Your iPhone can now change your retail shopping experience within department stores. The latest version of Macy’s iPhone app will not only list what’s for sale at the store, but will also provide turn-by-turn directions to merchandise once you’re inside. The app saves customers valuable time and enhances the shopping experience.
This new app has been made possible thanks to Meridian’s new iPhone indoor GPS system, launched in 2011. At the time of the launch, Meridian provided access to two of its indoor positioning software development kits to third-party developers so they could create new indoor GPS maps. Third-party developers could use this platform to create maps for popular retail outlets, hotels, hospitals, subways, airports and museums. The new application has the following features for retail:
- Informs the customer of sales near a customer’s location.
- Keeps track of which products customers buy most.
- Provides turn-by-turn directions to find departments, brands and products.
Macy’s, one of the businesses chosen by Meridian to beta test the new app, is the first retail department store to introduce the indoor GPS navigating system, testing it throughout its New York flagship stores.
The partnership reflects Meridian’s understanding that Macy’s is a technological leader in the retail marketplace, said Jeff Hardison, Vice President of Marketing and Business for Meridian. “Macy’s is a kind of the leader right now in testing digital initiatives to engage with shoppers in their homes and in stores,” Mr. Hardison said. He added that Macy’s will introduce the new app at all its locations in the near future.
Meridian also launched its indoor GPS navigation app at Powell’s Books in Portland and the Portland Art Museum in Oregon. Visitors to these two locales were amazed with the experience. The shoppers of Powell’s Books navigated to book titles without hassle and museum visitors were able to seek out exhibits quickly.
Meridian’s indoor GPS app has several advantages over Google’s indoor retail GPS navigation system, including that it can be embedded directly into a retailer’s smartphone app and that retailers can advertise sales of specific products at specific locations. The company plans to expand the app’s use further in retail, hotels, hospitals, subways, airports and museums.
