Retailers Misfiring on Personalized Mobile

I really enjoy Mobile Commerce Daily and I hope you do too.  However, I'll continue to grab the stories from there, and everywhere else I look (I read a lot), that I like the most and pop them on here for you.

The post's title tells quite a story.  Read more:

http://www.mobilecommercedaily.com/retailers-lack-of-mobile-personalization-leads-to-commerce-downfalls-report

Here is a snippet from the piece:

Retailers are missing out on significant revenue opportunities by failing to personalize consumers’ shopping experiences, thanks to the lack of adaptive pages, product recommendations and search functionalities on their mobile sites, according to a Retail Systems Research report.

In its “Personalization Across Digital Channels” report, sponsored by predictive analytics platform Reflektion, Retail Systems Research highlights the major faux paus that brands commit when it comes to mobile commerce.

Happy Reading,

J.W. Gant

Chase Pay Surges Forward with CurrentC

Chase isn't messing around with mobile payments and this new alliance/engagement/whatever with MCX and the CurrentC mobile wallet solution for retailers.

Read on:

http://www.fiercefinanceit.com/story/chase-names-18-tech-partners-integrate-chase-pay-merchant-payment-platforms/2015-11-19

Here is a snippet from the piece:

Aiming for wide-scale availability of its Chase Pay mobile and digital payment system by mid-2016, Chase announced this week that it has partnered with 18 tech firms to implement the service for merchants.

Chase Pay, first announced last month, represents Chase's plan for competing in the rapidly evolving online and mobile payment space. For consumers, Chase Pay is a secure, tokenization-based payment scheme for in-store, phone, and online payments.

Happy Reading,

J.W. Gant

Proliferation of Mobile Payments

In a sign of the further, and possibly extreme, proliferation of mobile payments we have news of a new product just for general aviators so pilots can pay for fuel with their smart phones.  How far we have come.

Here is the news wire:

http://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20151110005272/en/U.S.-Bank-Launches-Mobile-Payment-App-General

Here is a snippet from the piece:

Private and business aviation pilots can now pay for fueling and services directly from their phones with a new app from U.S. Bank Multi Service Aviation. MSA Pay, which went live this week, is the first mobile payment app in the general aviation space, designed specifically for the ordering, payment and back office needs of pilots.

Happy Reading,

J.W. Gant

Jet.com Rival to Amazon Raises $500USM

That little eCommerce rival to Amazon isn't so little any more.  With a funding round powered by Fidelity Investments, no small player, the company is now valued at $1.5B.  That is a "B".

Read on:

http://www.paymenteye.com/2015/11/05/jet-com-secures-500m-investment-and-becomes-worth-1-5-billion/

Here is a snippet from the piece:

As we approach 2015’s expiry date, the company is already worth $1b and has just finished another investment round where it raised $500m led by Fidelity Investments, according to a source close to the matter. The new round will mean Jet.com will be valued at $1.5 billion.

Happy Reading,

J.W. Gant

Walgreens Goes Loyal to Apple Pay

Walgreens is the first retailer to pull together mobile payments and their store loyalty within Apple Pay.

This is big news as mobile payments by itself is unlikely to move the needle.  Something more is needed and loyalty is a great "something".

This is exactly what retailers are doing through their own CurrentC branded mobile wallet.

Read more on Walgreens here:

http://www.mobilecommercedaily.com/walgreens-creates-efficient-in-store-experience-with-apple-pay-rewards-integration

Here is a snippet from the piece:

Walgreens is streamlining the in-store checkout process as the first retailer to intertwine Apple Pay with its loyalty program, enabling customers to scan only once to pay and receive rewards.

Data has shown that interest in mobile payments is low, but mobile wallet services which provide rewards programs is much more desired amongst consumers. Walgreens is looking to drive sales with the Apple Pay-loyalty integration following a series of successful mobile wallet incorporations for other retailers.

Happy Reading,

J.W. Gant

BRotD - Entry 0237 Forrester Research on 2016 for Business

Best Reading of the Day

One thing I've learned over the last few years, when the researchers over at Forrester speak you should listen.  These guys are far, far beyond merely having their finger on the pulse of technology in the world.  Their data analyses take them in to the realm of forecasting.

Read on:

http://www.computerworld.com/article/3000335/it-management/forrester-s-top-10-predictions-for-business-in-2016-and-what-they-mean-for-tech.html

Here is a snippet from the piece:

2016 will be a year of action for companies. It will be the year that the companies that thrive will be those advancing down the customer obsession path — while those that downplay their customers’ needs will start to wither away.

The good news? You and your technology teams have a critical role in helping — and in some cases, leading — your organization in adapting and thriving in the age of the customer.

Here are the top trends Forrester sees shaping your business in 2016, and what you can do to advance them.

Happy Reading,

J.W. Gant

Mobile Apps for Retail

I spent the last 3 years or so doing mobile apps for retail and I'll say I agree with the premise of this fine little article.

Retailers must get in the game of mobile apps or forever remain outside.

Read on:

https://econsultancy.com/blog/67138-native-apps-for-retail-10-reasons-it-s-now-or-never/

Here is a snippet from the piece:

Apps in retail are suddenly a topic of parlour conversation again.

There are those who see them as a distracting use of resource, difficult to update and subject to the whims of the app store.

Others see them as the best way to create slick user experiences that allow loyal customers to convert on mobile.

Here's why it's now or never for retailers thinking about investing in native apps.

Happy Reading,

J.W. Gant

Amazon's First Physical Store

The title says it all.

I've been waiting for this move for years now as it is the obvious next step.  Traditional brick & mortar retailers have increasingly become eCommerce companies.  eCommerce companies must also become increasingly like traditional retailers if they want to keep growing.

Here is the story:

http://arstechnica.com/business/2015/11/amazons-first-brick-and-mortar-store-one-big-ad-for-the-amazon-app/

Here is a snippet from the piece:

SEATTLE—On Tuesday, after years of rumors and speculation, Amazon launched a brick-and-mortar store—the kind of place that it has frequently been accused of putting out of business for over 20 years. We had to see what it was all about.

So we got in the car and drove to Seattle's famed University Village, the city's leading upscale outdoor mall, and we did something we never thought we’d do: we walked into an Amazon-branded store, handed money to a human, and left with a book. The future is now.

If this is the future of neighborhood bookstores, however, we're not entirely excited. We took a few of Amazon Books' opening day hiccups and kinks in stride, and we saw some ways that the store could provide a unique and pleasing shopping experience, but for the most part, we found the shop—and its reliance on the Amazon smartphone app—something that we had no desire to ever return to again.

Happy Reading,

J.W. Gant