Beacons: The Future of Automation
Businesses are able to utilise the abilities of technology to interact with their clients and consumers. One of the most important technological advances with business and customer engagement are beacons and iBeacons.
What is a beacon?
A beacon is a bluetooth operated box which is able to communicate with an app on a phone or tablet using radio signals. Communication from beacons can be curated marketing, data collection, push notifications or triggers. A beacon can be placed in a specific location and when a visitor reaches that location, the app will deliver content to the user. This allows for content to be delivered on a micro-local scale, either by recording visitors on a general scale, or sending vouchers to users stood in front of a specific product.
How do they work?
Beacons work by using bluetooth low energy or (BLE). This allows for the transmission of data over short distance and is both energy and cost efficient. A single coin cell battery can last up to 3 years with BLE and can be 80% cheaper. The low ownership cost of beacons and iBeacons (Apple’s version) ensure multiple businesses are able to utilise the technology.
What does this mean for the future?
Everything from retail experiences, to the way in which we work could be changed and improved by beacons. An experiment done by mobile and digital specialists, We Are Base, showed that by setting up multiple parameters, employees can have reminders sent to them to take a walk or visit the kitchen to make a drink, small reminders to help improve productivity and mental capabilities.
How can companies make the most of this?
Customers with the app can receive push notifications, prompts, or actions triggered on their device which can be used for anything from data collection to a number for a help desk if the phone or tablet is in front of a self service point for too long.
There are many different ways in which beacons can be applied, some of which are:
- Customer loyalty
- Data collection
- Product vouchers and special offers
- Reminders
- Push notifications
- Welcome messages
- Help points
- Wayfinding
- In store marketing
The most valuable asset of beacon technology is understanding customer proximity and building a true picture of the customer journey.
Communicating with consumers is changing. With an increase in consumers using vouchers or discount coupons, there is a notion of there always being a better deal out there. With brands being able to directly communicate any special offers, consumers can engage with brands at the right times, and not looking at mobile emails when the product or business is not in the proximity.
imageHOLDERS specialise in the design and manufacture of tablet enclosures and iPad kiosks. Our products have worked within many different applications including loyalty programmes and bluetooth technology.
For more information
Talk to a member of our team today to find out how beacons can work with tablet enclosure to best suit your purposes and let us answer any questions you may have. If you can’t find what you’re looking for, it’s likely we’ll be able to create it so call us on 01202 892 863 (UK) or +1 877 450 2172 (US). Alternatively, you can email [email protected].