Well there has been talk about it for years. Following the rise of online retail, the next step is retail on mobile phones. Apparently it is already widely used in Japan.
Over here retailers are just beginning to make use of the new more sophisticated mobile phones such as the iphone. It is a tricky decision for retailers though. There is no standard technological platform as yet. Develop an app for the iphone and it won’t work on the other devices which are out there.
Retailers such as Ocado and Oasis have developed iphone apps but perhaps the most savvy approach is that being adopted by Tesco. Tesco is opening an API up to developers and allowing third parties to develop apps for their faourite devices. This will allow both commercial organisations and enthusiasts to develop applications for any mobile device and interface with Tesco website. At the moment this includes searching for a product and adding it to a basket.
How great to be able to finish a packet of something, scan it with you phone and add the item to next week’s shop! People have been talking about this for a long time but finally it seems very close.
Posted by Rachel Maclean 