Mobile app developer Grapple Mobile has revealed that its clients’ retail apps have been used over 1.3m times in the past six months. 1 in 10 of the app users are utilising the GPS store finder at least once a month, subsequent to which, 50 per cent use the app in-store, either by scanning barcodes, redeeming vouchers or by checking-in.

Grapple notes that this indicates an emerging trend that whilst mobile has proven to be a powerful new commerce channel, it can also compliment traditional bricks and mortar businesses.

The recent Government commissioned report from retail expert Mary Portas blames, among other factors “the rise of shopping by mobile” for the high street’s downfall. But Grapple’s findings highlight that retail mobile apps can help to drive people in store, and help them to spend money when they get there. Grapple says that over the past year it has experienced an increase in retailers embracing mobile technology to complement other retail channels, not replace it, through mobile loyalty schemes, store- location finders, and other in-app or on-mobile site facilities.

Grapple’s retail clients include adidas, McDonald’s, the Post Office, and Comet. The company worked with adidas to increase in-store customer loyalty by developing its first pan-European mobile loyalty scheme,. Through vouchers and bonus points rewarded against spend, the scheme encouraged repeat traffic and purchase frequency in store.

Comet partnered with Grapple to produce an interactive shopping app, which includes a GPS store finder, and also enables customers to access additional information on products in-store by scanning product bar codes to access independent customer and expert reviews, and ‘how to’ guides.

“Earlier this week, Mary Portas stated that the only hope our high streets have of surviving is to provide something new,” says Grapple chief strategy officer, Adam Levene. “Mobile is proving to be the perfect platform to encourage customers back to the high street by providing an ‘on-the-go’ interactive tool to use in-store, enhancing the shopping experience. We predict this trend will continue into 2012 where more retailers will go further to provide complimentary in-store mobile functionality, alongside m-commerce.”