According to the movie, "Back To The Future II," in 2015 there should be flying cars and dehydrated Pizza Hut that takes less than 10 seconds to prepare. Well, none of that is going to happen by then. But with the way how technology is advancing, things might turn out to be different the way we all thought the future was going to be panned out.
About two years ago, an Android phone that had a barcode scanner app was the newest sensation going around the market (name of my blog). By taking a picture of a product's barcode, you can compare different prices for the best value around the area. This theory has created new ideas, one of which is the Starbucks Card Mobile App. Through the consumer's smartphone (iPhone, Android, or BlackBerry), they make their purchase and the barista at the register scans the generated barcode on the screen of the phone.
According to Starbucks, the new app is looking to enhance the speed, ease, and convenience of customers paying with their mobile phone. Wait a minute. Don't you still have to wait for your order? Isn't that what always takes long?
Personally, I don't like coffee, so I'm rarely at Starbucks. However, the few times I've been there, I find myself waiting about 3-5 minutes (depending on the traffic of customers) for my Vanilla Bean Frap. So this new app would eliminate me waiting in line, but I still have to wait?
Nonetheless, there is one idea I do have that can make this app more successful and efficient: Geotagging. Through geotagging, the app can detect the closest Starbucks from where you're located. This way if you're in a rush, the user can choose the Starbucks where they're going (because in some places there's 5 Starbucks in one block) and a simple transaction can be done. Barcode for coffee. No lines, no waiting, quick pick up.
Another idea I have in relation to the geotagging is to share the location of the customer through social media outlets, such as Facebook and Twitter. Although there's apps like Loopt and FourSquare that share your location to social media, the Starbucks app can be link your purchase to these outlets to share your recent experience to your friends and followers. This works for Starbucks because are always craving it. Especially when they read a post, "Melany ordered a Grande Cafe Mocha at GL FIU Starbucks," as her recent tweet.
Although my ideas are great, I don't like where this app is going. It takes away from the experience a consumer has with Starbucks. When someone thinks of Starbucks, they picture an urban, lounge-environment place to drink coffee, read a newspaper or surf the web through the free Wi-Fi they provide.
This new app and evolution of technology reduces human interaction. From buying clothes, to getting a traffic ticket in the mail. People are talking to each other less and less on a personal basis. From social media, texting, e-mail, etc. I can go on about this forever, but I end here.
http://www.appolicious.com/shine/articles/4969-starbucks-rolls-out-payments-nationwide-with-starbucks-card-mobile-iphone-app
http://www.cnn.com/2010/TECH/mobile/10/20/smartphone.location/index.html?iref=allsearch
The change in the potential value of online marketing has increased exponentially for businesses as geo-tagging has become standard in many apps. Now local businesses locations have the advantage over national competitors in local search and apps geared toward supplying the user with information specific to the area where they are currently in.
ReplyDeleteOpen Table, 4 Square, and Yelp are 3 examples of applications taking advantage of geo-tagging.
I agree with you in the sense that the evolution of these types of apps will reduce the little human interaction we have left in our day to day routines but I do feel that this technology is keeping up with our change in lifestyle. I love Starbucks as much as the next person but rarely do I stay to drink my coffee as I'm alsways on the go. I do not like the fact that the Starbucks app only allows for quicker purchasing but not quicker ordering and wait time. Sometimes I wish I could order ahead of time and just pick up and go. So I like your input regarding the GeoTagging. I think that would definitely revolutionize the Starbucks culture and the way we order our coffee. Also, like you said, if your orders can be linked to social media sites that would definitely benefit the company.
ReplyDeleteI think you have some valid points about the waiting time in a Starbucks. You do have to wait not only because of the line, but also for the time it takes them to prepare your order. Nonetheless, this app would allow you to pay when you do not have your wallet on. Furthermore, I believe that this could set some ground on getting to the point where you could order your drinks on advance through your cellphone and just pick them up when you get to the place. We will just have to wait and see how this revolutionizes the industry
ReplyDeleteI think your idea for adding geotagging to the Starbucks app is really good. That would really cut down on the time. It would probably turn some of the people who don't see the app as time saving into believers and might encourage them to get it. I will be interesting to see if they do end up adding this feature to the app in the future.
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