How to take advantage of Beacon Technology?

Have you ever heard of Beacons?

These little gadgets have been tested for retailers in the United States and the results are impressive.

But will the beacons market survive? Will the retailers be able to implement strategies to increase sales in store?

Beacons are among the most important and recent mobile technologies that offer real advantages to retailers increase and win back sales.

The studies conclude that devices as beacons are the in-store technology which will present the biggest growth since de credit card readers. In the near future, it is expected a fast grow of the implementation rate. In the United States it is expected to reach 4.5 million active beacons by the end of 2018.

Beacons are available at a low-cost and they simply communicate with smartphones’ apps through a low energy Bluetooth signal. These devices will communicate with customers in store with the respective app and Bluetooth signal on.

Several statistics estimate that, globally, there are 570 million smartphones Android and Apple compatible with this technology. 

The BI Intelligence company deepened this study and came up with an extensive report where it identifies the advantages, best strategies to retailers and an outlook for the future.  

So far, it is proved that mobile notifications from apps based on localization and sent through beacons increases the involvement with the brand and subsequently in store sales.

Regarding 2015 and the following years, it is expected a significant increase in sales of the best and most well-known American retailers.

Additionally, the forecasts indicate an increase in the customers’ willingness to accept and use mobile notifications with coupons and discounts to redeem in store. This new technology combined with loyalty programs will be an excellent source for personalized communications (both online and offline) and reward strategies. Retailers will be able to also gather privileged information about customers’ behavior in store, their preferences and concrete needs.  

However, not all is rosy. Retailers to succeed with beacons will have to face the amazing challenge of educate their customers to download their app and accept to receive mobile notifications with campaigns and discounts from their brand.

Big retailers have already implemented this technology and devices in store and are currently learning and developing sales and communication plans to encourage this behavior.

According to these statistics and amazing results for the United States, it will not take long to European retailers start implementing and adopting the best practices of beacons on their own businesses.

We will keep an eye on this and share the most updated information and news.

Loyty Smarketing!