In the 21st century technology is changing the landscape of retail businesses, how are you using it to benefit you?
Today?s post is by Mark Davis; Vice President of Operations and CTO at SafeSourcing.
Recently we hosted a Request for Information for one of our customers for Mobile Technology for pharmacies.? This was such a good event because so many of companies aren?t even sure what is available to them with all of the technology advancements being made in the internet and with mobile devices.
Today we will be looking at all of retail and some of the new features your company should be considering with changes to your Mobile Technology strategy in 2012.
Just the Basics? ? For those companies that are just looking to start adding this technology to their customers there are a few standard features that should be included.?? The store locator feature is a standard offering that provides users a tool to instantly find the closest store to them, frequently providing maps and directions.? Another common feature is allowing the users to sign up for mass email coupons and discounts.? These are not focused to the user but rather the same email going to all customers that participate.? Having a link to the weekly advertisements in a smaller format is another standard mobile offering many retailers first give their customers.
Targeted Marketing ? Unlike the mass emails and weekly ads, targeted marketing can take a few different forms, each of which provides the user marketing and coupons that are targeted just to them.? Some mobile functionality allows a retailer to ?see? a customer?s registered phone when it enters the store and has the capability to provide them with immediate texts and alerts.? If a grocery store manager wants to run a short discount on meat to get it moved they can send out a text to the users in the store in order to focus the sale.? For other systems, based on the customer?s profile and/or buying patterns, texts and electronic coupons can be sent out to focus marketing messages on customers without flooding them with messaging that frequently leads to discontinued use of the system.
Pharmacy Features ? As stated above the recent RFI SafeSourcing ran recently was for Pharmacy Mobile technology which has its own set of unique features.? Prescription related features have been a hot new offering in this space as retailers are looking to give their customers the capabilities.? These include having texts sent to them that their prescription is filled and ready, or that it is about to be out.? Also included in this is the capability for patients to fill and re-fill prescriptions through a mobile app to local pharmacy.? Other frequently requested features are tips for healthy living and links to quick information about their medicines right from their phones.
For more information on finding suppliers and products to help with your companies 2012 mobile strategy, please contact a SafeSourcing Customer Service Representative.??
We look forward to your comments.
