Tag: technology news

Resources and Tools to Help Merchant Technology Ecosystem and Companies Capitalize on Mobile Commerce

NEW YORK CITY – November 21, 2013 – Isis®, the mobile commerce joint venture created by AT&T Mobility, T-Mobile USA Inc. and Verizon Wireless, today announced the launch of the Isis Alliance Program. The Isis Alliance Program supports merchant technology ecosystem partners with exclusive tools and resources to help them capitalize on the opportunities created by mobile commerce.

“We created the Isis Alliance Program to serve as a resource where companies looking to deploy mobile commerce solutions have access to tools and information,” said Jim Stapleton, chief sales officer, Isis. “The Isis Alliance Program will help companies harness the competitive advantages created by mobile commerce and better serve merchant customer needs.”

The Isis Mobile Commerce Platform™ offers merchants the ability to deliver a richer, more personalized relationship with their customers through the Isis Mobile Wallet®. It leverages the existing payments infrastructure, which means any merchant with a contactless payment terminal can accept payments via the Isis Mobile Wallet.

“Merchants depend on the retail technology industry to deliver the latest, most innovative technologies to grow their businesses,” said Joseph Finizio, president and CEO, Retail Solutions Providers Association. “We’re pleased to support the Isis Alliance Program and believe the critical tools it delivers will help retail technology providers future-proof their offerings and advance the solutions hitting the marketplace.”

Leading payment terminal manufacturers and software partners are integrating near-field communications (NFC) mobile payments and Isis SmartTap capabilities into point-of-sale (POS) offerings to ensure merchants can fully maximize the business opportunities created by mobile commerce. This enables Isis Mobile Wallet™ users to pay, present loyalty cards and redeem offers in a single transaction, effectively creating a new platform for merchant marketing campaigns and streamlining the customer experience.

“We applaud Isis for the launch of the Isis Alliance Program. Industry innovators like Isis are capitalizing on strong consumer and merchant interest in mobile payments, and the Isis Alliance Program recognizes the ISO and POS solution provider channel is a powerful pathway to get new technology to merchants,” said Jason Oxman, CEO, Electronic Transactions Association. “With relationships with more than eight million merchants, ETA member companies are uniquely positioned to introduce their merchant customers to new payments technologies. We applaud Isis for utilizing the merchant services channel to drive business, provide technology leadership and create new opportunities.”

The Isis Mobile Wallet is available nationwide and accepted in a range of merchant environments such as mass transit, vending machines, fuel pumps, taxis, restaurants, grocery and retail stores. The Isis Alliance Program supports companies representing all aspects of the merchant technology ecosystem, from hardware and software to service and technology providers.

“We firmly support the Isis Alliance Program – it aligns with our goal of advancing the understanding, adoption, use and widespread application of smart card technology,” said Randy Vanderhoof, executive director, Smart Card Alliance. “By partnering with merchant payments acceptance providers, Isis is taking all the right steps to deliver secure payments and mobile commerce capabilities to merchants.”

To learn more or join the Isis Alliance Program, visit www.IsisAllianceProgram.com.

About Isis

The joint venture is between AT&T Mobility LLC, T-Mobile USA, Inc. and Verizon Wireless and is based in New York City. The venture is chartered with building Isis, a national mobile commerce venture that will fundamentally transform how people shop, pay and save. The Isis Mobile Commerce Platform™ will be available to all merchants, banks, payment networks and mobile carriers. Isis, Isis Mobile Wallet, Isis Ready, Isis Mobile Commerce Platform and the associated logos are trademarks of JVL Ventures, LLC in the U.S. and/or other countries. Other logos, product and company names mentioned herein may be the trademarks of their respective owners. For more information, visit www.paywithisis.com.

Today innovation trends influence significantly the marketing strategy.

Mobile devices became a vital element of a sales process, being used in decision-making processes. Following the trend, augmented reality has emerged as an innovative tool that allows brands to interact with consumers on their mobile devices. AR creates new digital experience that enriches the relationship between a consumer and a brand and can be used in any location – through PC at home, mobile devices or kiosks in stores.

Retailers have traditionally relied on print advertising campaigns or other media to promote products. Being divided in the past, print, media and in-store marketing efforts are merged today into the comprehensive consumer experience via augmented reality. Integration of augmented reality in marketing efforts aims to build consumer relationship, boost sales, and add value to the shopper experience. Retailers are getting the chance to attract their target audience by means multiple traditional and non-traditional interactions.

Here are top ten ways augmented reality can help retailers (with examples):

1. Improves conversion rates and reduces returns for clothing stores – Virtual fitting room (J.C.Penney)

Increased online conversion rate and reduced returns lead to an improved company’s profitability.

http://youtu.be/fhjuZMEJ4-U

2. Optimizes warehouse space (SAP & Vuzix)

Augmented reality can improve navigation around warehouse territory when big spaces and a lot of inventory items are involved.

http://youtu.be/9Wv9k_ssLcI

3. Combines traditional retail experience and e-commerce (Yihaodian & O&M)

The creation of virtual retail stores of any size makes it possible to stay closer to the customers with no inventory costs and long lines.

http://youtu.be/hJqIpIlR3nI

4. Enhances brand recognition (Cosmos(Tavria-V))

Gamification added to the physical products helps to engage customers with a product and works as an incentive to a quicker purchase.

http://youtu.be/qBuMCPYyRmQ

5. Empowers advertising campaigns (VW)

Brands can incorporate AR experience into an advert which directs the user to the additional web content, product video, coupons etc.

http://youtu.be/KRA0SZhKNyo

6. Lets customers “try” before they buy with a 3D product preview (Lego)

The product demonstration may not be as high pressure as a pitch situation but it is still a selling opportunity. AR experience can make an engaging alternative in situations when it is impossible to demonstrate a real product.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8UxWkZtUKaI

7. Displays additional information about products shown, enriches shopping experience (IBM Research)

Anything from nutritional information to a virtual coupon that customers can redeem at check out can be incorporated with augmented reality.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=EAVtHjzQnqY

8. Searches for deals around (Valpak)

Augmented reality functionality helps merchants’ offers get found and used by consumers.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=lSFpnJpNHkk

9. Visualizes product catalogs  (IKEA)

The “projected” catalog items give a customer a real-time, scale view of what the product would look like in their space.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=vDNzTasuYEw

10. Brings customers inside a store (Hugo Boss)

AR-enabled store windows entertain potential customers and make them wonder what’s inside.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4q4Aew-zx3w

Technologies are emerging with a speed of light. Companies that are open to new opportunities and adopt trending technologies for business development are the most likely to grow their revenue and market share.

Augmented reality marketing and retail are fairly new, although we can see the significant growth of successful campaigns over the recent years. Retail is a very attractive field to explore Augmented Reality because the results can be seen in real figures, live feedbacks from the customers and often get viral exposure due to its novelty. The examples listed above talk for themselves. We anticipate new impressive campaigns in augmented reality retail and believe it will soon become a crucial tool in the marketing technology set.

Author:

Dariia Gaioshko – Product Marketing Manager at Augmented Pixels – Odessa, Ukraine