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Esquire launches new augmented reality campaign

| November 14, 2012

 

Augmented Reality shoppingEsquire campaign combines augmented reality with mobile commerce

Augmented reality is widely used as entertainment for tech-savvy consumers, or as a marketing tool to engage these people. These are not the only uses for the technology, however, and it is beginning to gain traction in the realm of mobile commerce and shopping. Popular magazine Esquire has taken note of the capabilities of augmented reality, both in terms of marketing and commerce, and has decided to introduce the technology into its November 20 issue.

Mobile app lets readers participate in mobile shopping

Using an iOS application called Netpage, Esquire readers can scan every photo, advertisement, and article that is found in the latest issue to initiate an augmented reality experience. When scanned, a PDF version of the content will be saved to a reader’s mobile device. This content can be easily shared and, in some cases, can be used to initiate shopping experiences. Though Esquire boasts of a digital edition made for the iPad, this marks the first time the publication has chosen to make use of augmented reality as an integration medium for smart phones and other mobile devices.

Augmented reality used by retailers for similar endeavors

This is not the first time augmented reality has been used for shopping. Retailers have been using the technology, sparingly, as a way to engage mobile consumers. Augmented reality mirrors — applications that allow consumers to try on virtual clothing — have been used by some retailers that specialize in fashion. The technology has proven somewhat popular in terms of shopping because of its ability to provide consumers with dynamic, context sensitive information.

Esquire campaign may boost interest in mobile commerce and augmented reality

The mobile shopping implications of the new initiative from Esquire could help bolster interest in augmented reality and the technology’s use in the field of mobile commerce. For now, however, the technology is likely to remain within the realm of marketing and entertainment, though that may change at some point in the future.

Mobile commerce to play large role in holiday season

| November 14, 2012

 

Wal-Mart sees mobile commerce as a major part of its holiday season

The holiday season is here and tWalmart mobile commercehat is good news for retailers. Thanksgiving and Christmas are two of the biggest holidays for the retail industry because these are days in which these companies see the most traffic, both digital and physical. Retailers have been seeing a growing trend amongst consumers that suggests that mobile commerce is becoming a popular way to purchase products. Wal-Mart, one of the world’s largest retail companies, notes that this interest in mobile commerce is gaining a massive amount of momentum amongst consumers and may have a significant presence during the 2012 holiday season.

Retailer expects sizable portion of traffic will come from mobile consumers

Wal-Mart senior vice president of mobile and digital strategy Gibu Thomas suggests that a sizable portion of the company’s consumers will make purchases from smart phones, tablets, and other mobile devices this year. The retailer has been tracking the growing popularity of mobile commerce within its stores throughout the year and saw significant mobile traffic during the 2011 holiday season. As such, Wal-Mart stores are beginning to find new ways to provide service to consumers that would rather make use of mobile commerce platforms and shopping applications.

40% of shoppers expected to be mobile

Thomas suggests that more than 40% of shoppers visiting Wal-Mart stores will do so electronically during the 2012 holiday season. The retail giant sees this as a promising opportunity and has begun working to revamp its mobile shopping application, which has been downloaded millions of times all over the world. The application will receive updates that will make it more inclusive of mobile commerce and marketing in the hopes of engaging consumers that favor their mobile device over traditional forms of commerce.

Wal-Mart throws more support behind its mobile commerce efforts

Wal-Mart already boasts of a strong Internet presence and has managed to cater well to mobile consumers. Mobile commerce has, however, been relatively low on the retailer’s priority list until very recently. The company is seeing more people adopt mobile commerce platform and is keen to not be left behind by these consumers over a matter of service. As such, Wal-Mart is committed to finding ways to engage these consumers and provide them with services they want to see.