AppleInsider Staff
Consumers in the Big Apple will soon find their pharmacy visits more convenient as popular chain Duane Reade announced plans to bring iBeacon-powered microlocation functionality — such as coupons or product reviews — to 10 Manhattan outlets in a new pilot program.
According to Duane Reade, customers will be able to receive notifications on their lock screen as they approach a store in which iBeacon hardware has been installed. Customers might also get discount offers based on what they have previously purchases, or have product reviews pushed to their devices as they evaluate items in the store.
"The Duane Reade app plays an integral role in our omni-channel customer engagement strategy," Walgreens communications executive Calvin Peters said in a release. "Mobile interaction is at the core of our social media success as mobile and social are intrinsically linked; the addition of these new 2.0 features, as well as the integration of iBeacon technology, will continue to fuel our digital customer experience strategy, as we strive to push forward our New York Living Made Easy mantra."
Apple's iBeacon technology, which provide microlocation data to iOS devices based on Bluetooth Low Energy signals, has seen quick adoption among businesses since its unveiling last summer. Flagship deployments thus far have come from Apple itself, Major League Baseball, and Virgin Atlantic airlines.
Customers can test the new features at Duane Reade locations including 51 West 51st Street, 22 West 48th Street, 661 8th Avenue, 4 Columbus Circle, 771 8th Avenue, 1350 Broadway, 1627 Broadway, 100 West 57th Street, 1370 Avenue of the Americas, and 1150 Avenue of the Americas.
The iBeacon functions have been added to an app update designed to bring Duane Reade's iOS offering up to par with apps offered for parent company Walgreens's stores. Other new features include access to their in-store rewards account, historical coupon data, and maps of the store locations including shelf position for individual items.
Duane Reade version 2.0 is available now as a free, 39.7-megabyte download from the App Store.
Christine McKee
Malcolm Owen
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6 Comments
Who would trust a product review pushed to you by the person selling you the product?
But it really has the potential to lessen the use of Google Search, if everyone's searches are being pre-empted by omnipresent iBeacons. The mighty Google, coder of Javascript and prototyper of rocket packs, slayed by a 10c transmitter.
Who would trust a product review pushed to you by the person selling you the product?
I would trust a review sent by the seller more than by a random customer. Why wouldn't you trust the seller. You're in their store for some reason.
What would be the motive of someone not selling it to you?
Duane Reade's got the biggest rip off scheme going with their points program. They'd like you to believe you're saving- it's a scam.
Wait 'till they add: [LIST] [*] Apple's WiFiSLAM indoor mapping -- to navigate to the locations of the products [*] Apple's Secure payment/checkout -- for payment through iTunes [*] Apple's online ordering with schedule for pickup delivery [*] [/LIST] Boom!
I would trust a review sent by the seller more than by a random customer. Why wouldn't you trust the seller. You're in their store for some reason.
What would be the motive of someone not selling it to you?
That question answers ascii's point: why would a seller give you an unbiased review which potentially causes them to lose a sale? Or is perhaps influenced by a manufacturer who gives them financial incentives (kickbacks) to sell their products instead of competing ones.
That's why it's generally better to get a review from someone who has no financial stake in the matter. Though obviously you'll want to ensure that the "unbiased" reviewer isn't a paid shill or a moron by reading other reviews by them and/or checking a peer rating system if one exists. :)