I don't know about you, but I am more than ready to dive head first into the world of interactive and context-aware shopping. Personally, I am tired of hunting for coupons (virtual or otherwise) and wielding a pair of sharp scissors while I wade through the Sunday Boston Globe (yes, I still have a fondness for print!).
Now when I shop for a new shirt or something more substantial like a car or battle drone, I expect manufacturers to come and find me and bid for my hard-earned dollars. It's my elevator, baby, so get your best 15-second pitch ready.
Technology and science fact is finally catching up to what was science fiction. Here are a few examples, noted in a recent edition of the 'Cream' blog:
- Some of the top stores and brands in London are making use of Apple's iBeacon to track shoppers within stores. Some may balk at the lack of privacy, but I am all for it if it makes my shopping experience more productive and less distracting (I really do NOT like brick and mortar shopping or spending money!);
- GE is integrating iBeacons new LED lighting in Walmarts and other major retailers. These embedded beacons can beam coupons, promotions, product info and other data directly to your smartphone as you run up and down the shopping aisles (minus the sharp scissors!);
Loyalty apps like Shopkick let you tag items within a store (Macy's, American Eagle, Old navy, Crate and Barrel, etc.), then will alert you when these items are on sale. Maybe this can be extended to offer the same service with food as well, since I hate going to the supermarket only to find the price of blueberries is more than the price of gasoline.
What's the result of all this? According to research firm inMarket, a 19x increase in shopping interaction and more than 6x the likelihood a consumer will actually buy something. Not me, of course, since I am pretty penurious. But, with all of this technology someday I will actually pay full price for that shirt!
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