Building a bridge between brick-and-mortar stores and the digital world, Qliktag Software Inc., based in Newport Beach, Calif., has launched its Qliktag in-store mobile merchandising platform, which enables brands and retailers to engage with customers in the store as they shop. The Qliktag platform helps businesses create unique mobile experiences and promotions for each individual product or SKU. Consumers access these promotions and product information with smartphones, connecting via standard barcodes, QR code labels, NFC, Bluetooth, or iBeacons.
Smartphones Go Shopping
Research by the NPD Group points to mobile device usage while shopping in brick-and-mortar stores as a growing trend. In fact, nearly 70 percent of consumers now use mobile devices while shopping. Brand marketers and retailers are looking for effective mobile marketing strategies that can tap into this increasingly popular medium, and are faced with the challenge of bridging brick-and-mortar retail locations with the digital world.
Mobile technologies such as QR codes, proximity-based iBeacon by Apple, NFC, and Bluetooth enable interaction with products on a shelf or in-store through smartphones. Qliktag’s Q*Engine Web platform can now be used to upload product data from virtually any inventory management, POS or product catalog, and design unique promotions for each.
The platform stores product information, video, custom forms, promotions, coupons, social media features, and more using a drag and drop interface. With technology-savvy consumers using smartphones for showrooming, price comparisons, product research, social media sharing, and purchase opinions, Qliktag empowers traditional retailers and brands with the technology to connect with smartphone-enabled consumers.
“With Qliktag, we’re offering retailers and brands a means to connect and engage using smart mobile technologies. Essentially, we are blending the online experience with the in-store experience and increasing sell through rates,” explains Dilip Daswani, CEO of Qliktag Software.
“While our platform supports numerous activation technologies, we believe QR codes will continue to play a part in mobile merchandising,” says Daswani. “QR codes are not new to the retail industry, but their potential has barely been tapped due to implementation limitations which make it difficult to deploy and customize for a large number of products or SKUs. Qliktag has the ability to generate thousands of QR codes and unique promotions on the individual product level so the customer gets a different experience for each item rather than just a single brand-level promotion, which is how QR codes have been traditionally used.”
Q*Engine Designed to Fuel Commerce
Qliktag’s new Q*Engine†is a cloud-based mobile engagement platform. The software can be deployed in a wide range of sectors from retail, automotive, beverage, services, or other markets that seek to leverage mobile devices to provide an interactive experience that promotes sales and positive customer relations. Daswani sums it up, commenting, “We’re in the business of closing the loop and building a bridge between in-store and online. It’s the best of both worlds.”
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