MINNEAPOLIS – Target is rolling out new technology aimed at appealing to in-store customers by giving them money-saving offers as they shop. The Beacon technology makes voluntary use of the customers' smart phones.
As the customers stroll through the stores, shopping, Beacon senses the location of the shopper and sends offers and recommendations directly to their iPhone. Android technology is to come later.
Here's how it works:
The customer downloads the Target App to their iPhone and makes sure that their "Bluetooth" is activated. A display on the phone will welcome the shopper to the store and explain the Beacon feature.
When a shopper comes into proximity of a hidden Beacon transmitter in certain areas of the store, the offers and recommendations will be transmitted automatically to the smart phone. The phone will buzz lightly to let the customer know about the new offers. It is not Target's intention to have their customers walk about the store with their heads constantly straight down.
Beacon technology has been used in other retail settings, but Target is one of the first to deploy it. 50 stores in Chicago, Denver, New York City, Pittsburgh, Portland, San Francisco and Seattle are in the first wave of Beacon-outfitted stores. That includes 15 stores in the Twin Cities metro area.
The intention is to add more stores to the system as it is adapted and enhanced.
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