As mobile wallets are emerging as the next big trend in retail, retailers have a compelling opportunity to enhance the customer experience and expedite the checkout process. The move to mobile wallets is a natural progression in retail, and may become a key customer expectation as more consumers utilize their native mobile devices for a wider variety of tasks.
Paving the way for mobile payments, the “Touch and Go” digital receipts solution from Proximiant uses near field communication (NFC) technology to eliminate the need for paper receipts. The approach was launched in November 2011 by this California-based startup, which focuses on offering retailers the ability to convert casual customers to loyal ones without additional IT or overhead costs.
The “Touch and Go” digital receipt transceiver, provided free to retailers, can be integrated with any POS system, without the need to update software or purchase expensive hardware. Participating retailers can provide free NFC keychain tags to users of non-NFC phones, like the iPhone.
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Using the free “Digital Receipts” iPhone and Android app, customers shopping at participating “Touch and Go” stores simply tap their phones to the Proximiant transceiver, regardless of payment type used, to have their receipts beamed to their phones.
Consumers receive digital, itemized receipts and an easy way to track past purchases without the hassle of scouring through crumpled paper receipts. In addition, since “Touch and Go” does not require a consumer signup process involving personal information, retailers can offer rewards programs and promotions in a setting that is safe and secure for their customers.
A number of retailers in the San Francisco Bay area have integrated the Proximiant solution with success. These merchants include Cary Lane, Cliché Noe and Loyal Army Clothing. More than 1,000 stores are expected to utilize “Touch and Go” by late spring 2012, according to Proximiant.
