Tag: mobile apps

New app aims to help Panera Bread recover from operational struggles

Panera Bread Company has launched a new mobile application that aims to help the company recover from the operational struggles it has faced over the past 18 months. The mobile app is meant to help the company’s restaurants better manage the high volume of orders they receive during peak hours by taking advantage of the mobile commerce scene. More consumers are beginning to use their mobile devices in restaurants to pay for their purchases and many of these consumers are praising the efficient nature of mobile commerce services being provided by these restaurants.

App could improve the efficiency on Panera Bread restaurants

The new mobile application aims to address efficiency and consumer satisfaction issues by giving customers the ability to order and purchase food from Panera Bread restaurants using a mobile device. The application is free and can even be used to find Panera Bread locations using geolocation services. The company expects that restaurant efficiency will be increased as the new application becomes more widely used among consumers.

Consumers are becoming mobile-centric

Mobile commerce continues to attract a great deal of attention across numerous industries as the demand for mobile-centric services continues to raise among consumers. People are eager to have their mobile devices play a more important role in their daily lives and mobile commerce represents the next step in the process of integrating mobile technology with people’s lives. As the demand for mobile services continues to rise among consumers, businesses are beginning to take steps to meet this demand more aggressively.

Mobile commerce is not a guaranteed success with most consumers due to poor experiences in the past

While mobile commerce is in high demand, it can be difficult for companies to find success with their mobile payments endeavors. In the past, retailers have tried to engage consumers with their own mobile commerce platforms only to find that these platforms were unable to live up to the expectations that consumers have. Poor experiences with these platforms have caused many people to avoid mobile commerce services being offered in the retail sector.

Mobile users in China can receive lucky money when they scan a red quick response code.

Tencent’s red QR codes are a new way for mobile phone users in China to download apps and obtain a red packet of lucky money from Yingyongbao, an official app store of Tencent that has contributed CNY500 million (over US$79 million) to the campaign.

Downloading apps via the red QR code is a unique process.

Unlike the standard app downloading method, apps can be downloaded directly through WeChat Scan. This provides App developers with a new method for distributing their apps and improving their popularity. The staff at Tencent has revealed that Android mobile users can win lucky money from WeChat every time they scan the red QRcodes through Yingyongbao. Each red packet can hold up to CNY200 (about US$32) in lucky money.

The QR Codes marketing campaign has been a success.

The “Red QR code storm connecting all” was an offline marketing campaign that took place in plazas and landmark buildings in some of China’s major cities, including Beijing, Shenzen and Guangzhou, during the May Day holiday. In addition to Tencent, an estimated 20 app developers participated. The red codes can be found in main streets, buses, metros and in other places in the country’s big cities. Thousands upon thousands of people of all age groups, including Chinese and foreigners, engaged in the QR code scanning activity to obtain the red packets.

Hundreds of apps are part of the campaign, with many having achieved a 90% download conversion rate. For instance, China Merchants Bank’s “Handheld Life” has increased to one million downloads after joining. The dramatic increase in downloads is not surprising because the cash bonus users can receive from scanning the Tencent QR codes provide mobile users with plenty of incentive to take part in the marketing campaign.

Furthermore, this method allows users to scan the barcode and immediately download the app via their WeChat Scan. They don’t have to search for the app to download and install it. The red QR codes give developers the chance to boost their download numbers. The popularity of scanning these codes grows as people continue to take part in China’s big cities.