Anybody that frequents shopping malls are familiar with the bar coding systems used by retailers to ease the line at the pay points. No more long lines at the till as the operator just pulls the product past the scanner and voila ? the buyer pays and are on their way.
What most people do not realize is that the bar coding systems entails more than just the code being scanned with the scanner. The systems normally plugs straight into a database, which is also hooked up with the accounting system and the moment the item is scanned, it deducts the item from the warehouse's inventory. Each product in the database has a minimum stock level ? the moment it reaches that stock level, it sends out an alert that x amount of a product needs to be ordered. Automated, convenient, easy.
The above sample system serves to explain how and why bar codes are used in the offline or sales / Warehousing side of business. Nowadays the same principles apply to mobile technology.
With the ability of bar coding systems to be incorporated with Office functionality, convergence of technology opened a new automation arena in the business world. I am sure all of us at one point or another queued at the movie theatre to watch our favourite movie.
Just imagine no more long lines - you arrive at the movie theatre with your mobile phone, walk past a scanner where a bar code on your mobile phone is scanned and you take your seat to enjoy the movie!!! That is how easy it could be with mobile ticketing (mobile bar coding).
The process is simple ? let's use e-ticketing as an example: A customer visits the venue's web site where they book and pay online. Confirmation of their booking or ticket is received on their mobile phone via bar code SMS. The client saves the bar code SMS and present their mobile phone upon arrival at the venue, where it is scanned and access allowed.
Now that is service!!!! E-ticketing will apply to many events ? for example the upcoming 2010 World cup soccer in South Africa, the rugby and soccer matches which takes place weekly, conferences and events that are organized also requiring access ? just to name a few.
Mobile bar coding also plays an important role in customer services (CRM). Retail stores that send out discount vouchers with snail mail could now replace the paper work with bar code SMS ? on condition of course that customers give their permission. Instead of posting vouchers, retailers could SMS a bar code discount voucher to their clients. The client saves the barcode on their phone. Upon arrival at the store they present their mobile phone with the saved bar code at the pay point. The bar code is scanned in, discount allocated to the purchase total and new balance due calculated.
Besides the convenience factor the marketing department also obtains a method of measuring response on promotions. With the bar code scanner hooked up to the till, which is hooked up to the office back end and accounting system, tracking of clients making use of discount vouchers is easy to obtain. A marketing executive's dream, as reports are produced with the push of a button.
Convergence of mobile and web combined with offline/online technologies are inevitable. We believe it is the companies that join the wireless revolution that will benefit most. They will retain more clients as they show that they carry the best interest of their customers at heart through eliminating any situation that could lead to customer dissatisfaction.
Marinda Stuiver has been involved in mobile, web convergence for the past 4 years with 8 years experience in online marketing and web development. Recently convergence of technologies with the partnership formed with FirefoxIE lead to FirefoxIE SMS ? a browser tool. She joined the European Mobile & Business Tech based in Europe alliance to bring more advanced mobile solutions to the market place.
Please email hq@smswarehouse.com if you require more information about applications or convergence of web and mobile technologies.
Ref: SMS warehouse
"Advertising doesn't work." I hear it from my clients all... Read More
Building a business that grows steadily in size and profits... Read More
I'm a marketing consultant and at one of my client-companies,... Read More
One of the most essential things to successful networking is... Read More
Many a home business owner has spent sleepless nights thinking... Read More
Too many business owners believe that marketing their business means... Read More
"Get your positioning and your programs implemented properly, and the... Read More
You'll always need to find new prospects for your business.... Read More
Everything happens Quickly and Instantly on the Internet. In the... Read More
The secret to increasing sales doesn't lie in choosing just... Read More
You can love it or you can hate it but... Read More
Want to know what the highest-impact, lowest-cost tool is in... Read More
Far too often we see small businesses rush into doing... Read More
In business, having competitors goes with the territory. There's almost... Read More
Have you ever heard the saying, "Give and you shall... Read More
Too many loan officer websites look like congested intersections, information... Read More
Rest assured that no matter how smart you are, you... Read More
You've probably heard the slogan, "You never get a second... Read More
We all watch the commercials on TV. We hear them... Read More
One of the biggest mistakes we could make as business... Read More
A business card makes a statement about who you are... Read More
You've enlisted some of the traditional marketing methods to sell... Read More
Pre-note: In this article, teleclass is an example used to... Read More
Popular TV Series Provides a Powerful Marketing LessonSmall Business owners... Read More
If your members, parents or donors wear clothes, watch t.v.... Read More
Develop These Six Critical Marketing Traits...And Success Will Surely Follow.If... Read More
Information is the lifeblood of the economy. That's especially true... Read More
The movie, "Field of Dreams" opens with a farmer standing... Read More
My childhood was my foundation for how I write and... Read More
For many of service-based businesses out there, it's not that... Read More
Everything you will ever need to know about internet marketing... Read More
Coming up with an idea, seizing the opportunity, and setting... Read More
While I am not talking about the movie "Matrix", you... Read More
I think selling and marketing today often feels a bit... Read More
Marketing to women entrepreneurs is not difficult. You just have... Read More
Postcards may be one of the best kept secrets of... Read More
Brochures are one of the oldest marketing weapons in the... Read More
Loyalty marketing has been around for as long as retailing... Read More
Each of these 11 marketing tips is based on a... Read More
I was saddened to hear of the passing of one... Read More
Let's talk about how to keep your postage costs down.So... Read More
Here are three alternatives to increase your testimonial numbers or... Read More
Sounds pretty harsh, doesn't it? Well, I can tell you... Read More
What Is A Joint Venture?A joint venture is an agreement... Read More
The most important part of any marketing you do is... Read More
Say it with a post card. A well designed, colorful,... Read More
There are so many competitions by running business. So you... Read More
If recreating the old experience of subscribing to magazines by... Read More
Revolutionary ideas have always been the mark of mankind. It's... Read More
There comes a time in every small businessperson's life when... Read More
There are basically two ways in which you can either... Read More
Forget what you know about your business Your goal is... Read More
Each year, advertisers with super sized budgets sink millions of... Read More
These ideas are for anyone that has a small budget... Read More
The small business marketing strategy you can't afford to miss... Read More
Your nametag can be your best friend. It can be... Read More
Most of the service providers I've worked for or with... Read More
The ropers at Annie Oakley's Real Western Dudette Ranch were... Read More
Sales Copy? eventually every small business owner must consider what... Read More
The N-word! We all know the value of networking and... Read More
Maybe you've heard these different marketing terms, maybe you haven't.... Read More
Whether it's a downloadable report available from your website, a... Read More
Expanding your subscriber list, whether it be for your ezine,... Read More
I believe that small business marketing and selling follows a... Read More
No doubt you started this year with some big ideas... Read More
Take a moment to reflect on the current reality of... Read More
Marketing |