This feature of the self checkout in store locations has been broadened through its app for iPhones.
Walmart has been testing its mobile payments feature through a self checkout process at some of its store locations has now announced that it will be broadening the pilot program to reach 40 stores in the Denver area.
The retail giant uses QR codes generated by an iPhone app, which can be scanned at a checkout terminal.
This allows the iPhone users to scan all of their own products while the cart is being filled, and then indicate when they have picked up all of the items that they intend to buy. At that point, a unique QR code is generated, and this can be scanned by one of the self checkout terminal devices in order to complete the mobile payments transaction.
Walmart has been investigating many ways to use mobile payments and mcommerce to its best advantage.
This effort includes not only looking into ways that customers can use mobile payments, but also simply to speed up the checkout process through its “Scan & Go” iPhone app. As of yet, none of these programs have been rolled out universally to all of its locations, but these mcommerce opportunities are being tested in a number of stores in the Denver area, as well as in Atlanta, Northwest Arkansas, San Jose (California) and Portland (Oregon).
This new app lets the consumer scan the products as they are being placed into the shopping cart or basket, eliminating the need to do so at the checkout counter. Once all of the items are scanned, the iPhone app creates a list of all of the products that have been scanned, and represents them with QR codes that can be used by the readers at the checkout terminals. This allows the various traditional and mobile payment options to be presented to the consumer.
Walmart stores have been focusing heavily on mobile payments and particularly on self checkout since October 2012. It was at that time that the retailer announced that NCR would be the checkout terminal vendor for the tests as well as for the complete American rollout, which is expected by the end of 2013.
PCI Security publishes guidelines for mobile security
The PCI Security Standards Council, a global forum for the development of payment security standards, has published new guidelines to help educate the world’s merchants on the issue of mobile security and how it relates to mobile commerce. Consumers have been growing more interested in mobile payments in recent years, creating significant demand for merchants to adopt mobile commerce systems. As these merchants become more accommodating of consumer demand, security is becoming an increasingly important issue.
Guidelines expected to help merchants make mobile commerce more secure
The new guidelines from PCI Security are meant to help merchants understand the complexities that exist in the world of mobile security. The guidelines may help merchants better protect their customers as they become more accepting of mobile commerce. PCI Security has put strong focus on mobile transactions that make use of payment card data, rather than transactions made directly through a bank account. Connecting a payment card to a mobile device is becoming more common, as consumers consider this a more convenient and secure way to participate in mobile commerce.
Mobile security will help secure growth of mobile commerce market
According to a recent study from Juniper Research, a leading market research firm, mobile transactions are expected to reach $1.3 trillion globally by 2015. This is four times higher than the current level of mobile transactions volume. The firm suggests that this steep increase in mobile commerce is due to businesses becoming more interested in ensuring they can accommodate the needs of mobile consumers. In order for this growth to become a reality, however, businesses will have to adopt better security features to protect consumers.
Evolving threats may make it difficult to ensure security
Mobile security continues to be a major area of concern in the realm of mobile commerce. PCI Security’s new guidelines are expected to help merchants adopt better security standards for their payment systems, but the constantly changing security landscape may make it difficult for businesses to stay up-to-speed with the most current threats that exist in the mobile space.
