Location-based interactive retail technology platform launches in US to drive sales, increase brand loyalty and bring the internet to the physical shopping experience
Location-based interactive retail technology platform launches in US to drive sales, increase brand loyalty and bring the internet to the physical shopping experience
Time Domain, an ultra wideband (UWB) real-time location systems (RTLS) developer, this week announced the launch of a breakthrough retail technology platform at the Carousel Centre in Syracuse, New York.
The Destiny USA technology platform has been designed to bring the internet shopping experience to the physical store by enabling retailers to communicate promotions to customers as they shop, optimising the shopping experience, driving sales and increasing brand loyalty.
Early adoption exploits location-based mobility
Clothing for a Better Earth is the first retailer to deploy the Destiny USA technology platform to improve the customer shopping experience. The system, which includes handheld Apple iTouch devices, digital signage and dressing room touchscreens will enable shoppers at the 1,000 square-foot eco-friendly clothing store to look up product information and reviews, make online comparisons and receive promotional recommendations based on previous purchases, as well as their physical location in the store. The platform also enables retailers like Clothing for a Better Earth to target real-time promotions to shoppers.
The Destiny USA technology platform is powered by Time Domain’s Precision Location Ultra Wideband System (PLUS) to track the exact location of merchandise and employees using original equipment manufacturer (OEM) tags. The developer said PLUS provides real-time, highly precise location tracking data that’s within inches of accuracy on every single asset in the retail store, including inventory, display units, fixtures and people.
It added that, in the past, similar attempts to field interactive shopping systems have failed due to poor location accuracy, expense and short-lived battery powered systems.
The internet enters the physical store
As shoppers enter the store, they pick up the Apple iTouch device that assists them with their shopping experience. As they shop, Time Domain’s PLUS system processes information from PLUS tags, creating a “click to mortar” customer experience. For example, its developer said the system could help a customer locate and pair products, or even remember a previous product bought and offer a complimentary sales item. The system will display an image of the product in the shopper’s size, preferred colour and fabric and then help the customer locate the item.
“There’s huge opportunity for retailers to increase sales during the busy holiday shopping seasons, and more importantly, increase sales year-round,” said Greg Clawson, senior vice president of worldwide sales and marketing at Time Domain. “Just as the internet forever changed the way retailers and shoppers interact, this platform is taking the physical retail environment to the next level. Time Domain’s PLUS technology is helping retailers understand their customer’s preferences and behaviours in the physical store to drive sales and improve the shopping experience.”
