11 upgrades and features in Apple’s iOS 14 — Apple World Today

By Richard Conn

Launched in September, Apple’s iOS 14 is one of the biggest software updates in years, and is described as a game changer for retail. With a little creative thinking, most of the new features can be harnessed to improve sales and customer service for your business.

For instance, Sign in with Apple lets shoppers link their Apple account to retailers’ apps, meaning faster login and one less password! 

Take-up is likely to be huge – just five days after release, adoption of the update had reached approximately 26 percent of active iPhone, iPad, and iPod touch devices. 

Therefore, if you have a large Apple audience, you should ensure you’re ready for the upgrade. It’s time to get your customer service and marketing departments working together to maximize its potential.

Here are our top 11 upgrades and features in the iOS 14, and how they can benefit you.

#1 App Clips

This exciting feature enables the use of third-party apps without having to download them. So the apps you require just once for a specific service (car parking, bike rental, ordering drinks) don’t take up space.  

Those wanting the full app can access it directly from the App Clip. So, there’s an opportunity to make sure your company’s app is something customers want to keep – and talk about through SMB word of Mouth.

App Clips is compatible with Apple Pay and Sign in with Apple, so third-party apps can be used by scanning a QR code. This connection between app and physical store can only improve the omnichannel experience.

#2 Home Screen

The iOS 14 sees a redesign of the Home screen, including the introduction of widgets. Favorite apps can now display information directly on the Home screen with widgets in small, medium, or large.

Retailers can get creative with how they use these. For instance, providing updates about latest offers and product drops.

The Portable Apps feature makes it easier to develop shopping apps and deploy them to all devices.