California stores pilot NFC system that can provide electronic receipts
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Proximiant expects to install an RFID-enabled solution in 1,000 stores at the end of this spring. The solution allows customers to download electronic receipts and discount coupons from their mobile phones, reducing the number of paper prints.
More than a dozen stores in the San Francisco Bay area have launched NFC pilot projects, installing NFC systems on POS machines in the stores, so that customers can receive electronic receipts, coupons and other information through their smartphones. Cheng Fang, CEO of Proximiant, said: By the end of the spring, the system is planned to be implemented in about 1,000 stores. The pilot project was launched in December, and NFC mobile phone customers or mobile phone users with NFC-enabled chips can download receipts, coupons and other information.
In March last year, Cheng Fang and two other founders founded Proximiant, dedicated to developing near-field communication solutions.With NFC functionPOS machineThe design and NFC card of the company are outsourced to a third party, and the partner manufacturer is also responsible for the development of mobile phone applications and data software, which is used to manage the collected data.
Merchants can visit Proximiant’s website to get a free trial service. Beginning next month, a built-in RFID reader and 500 key memories with a price of $50 will be launched, with a built-in NFC card (using NXP Semiconductors’ 13.56 MHz passive NFC chip). In addition, there will be a monthly fee of $14.99, which is used to manage the data read, including data storage for each transaction. The reading device can be directly plugged into the POS terminal, similar to a receipt printer, and the store where the device is installed can download the Proximiant driver.
Owned by consumersNFCThere are still relatively few mobile phones. Therefore, the store provides customers with a key memory with a built-in passive NFC RFID inlay for free. Mobile phone users can download the Proximiant application for free by visiting the application website of iTunes or Android Market. After installing the application, the user enters the six-digit serial number on the back of the key memory, and then the mobile phone and the key memory will automatically correspond. This process does not need to provide any personal information, because the data is simply associated with the mobile phone, not specific to the individual.
After the customer completes the transaction in the store, the POS screen will display the list of purchased items and the amount payable, and remind the customer to receive the electronic receipt through the mobile phone. The key storage can be placed in the wallet, which does not affect the transfer of information between the mobile phone and the storage.
For NFC-enabled mobile phones, the data is stored directly on the mobile phone, so customers can easily check their expenditures. For those mobile phones that do not have NFC function, the information transfer between the key memory and the mobile phone is realized through the SMS (Store and Forward Service) connection.
Consumers log in to the Proximiant mobile app to enter the store’s name or purchase date to retrieve the bill status, or directly scroll through the list of receipts. When replacing or returning a product, the clerk only needs to scan the electronic receipt with a barcode scanner. The store will launch a series of discount activities from time to time. Customers only need to scan the coupon at the POS, and the corresponding discount will be redeemed. Those non-NFC mobile phone users can log in to the Proximiant website and enter the 6-digit serial number to view discount information.
So far, as many as 12 stores have begun to use the system. The first specialty store that piloted the solution reported that 90% of customers expressed their willingness to use the technology. The value of this solution lies in the effective reduction of paper receipts, the creation of a purchase record for customers, and timely provision of product discount information.
The program was initially piloted in fashion stores, and the company is gradually expanding its application areas. Recently, it plans to introduce the product to university campus stores.
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