Mar
15
Critical Mobile eCommerce Moves for Your Business – Part 9 of 10 – Mobile Interfaces
The power of NFC (Near Field Communication) and other smartphone remote technologies is already going far beyond eCommerce – but as always, the hybridization of virtual and real will lead to revenue opportunities.
A specific application is coming from Powermat, the well known maker of wireless charging mats for portable devices. They have forged a new relationship with General Motors to start supplying wireless charging platforms in the new Chevy Volt and other possible vehicles. In addition, Powermat is bringing out a charging chip with NFC capability built in.
This means your NFC enabled devices would be able to communicate directly with your car and any other network connections it provides. This is similar, but well beyond current bluetooth pairing functions your current car may have.
There also projects in the works to bring wireless charging and NFC capabilities to furniture. So while you are in an airport, a stadium, or other venue, you will be able to charge your device and buy goods and services right on the spot without leaving your seat.
A recent report by Comscore finds that the most popular type of location for NFC transactions in Japan was retail/convenience stores – places I’ve discussed in my previous articles. But the next most popular places, were vending machines, public transportation, grocery stores and restaurants.
This should start us on the track to considering new NFC interactions in familiar locations.
1. Airport: As you sit in the terminal, or on the aircraft (once NFC interactions are permitted), you’ll be able to shop at the very last minute for great deals on rental cars and hotel rooms. As a vendor, you should be seeking to join the very best NFC eCommerce networks (as they are created) to offer your specials to the most motivated people in the world – travelers. Local merchants will be able to direct new arrivals directly to their shops, OR arrange for delivery of their products to a visitors’ hotel.
2. Mobile Salespeople: No longer will you need to limit your sales efforts to your store location. With NFC, your salespeople can be selling anywhere, even at their child’s baseball game, if they’re that ambitious! It’s already happening in a preliminary model, with Girl Scouts selling their famous cookies in Ohio. They are using Intuit’s “GoPayment” system, which combines a credit card reader with a cell phone, to allow transactions anywhere.
3. Drive Thrus: With an NFC equipped phone, and network communications in your car, you’ll be able to purchase your fast food with no cash, but also pay road/bridge tolls, and parking without getting out of your car. Include things like car washes, oil changes, and movie/game rentals on this list as well.
4. Real Estate Purchasing: The New York city department of buildings has begun posting QR codes on building projects to let people with smartphone get information instantly. It is even smarter, and more efficient to imaging the posting of NFC enabled placards on real estate for sale, to allow buyers to instantly get all the info they need, including contact information from the seller. Real Estate professionals should really be pushing for the efficiencies from this one.
5. Rental of Physical Items: A lot of things go unrented as business models because it’s too expensive to man dispensaries. NFC allows a lot more self-service, using the customer’s smartphone for check in and check out. Bicycle rentals, boat rentals, library books, even rental cars will all be much easier to access and process with NFC.
NFC will be optimizing the commerce of the physical world, as well as bring entirely new possibilities for self-service. Will your business be ready to step up to this exciting new world?
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