Best Reading of the Day - Entry 0176 Starbucks iBeacons and more

Very interesting news coming out of Starbucks and well worth the time to read.

Here is the best read of the day showcases iBeacons in use at some Starbucks locations:

http://www.mobilecommercedaily.com/starbucks-cooks-up-ibeacon-strategy-to-support-premium-coffee-emphasis

Here is a snippet from that piece:

Starbucks said it would bring out iBeacon technology in the coming year to allow customers at its premium-coffee Roastery and Tasting Rooms to access information about freshly brewed coffee via smartphones. The move further advances Starbucks’ mobile strategy, in which it is already a leader in mobile payments, at a time of stagnant sales and intense competition.

“Beacons can be a boon for brands, but they can also work negatively if they don’t create a positive experience for the consumer,” said Vanessa Horwell, principal and chief strategy officer with ThinkInk, Miami.

The year of the beacon rolls on.

Here is one more, also from Mobile Commerce Daily, about location based marketing at some Starbucks locations:

http://www.mobilecommercedaily.com/starbucks-asda-use-proximity-targeting-on-mobile-to-drive-in-store-traffic

Here is a snippet from that piece:

Starbucks and Asda are leveraging proximity targeting on mobile devices to raise brand awareness of new products, drive consumer traffic and enhance the in-store experience as part of their ongoing efforts to dominate the mobile space.

With Starbucks mobile ordering officially rolling out for Portland customers this week, the beverage brand is continuing to bolster its growing mcommerce strategy and loyalty platform. A recent mobile advertisement campaign in Britain leveraged location data and Store Visitation Lift for Starbucks and supermarket chain Asda, resulting in a more than 60 percent lift in store visits after the campaign was completed.

Very cool work going on at Starbucks, a brand worth following.  I hear they are also pretty good at mobile payments....

Happy Reading,

J.W. Gant

PS  One more story about Starbucks came out yesterday that I failed to include here, this one regarding mobile ordering and pickup.
http://mobilemarketingmagazine.com/starbucks-mobile-order-and-pay

Here is a snippet from that piece:

Starbucks has launched its Mobile Order & Pay system in Portland, Oregon ahead of the solution being rolled out across the US in 2015.

The system enables customers to place orders in advance of their visit and pick them up at their chosen Starbucks store, and is integrated into the popular Starbucks app and mobile loyalty scheme.

Starbucks is making moves.