The need for retailers to incorporate mobile technology into shopping experiences was a hot topic last week at the National Retail Federation's Big Show in New York City. Like many major industry players, Microsoft Business Solutions was on the mobile bandwagon.

"What Microsoft is doing together with a lot of our partners is creating enabling experiences and technologies to do that," said Microsoft's Manager of Retail Product Management Brendan O'Meara, during an interview at the Microsoft booth. "One of those being mobile, and mobile is something that obviously people are increasingly using, not as just their telephone, but really as their personal assistance to help them with all aspects of their lives — shopping being a great example of that."

O'Meara demonstrated how one of those mobile applications can make grocery shopping and cooking dinner easier for consumers. The solution helps customers find recipes based on the ingredients already in their carts. (Shoppers scan the bar codes of each product as they place them in their carts.) The app could also suggest other ingredients, give nutrient info, rate recipes and calculate how long they take to make.

"It's a great example of mobile technology making your life a whole lot easier because none of us has the time to walk around the grocery store," he said. "This gets you really directed to just what you need."

Click below to watch O'Meara's demo.