carrier partner, is planning to take these cues from Apple Retail in order to overhaul the way its stores work as well.
After having spent one year researching the Apple stores, this fact didn’t surprise us.
Currently, all AT&T stores are equipped with inefficient counter areas where employees work behind outdated computers.
These computers run software called OPUS that functions as the point of sale system as well as allowing employees to check inventory levels, news from corporate, customer upgrade information, and more.
AT&T has already started to take steps away from the counter in certain markets by deploying iPhones and tablets with stripped down versions of OPUS.
These iPhones are basic in their functionality, allowing employees to only conduct simple tasks like accepting payments for accessories and basic account management.
However, in the next two years, AT&T plans to completely rid its stores of computers and counters, moving completely over to the iPad with a feature complete version of OPUS.
Alicia Yarnold is a business journalist based in San Francisco, California. Alicia has a passion for financial markets and breaking news stories and loves writing about business news, stock market, and economic opinions that matters most to its audience. Alicia spends a lot of time discovering and researching latest financial markets and industry news stories in order to make sure the latest and greatest stories are brought to you first on BigBoardNews.com.
