As digital marketers, we need to understand that the line between online and offline is becoming increasingly blurred. The days of your online shoppers being an isolated part of your audience are over — marketers everywhere are now working to give users a seamless, personalized experience, no matter where they interact with a business. And beacons are one of the latest tech trends that can help.
Beacons are small
wireless devices that communicate with your smartphone via Bluetooth. They can be a f advertising database antastic tool that broadcasts personalized messages from online to offline. Whether it’s in a store or at a train station, beaconnds the chance to improve their
McDonald’s is set to roll out even more self-service kiosks by 2020. But it’s not just about self-service — you’ll be able to pre-order food in the app, and when you approach a fast-food restaurant, the beacon will recognize you. So your food will be served within a couple of minutes of finding your table.
The chain is also developing something they call “happy tables,” tables designed just to kill time. Anyone who has been to McDonald’s with kids knows how much easier this will make waiting for your order.
The loudspeaker system
at airports is probably one of the most ineffective channels in the world. 99% of the messages have nothing to do with the consumer. So KLM has developed an app that allows you to find your gate instantly, the route will be shown on the smartphone screen. If there are any changes, the app immediately notifies the user via beacons throughout the airport.
The Starwood hotel chain is testing beacon technology for its most loyastomers. The Starwood P uk data referred Guests ( or SPG) app . A allows guests to check in to the hotel remotely, using their phone as a key. This approach makes long check-ins completely unnecessary — for the most valuable customers, of course.
It’s a creative concept, but I have to admit I’m still not convncveloped a branded waterproof bracelet that helps parents track their child’s location. Parents can set an area where children are allowed to play — and a mobile app will signal w advantages and disadvantages of different cirtualization technologies hen the child leaves the safe zone.