Mobile Couponing with Microsoft Tag's Real Time Location

Mobile couponing has been gaining attention over the past 6 months and it’s going to get even hotter. With about 30% of all smartphone users open to scanning a mobile tag to receive coupons and Groupon's prediction that 50% of all their business will come from mobile in the next two years, we’re only at the tip of the iceberg when it comes to mobile couponing. For our concept of the week we’ve mocked up how retailers can use Microsoft Tag for their mobile couponing solution.

In the illustration below you’ll see that retailers can use Tags  on their print material such as flyers, Sunday circulars or direct mail. When a potential customer scans the Tag on their mobile device they will be taken to a mobile experience that allows them to view all the available coupons from that retailer. After selecting the coupons the user will be taken to a new experience showing them the closest location where they can redeem this discount.

What I like about this concept:

1. Using Microsoft Tag’s Real Time Location (RTL) potential consumers can  be shown deals that only apply to their location and where the closest location they can redeem that coupon.
   • Example – a small restaurant chain that spans a couple different cities does a direct mail campaign. Using one Microsoft Tag enabled with RTL different deals can be offered for different stores based on their locations. This allows stores to customize their deals to their own geographical audience.
2. Using Tag on your print materials to offer coupons incentivizes potential customers to interact with your print advertising in a new engaging way.
3.  I’m personally not a fan of clipping coupons mainly because I don’t want to carry them around with me or if I do I’ll lose them in a day or two. By using Tag for mobile coupons I can transform my smartphone into a digital wallet.
4. Since you’re leading potential customer to a mobile experience you can engage with them on a new level that print cannot.
   • Example – A potential customer scans a tag to get 20% off of a pair of new shoes. After they receive their coupon you introduce them to complementary apparel such as pants, shirts and accessories that go well with that pair of shoes. Because Tag acts a a transition point between a physical and digital experience, it gives businesses insight into the intent of the customer and enables them to effectively cross sell, lead the customer further down the sales cycle, or even give customers the opportunity to make a purchase directly from their mobile device.

How do you see Tag being used to deliver deeper engagements with print materials? If you want to learn about additional ways to implement Tag into your business or curious what it takes to build an experience out like todays concept reach out to us on Facebook and Twitter.