Mele’s Musings

Mobile Shopping – changing the shopping landscape

Barcode and merchandise scanning applications are going to be adopted at faster and faster rates. And Amazon’s iPhone app sets a new bar for mobile shopping.

amazon

Article links:
Stores Clueless About Mobile Barcode Scanning Applications?
Amazon.com lets iPhone users search its site by taking a picture

Musing:

WhileTarget gets slammed a bit in the first article, it’s hard to really pin corporate ignorance on one store’s gaffe. The reality is that mobile applications like those found on the iPhone are quickly outpacing what retailers are ready to deal with. Most are not equipped, from front end education to customer service reps to back end integration between online and in store inventory and payment systems, to deal with this sea-change in customer behavior.

Target put out a cute little iPhone app this holiday season (which I used today and was sent to a 404 error page when I clicked on a link), but app is not very useful, and is getting pretty bad reviews by iPhone users. I wonder if it’s really such a good idea to put out apps that are not very good. Bad experiences have a tendency to stick with you.

The WORST thing I’ve heard is that some stores are actually contemplating installing cell phone jammers so that customers can’t use their phones to comparison shop. Talk about a way to get users to leave and never come back!

Instead, retailers should be going out of their way to figure out how to make their stores as phone and mobile device friendly as possible. Don’t stop customers from comparison shopping - encourage it, and then get them to stay in the store and buy from you.

If you have not seen the Amazon app, you have to check it out. It is the most amazing thing I have seen in some time. Rather than bothering with UPC codes, it just lets customers take a picture of a product, and then sends information back. The tie in to the online account is seamless, and the app is intuitive and easy to use. I did find it a little slow, however, so that needs to be fine tuned.

The bar has been set, and those who want to get on board need to start moving now. My sources tell me that the app took a while to develop - which I am not surprised to hear, since it is seamlessly tied to the mothership.

The ship has set sail already, however. No chance now to try and unring the bell! (How’s that for two cliché’s in a row?!?)

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