Walgreens Has Beacons in its Mobile App

Want to talk to your customers as they walk through your store?

Walgreens has figured out the way.

Read on:

http://www.businessinsider.com/walgreens-latest-mobile-app-update-pushes-beacons-to-shoppers-2016-11

Here is a snippet from that piece:

Walgreens' latest mobile app update includes an increase in beacon-enabled deals and coupons, reports GeoMarketing.

The company has been testing beacons in its Duane Reade locations since February to push mobile coupons and promotions. And while Walgreens is well poised to see a lift in sales due to such tools, the company has some significant consumer concerns to overcome before adoption spreads.

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

Mobile for Walgreens and for Supermarkets

Two stories today on mobile, in-store engagement, and mobile apps.

First is a critique of the efforts by Walgreens to be a digital leader:

http://www.mobilemarketer.com/cms/news/strategy/20713.preview

Here is a snippet from that piece:

“There is so much disruption and transformation taking place among brick-and-mortar retailers, I feel that Walgreens is missing out by not making its wellness-centric approach more prevalent and more connected to the mobile device,” said Vanessa Horwell, chief strategy officer for ThinkInk, Miami.

“For Walgreens, mobile is the key to in-store engagement, so the two experiences – physical and mobile – must be consistent and interconnected.”

Next is a brief story from Supermarket News on how mobile apps is transforming the grocery industry:

http://supermarketnews.com/marketing/how-mobile-apps-are-transforming-industry

Here is a snippet from that piece:

One area of explosive growth in the retail supermarket industry is the number of mobile apps that have come on the market to assist shoppers.

Take a look at the Center for Advancing Retail and Technology (CART), and you’ll see what I mean. A year ago, there were only a handful of apps featured; today, more than a dozen are available, with more coming.

Happy Reading,

J.W. Gant

Mobile Payments News

Several stories worth taking a look at today.

First, this writer captured his experiences using Apple Pay at Walgreens.  He was required to sign for the payment even after providing biometric proof through Touch ID.  Why?  The transaction was greater than $50.  We still have a ways to go folks.  Here is that story:

http://www.pymnts.com/news/2014/why-did-you-do-this-walgreens/#.VFzDtzTF_9Z

Next is a piece on Starbucks currently holding 90% of all mobile payments in the United States:

http://www.paymentssource.com/news/emerging-payments/starbucks-had-90-of-us-mobile-pay-share-is-just-getting-started-3019582-1.html

Here is a snippet from that piece:

Starbucks Corp., which now handles 16% of its U.S. sales through its mobile app, revealed today just how dominant its position has become even as it plots new features such as preordering.

In 2013, $1.3 billion in payments were made over mobile devices throughout the U.S., and over 90% of those purchases took place in Starbucks stores, said Howard Schultz, the Seattle company's chief executive, in an Oct. 31 conference call to discuss the company's fourth-quarter and full-year earnings (its fiscal year ended Sept. 28).

Today, Starbucks handles nearly seven million mobile payments per week. "No company and no retail store, domestically or internationally, even comes close," Schultz said. "The real growth is yet to come."

Finally

http://www.internetretailer.com/2014/11/06/apple-pay-puts-mobile-payments-firmly-retail-agenda

Here is a snippet from that piece:

At the Money 20/20 conference this week, speakers, exhibitors and attendees agreed: Thanks to Apple, retailers and financial institutions have to think seriously about mobile payments. The next step is to give consumers a reason to change the way they pay.

...

"Apple Pay eliminates any excuse among all players in the mobile payments ecosystem to jump in," Johnson [from Softcard] says. "But payments are just table stakes. We'll be spending 2015 building out loyalty, special offers and other mobile wallet components."

Happy Reading,

J.W. Gant

Apple Pay Has Launched

October 20 was the word on the street.

Apple Pay will launch October 20.

Okay.

October 20 rolled around and I started fiddling with my very new iPhone 6 to see if I could figure this out.  Passbook?  Nope.  Update?  None available.  I was on 8.0.2 and Apple told me there were no updates available.  Okay what?  October 20 right?

Time to Google.

Eventually I found news that Apple Pay would come with the 8.1 iOS update due to hit October 20.  As I was travelling I had to wait a bit before I could perform the update.  Here is what other people were saying in the meantime:

Apple Pay Works, But It Can’t Speed up Lines of Non-Users
http://www.digitaltransactions.net/news/story/Apple-Pay-Works_-But-It-Can_t-Speed-up-Lines-of-Non-Users

WHY BANKS LOVE APPLE PAY

http://www.pymnts.com/news/2014/why-banks-love-apple-pay/#.VEe9RyLF_9Y

That headline shouldn't be encouraging to merchants.  

Moving on, here is the New York Times and others:

Apple Pay: Seamless in Stores, but Quirky Online

http://www.nytimes.com/2014/10/22/technology/personaltech/shopping-with-apple-pay-seamless-in-stores-but-quirky-online.html?_r=0

Some Banks See Apple Pay as a Threat

http://www.paymentssource.com/news/emerging-payments/some-banks-see-apple-pay-as-a-threat-3019482-1.html

So, wait, what?  Banks love Apple Pay.  Banks Hate Apple Pay.  Huh?

Google may have to make a move:

Google plans to ride Apple Pay popularity to cash in with Google Wallet

http://www.mobilepaymentsinsider.com/2014/10/22/google-plans-to-ride-apple-pay-popularity-to-cash-in-with-google-wallet/

So how did it go with me?

Tuesday night I went through my usual careful backup routine with my iPhone before updating to iOS 8.1.  There within Passbook was a '+' sign and simple instructions to add a card to Apple Pay.  My Capital One card is now available for use with Apple Pay and ... I have nowhere I shop to use it.  Walgreens?  Nope.  Whole Foods?  Sometimes maybe.  Panera?  I eat at my desk every day.  I may shop at Macy's over the holidays.  

What about my bank debit card?  Tried to add my Santander card and Apple Pay told me this issuer does not currently support Apple Pay.  500 banks on-board with Apple Pay and I can't add my debit card.  

Maybe some day I'll try Apple Pay.  Meanwhile on my trip I stopped at Starbucks two or three times and paid with my Starbucks app earning a gold star each time.  I'll swing in to Dunkin Donuts shortly to try out those Pumpkin Donuts again this year. Probably buy some for the office.  Yeap, I'll pay with my Dunkin App so I get the DD Perks.

How about you?

Happy Reading,

J.W. Gant

**UPDATE**  Two quick updates.  First is this excellent piece from Re/Code:
http://recode.net/2014/10/24/apple-pay-review-the-recode-bi-coastal-team-test/

Next is news of Rite Aid first allowing, then turning off Apple Pay:
http://www.digitaltransactions.net/news/story/Would-Be-Apple-Pay-Users-Disappointed-When-Rite-Aid-Apparently-Turns-Off-NFC

**UPDATE #2**  I missed this excellent article on Time and feel it is worth checking out:
http://time.com/3532199/apple-pay-winners-losers/

Best Reading of the Day - Entry 0143 Retailers and Omnichannel

Brick and mortar retailers still have a long way to go in their omnichannel ambitions, according to a report by L2 research.

Here is a great write-up at CMO.com:

http://www.cmo.com/articles/2014/7/30/retailers_still_not_.html

Here is a snippet from that piece:

Some brick-and-mortar retailers “get” e-commerce and are holding their own against Web-only retailers. However, most merchants are still behind—even as customers race ahead of them in embracing “channel-blind shopping,” according to a new report by digital marketing think tank L2.

...

The report tagged Saks, Guess, Walgreens, and Walmart as “role models” for balancing investments and incentives for online and offline consumer behaviors. Other brands, such as Gap, Sephora, Coach, and Neiman Marcus, came close.

Happy Reading,

J.W. Gant

iBeacons and Walgreens

News of the day.  Another retailer has embraced iBeacon technology, through bluetooth low energy (BLE) and their app.  These iBeacons enable personalized interaction with customers in the store.

http://www.mobilecommercedaily.com/walgreens-tests-ibeacon

Here is a snippet from that piece:

A Walgreens executive at the Mcommerce Summit: State of Mobile Commerce 2014 revealed that the company launched an iBeacon pilot program in several Duane Reade stores in New York earlier this week.

One of the main takeaways ... is the growing role that in-store experiences are playing in helping Walgreens build out a mobile strategy. The decision to launch the iBeacon pilot is based on findings from Walgreens that the average in-store, online and mobile shopper spends six times more than the average store-only shopper.

This is not surprising but is a very good reveal by the folks at Mobile Commerce Daily.

On April 23rd we saw news about the Walgreens app focusing on the in-store experience.  Read about that here.

There will be more retailers putting out iBeacon and Beacon pilots this year.

Have a great weekend,

J.W. Gant

BLE Beacons and Coupons

A couple of news items worth sharing.

First up is the success story of one retailer and their use of Bluetooth Low Energy beacons.

http://www.mobilecommercedaily.com/lux-beauty-boutique-enlists-mobile-to-streamline-high-turnover-sales

Here is a snippet from that piece:

Canadian retailer Lux Beauty Boutique upped in-store sales 20-25 percent this year for an anniversary sale thanks to the addition of a self-checkout mobile application.

...

The SelfPay mobile app uses geolocation and beacon technology to detect when a shopper is inside a store. SelfPay is a self-checkout app that lets shoppers scan in-store products from several retailers that they can then buy right on the spot.

Next is a story on Coupon.com and their latest digital efforts:

http://www.retailcustomerexperience.com/article/231529/Coupons-com-launches-new-retail-marketing-platform

Here is a snippet from that piece:

Coupons.com Inc. has unveiled Retailer iQ, a targeting and analytics platform for grocery, drug and mass merchandisers that the company says fundamentally changes the promotions and checkout experience for shoppers and retailers by making them digital, mobile and personalized.

According to the company, Retailer iQ combines several innovative components into one cohesive, omnichannel platform that is designed to drive consumer engagement, activation and shopping behavior for retailers and consumer packaged goods companies.

Apparently Walgreens' has implemented this technology with great success.

Happy Reading,

J.W. Gant

Best Reading of the Day - Entry 0109 Walgreens App

Interested in mobile apps and retail?

Interested in omni-channel retail?

Interested in how mobile apps can enhance the in-store experience?

Walgreens wants to be a leader in the industry as is apparent by their work on the Walgreens iOS app.  Their app is already one of the very best in retail in my opinion but it keeps getting better.  The folks at Mobile Commerce Daily have a good write-up on this effort and the most recent app update by Walgreens:

http://www.mobilecommercedaily.com/walgreens-redesigned-app-boasts-store-specific-inventory

Here is a snippet from that piece:

The latest update to Walgreens’ iOS application uses store-specific offers to harness customer loyalty and brings added value through a more customized experience.

The new Weekly Ad feature introduced allows users to create their own flagship location from which they will be able to receive more relevant offers. Walgreens joins a growing list of retailers who are betting on in-store modes to engage with consumers while shopping.

The Walmart app has many of these functions, if not all, in place now.  We are seeing experimentation and fast-follow by retail leaders.  Some of this functionality will fail to pan out, but other pieces will work.

What's on your smart phone's first 2 screens?  The Walgreens app?

Happy Reading,

J.W. Gant

Best Reading of the Day - Entry 0004 Walgreens Loyalty

Walgreens is in the news again for their mobile efforts.  The award winning app is among the highest rated retail apps on both the Apple App Store and Google Play at 4.5 of 5 stars.

What does loyalty mean to you?  A system of bribery to coerce customers in to your store?  Maybe not, not any more.

Walgreens has leveraged Mobile and the rest of the connected store experience to build a loyalty program 72 million members strong.

NEW YORK – A Walgreens executive at Forrester’s Forum For Customer Experience Professionals East said that the retailer has acquired 72 million loyalty members in the past nine months by focusing on mobile and digital as key components to an omnichannel approach.

Read more here:
http://www.mobilecommercedaily.com/how-walgreens-leveraged-mobile-digital-to-build-72m-member-loyalty-program

Here is a screenshot of their app as of a few weeks ago:

Happy reading,

J.W. Gant