Some of you may remember Tesco’s mobile shopping application deployed in South Korea’s subways; recently another subway shopping application has popped up in the Czech Republic. Consumers can scan QR codes under each product, which will send their order to the Mall.cz online store and guarantee free next-day delivery. The application works with both Android and iOS based smart phones, and it should only be a matter of time before this awesome virtual store comes to the Windows Phone.
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A few weeks ago, GDR UK, a trend analysis and forecasting consultancy, published a Global Innovation Report highlighting our Cross Channel Retail Experience (featured in our blog). “Every report delivers a relevant and striking visual narrative of emerging trends impacting key customer touch-points, including: interiors, marketing, digital, new technologies, visual merchandising, packaging, product and service design.”
Since this report, we have been working on a new version that is sure to get the attention of major retailers. Our newest update to the Cross Channel Retail Experience includes an updated User Interface (UI) for the Surface 2, an interactive touchscreen station, that includes MS-Tagging for consumers to share reviews and compare products, as well as purchase the products with their mobile device.
Click on the link to learn more about the Cross Channel Retail Experience
Recently, two new Blackberry phones (Bold 9900 and the Curve 936) have received approval from Mastercard for Near Field Communication (NFC) payments. The NFC enables handsets allow users to wave their phone at a PayPass checkout station at participating retailers. Currently, PayPass is available in 350,000 locations including McDonald’s, CVS, Macy’s and Walgreens.
What does this have to do with purchasing items on your Xbox?
An app currently in development, called QkR, reads QR codes from TV screens and prompts the user to purchase an item. Working exclusively with Microsoft, QkR works with Xbox Kinect, allowing users to wave their hands at an icon at the corner of the TV screen to purchase items. Once the item is purchased, the receipt will be sent to the QkR app on the users mobile device. Although this Xbox Kinect application is currently in development, this is something IdentityMine can definitely see coming to a couch near you.
IdentityMine also develops similar interactive applications for the Xbox Kinect, and we predict gesture controls will be used in retail environments and homes much more in the future.
There have been a number of applications that hold your place in line, InQuickER, Queue Watch and TechnowaiT, to name a few. Although, none do it like Qminder. Qminder is the newest app that gives you a virtual number in a line, much like manual number tabs widely used already. This app goes a bit farther by notifying users how many people are in front of them in line and the estimated wait time – it even notifies users before it’s their turn to ensure they never miss their turn. Not only is this an awesome service for consumers, it also helps businesses realize peak hours and enable them to schedule staff accordingly.
iPhone application, Brouha, allows customers to receive real-time messages from businesses. While the customer is in the store, they receive details about deals, events, menus, product lists, and time-sensitive information. In order to use the application, customers must pick up a Brouha card from and participating businesses and register the card to their phone. Once this is done, the customers get the benefit of receiving personalized information without having to reveal sensitive information like name, address, email, and credit card numbers.
Check out Brouha in the Apple app store HERE
