Tag: qr codes

LevelUp begins incorporating iBeacon into its overarching mobile commerce platform

LevelUp, a mobile payments firm that leverages QR codes as a powerful commerce tool, has announced that it has begun integrating Apple’s iBeacon into its platform. The iBeacon is gaining ground as a mobile commerce tool because it serves as a sort of alternative to NFC and similar technologies. The iBeacon utilizes Bluetooth technology to alert consumers of special deals being offered by retailers as soon as they enter a physical store. The service can also be used for a wide range of marketing and commerce initiatives.

LevelUp finds success through its use of Apple’s iBeacon

LevelUp added support for the iBeacon to its platform last month, but has only begun promoting this technology aggressively recently. During the initial testing of the iBeacon, retailers using the technology alongside the LevelUp platform reported a 22% increase in consumer spending. LevelUp notes that the transactions coming from its “lapsed” user base increased by an average of 63%. The introduction of the iBeacon technology into LevelUp’s platform has been well received among those that are using the platform.

The iBeacon could soon become one of the strongest mobile commerce tools available to businesses

The iBeacon allows retailers to instantaneously engage thousands of consumers in a single store with special offers. The technology can easily notify consumers of when a loyalty reward is available to them and those using the iBeacon can access these rewards quite easily. The technology is meant to add more convenience to mobile commerce while offering those using it a better way to engage consumers in an effective manner. The iBeacon currently serves as one of Apple’s most promising mobile commerce tools, but the technology itself has yet to see extensive use in the retail sector.

iBeacon allows businesses to keep track of consumer behavior and adapt accordingly

Beyond providing some convenience to consumers interested in mobile payments, the iBeacon also allows businesses to keep track of information concerning consumer behavior. This information can be used for marketing purposes or help retailers better cater to consumers that are becoming quite reliant on mobile technology.

An Australian financial institution has launched a mobile payments service for consumers.

Bendigo Bank, in partnership with Samsung Electronics Australia and Community Telco Australia, an Adelaide Bank telecommunication subsidiary, has released a retail point of sale (POS) mobile payment solution called “redy”, which gives consumers the capability of making a payment and even donating to a local charity by scanning unique QR codes.

Customers can make payments via their Apple or Android mobile devices.

To make a payment, consumers must first download the redy app, which is required in order to be able to scan the quick response code that is displayed on the Samsung redy tablet located at the POS. Bendigo Bank patrons can connect the redy app directly to their savings account. Those who are not clients of the financial institution can link the app to their MasterCard or Visa account.

To help ensure the security of customers, every QR code is uniquely and automatically generated by Bendigo Bank’s system each time a new transaction is processed. In addition, the receipts from transactions remain on the app, so the customer’s personal data and shopping information is not distributed to the merchant.

Furthermore, redy is not only an efficient shopping service. In addition to enabling customers to make convenient purchases, it also rewards them with “creds”. This is a virtual currency that consumers earn in real time. The value of “creds” received per transaction is half a percent of each transaction. Customers can use this virtual money in more than one way. They can save the currency and use it at a later time to make purchases with businesses that support the redy service. They may also donate “creds” to a local initiative or charity.

QR codes seemed like a more logical solution to NFC Technology.

According to David Joss, CEO of Community Telco Australia, Bendigo Bank chose QR codes over near field communication (NFC) technology or Bluetooth low energy technology due to the fact that QRcodes can be scanned by all mobile devices, which allows more mobile users to benefit from the service. Not every smartphone on the market is equipped with the necessary tech to support NFC or Bluetooth. This makes the app more open.