Retail, Grocery, And Hospitality IT News For VARs — November 10, 2014
By Phillip Britt, contributing writer
In the news this week, VARs can find advice for effective use of beacon technology in stores, and a new app enables “one-tap” bitcoin payments.
Tips To Maximize Beacon Technology Effectiveness
In an article in The Drum, Alcone Advertising founder Matt Alcone recommends the following advice for leveraging the use of beacons in stores: Be creative because the technology itself will eventually become a commodity that everyone has; integrate beacon technology with other marketing applications; use the technology to deliver messages and to collect data; use the technology in venues outside of retail such as sports stadiums; and experiment with different offers, messages and strategies.
One-Tap Bitcoin App Launched
Bitpay has unveiled an app that enables “one-tap” bitcoin payments, according to a CoinDesk report. Bitcoin Wallet and Hive have apps that are compatible with the contactless functionality. While QR codes are still the standard for bitcoin transactions, an increasing number of merchants are adding NFC (near-field communication) capability. The technology can be used in conjunction with various point of sale (POS) devices. Bitpay is launching the app in 40 different languages with the ability to transact in more than 150 different currencies.
Retail, Grocery, And Hospitality IT Talking Points
According to the Cincinnati Business Courier, Kroger is beginning to add new technology to its aisles. The grocery chain will be trading in paper price tags for digital screens that will aid in cheaper week-to-week price changes, keeping prices correct, and demand-based dynamic pricing. These screens are already in place in one of the company’s locations. According to Kroger, this is the first step in the store’s branching into a more technology-integrated experience where eventually customers will be followed throughout the store with sensors and cameras and will be able to ring up items as they go.
WeCareCard, a crowdfunding platform, launched the first ever debit-type card this week as a way to access one’s monetary fundraising results, according to Crowdfund Insider. The company’s website offers a safe and secure way for stories and hardships to be shared and funds to be raised. At the beginning of a WeCareCard holder’s fundraising journey, he or she will be given a WeCareCard MasterCard and as people donate, the funds will be added to their account. This card can then be used anywhere MasterCard is accepted. WeCareCard’s card processer and program manager is FirstView Financial in Atlanta, while Metropolitan Commercial Bank will be the card issuer.
Investor’s Business Daily reports that Alipay has launched a joint service with ShopRunner to enable Chinese consumers to order products directly from the U.S. websites of ShopRunner partners. Alipay’s parent company, Alibaba Group owns a large (39 percent) interest in ShopRunner. The joint service combines the payment technology of Alipay with the marketing and checkout solutions of ShopRunner.
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