Category: Featured News

Mobile commerce may be boon for web merchants

| October 15, 2012

Web merchants may be starting to feel the need to embrace mobile commerce

Mobile commerceMobile payments are rapidly gaining the adoration of consumers around the world. Being able to make purchases for goods and services without using any kind of physical currency is considered to be both convenient and straightforward. For consumers, the advent of mobile commerce simply means a new way to pay for the things they want. The rise of the mobile commerce industry could mean something else entirely for online businesses that rely on the Internet and electronic mediums to serve customers.

Evolution of the Internet brings about significant changes to global market

When the Internet was young, web merchants used to cater only to the most tech-savvy of consumers. Now that everyone seems to have an intimate familiarity with the Internet, web merchants have had to adapt to appeal to a wider, more varied audience. Mobile commerce is the latest challenge that web merchants will have to adapt to or risk being left behind by consumers, lost in the ever growing tide of competition.

Web merchants have flexibility in mobile commerce pursuits

Web merchants have a variety of ways they can approach the issue of mobile commerce, but the vast majority of these approaches rely on NFC technology. Platforms like Google Wallet and the imminent Isis enable consumers to make payments using their smart phones, but businesses must be equipped to facilitate such transactions. Web merchants have some flexibility in the platforms they choose to support because they are not limited to physical technology, such as NFC terminals. This flexibility allows merchants to engage consumers who favor various types of mobile commerce platforms.

Platforms could be ideal for reaching out to consumers

Web merchants embracing mobile commerce will likely find NFC-based platforms ideal for marketing new products, discounts, and loyalty programs. Such initiatives can ensure repeat business, especially if consumers are treated with a memorable and well-crafted experience. Despite the benefits that mobile commerce can bring to web merchants, however, some businesses are expected to see more success in their endeavors than others. Whether mobile commerce is the best option for web merchants in an evolving world market is difficult to say for sure.

Tanimura and Antle adopt QR codes

| October 15, 2012

Tanimura and Antle make use of QR codes on produce packaging

Tanimura and Antle, a grower and shipper of produce, has begun adding QR codes to several of its products in order to reach out to consumers. The company has introduced the codes on packages of its Artisan lettuce and Artisan romaine produce, allowing those with smart phones to access content associated with these items. QR codes have long since become an adequate medium for businesses to reach out to consumers and provide them with product information, special offers, or other kinds of content they might find interesting.

Codes lead to videos detailing growing process

The codes affixed to packages can be scanned using a smart phone or similar mobile device equipped with a QR code scanning application, most of which are free. These codes link to videos that detail the growing process of the product with which they are associated. Tanimura and Antle is keen to ensure that consumers know exactly where their produce is coming from and what goes into the growing of these foods. The videos also provide foodservice-specific preparation tips regarding the produce they cover.QR Code on Packaging for food

QR codes considered effective way to reach out to customers

Diana McClean, director of marketing for Tanimura and Antle, claims that QR codes are an effective way of reaching out to customers in real time. Because much of the produce grown by the company serves in the foodservice industry, Tanimura and Antle expects that the information regarding how its various products are grown will be well received, especially given the fact that the foodservice industry prides itself on freshness and quality.

QR codes again prove their ability to engage an audience

QR codes have become a staple in marketing and information distribution. The barcodes have proven to be popular with consumers, thereby becoming popular with businesses as well. Tanimura and Antle’s use of QR codes may not be innovative, but it does provide its customers with access to information that they have been demanding.