{"id":750,"date":"2017-11-25T20:20:18","date_gmt":"2017-11-25T20:20:18","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/www.abtek.com\/blog\/?p=750"},"modified":"2017-11-27T16:17:03","modified_gmt":"2017-11-27T16:17:03","slug":"bring-on-the-in-store-beacons","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.abtek.com\/blog\/2017\/11\/bring-on-the-in-store-beacons\/","title":{"rendered":"Bring on the In-Store Beacons"},"content":{"rendered":"

Wondering what all the buzz surrounding in-store beacons is about? Here, we\u00e2\u20ac\u2122re tackling the most frequently asked questions that both shoppers and merchants have about this new technology.<\/p>\n

What are beacons?<\/strong><\/h3>\n

Beacons are Bluetooth-enabled devices that, when placed in stores, communicate with shoppers\u00e2\u20ac\u2122 smartphones with the goal of improving shopping experience by sending relevant real-time ads, coupons and more.<\/p>\n

A beacon can scan a person\u00e2\u20ac\u2122s phone for information about their shopping habits, preferences, history on the store\u00e2\u20ac\u2122s website and more. Stores are using this data to send targeted information that users may find useful while shopping.<\/p>\n

How is Bluetooth different from NFC?<\/strong><\/h3>\n

It\u00e2\u20ac\u2122s important to note that the Bluetooth technology used in beacons is different from Near Field Communication (NFC), a hot technology that\u00e2\u20ac\u2122s used for making \u00e2\u20ac\u0153tap-to-pay\u00e2\u20ac\u009d transactions via smartphone. Here\u00e2\u20ac\u2122s a look at he major differences between the two data transfer methods<\/a>:<\/p>\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n
Bluetooth<\/strong><\/td>\nNFC<\/strong><\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
Longer range \u00e2\u20ac\u201c up to 30ft<\/td>\nShorter range \u00e2\u20ac\u201c approximately 4cm<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
Requires more power<\/td>\nTypically consumes little power<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
Requires users to manually connect<\/td>\nAutomatically connects in seconds<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
Works best with minimal interference from other devices<\/td>\nShort range makes it ideal for use in more crowded areas<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<\/tbody>\n<\/table>\n

\u00c2\u00a0<\/strong>How do beacons affect shopper behavior?<\/strong><\/h3>\n

Let\u00e2\u20ac\u2122s say a shopper is walking down the toy aisle looking for Christmas gifts for her son. If her phone is connected to the store\u00e2\u20ac\u2122s beacon(s) via Bluetooth, the technology may be able to collect information that she has an eight-year-old son. The beacon will recognize where the shopper is in the store, then respond to the collected data in real-time, sending the customer an advertisement and coupon for Legos, for example. In theory, this personalized, efficient delivery of information will entice the shopper to take advantage of the offer and purchase Legos.<\/p>\n

What does this technology mean for merchants?<\/strong><\/h3>\n

Beacons will affect stores in two major ways. First, they will improve merchants\u00e2\u20ac\u2122 abilities to gather insightful data about their customers\u00e2\u20ac\u2122 shopping habits, which will in turn allow stores to tailor their shopping experience to shopper preferences. Second, it will maximize communication between the store and the customer, making the shopping experience more interactive and customized. Think of it like having a showroom sales person in the back pocket of every customer.<\/p>\n

How can you use technology to improve the shopping experience?<\/strong><\/h3>\n

While beacons are a hot topic, they\u00e2\u20ac\u2122re still far from being fully integrated into stores. In the meantime, there are a number of ways that you can use technology to improve the shopping experience for your customers:<\/p>\n