Designing for Digital Retail Engagement: Thirteen Tried-and-True Technologies

These 13 tried-and-true technologies, compiled by our sister publication DDI, are changing the game for the in-store experience:

 
At a busy train station in Tokyo, drinks supplier JR East Water launched the aCure touchscreen vending machine, which uses an embedded camera and face-recognition technology to determine the age and gender of each user, and recommend soft drinks based on his or her profile. This concept could be easily adapted for use in-store, offering product suggestions within a supermarket or even a fashion boutique.

 
U.S. fashion brand WE has introduced a Twitter Mirror within dressing rooms, enabling patrons to take a photo of themselves modeling a garment and upload it to Twitter. Meanwhile, a touchscreen scanner displays information about the in-store and online availability of different sizes and colors, while an additional screen can be used to browse WE's e-commerce site, make purchases and arrange home delivery. (Credit: Photo courtesy of RVDA)

 
In Spain, Diesel is using interactive installations in its dressing rooms, where shoppers can log onto their Facebook account through a Facebook Connect app and publish images of themselves trying on new outfits. These can then, of course, be commented on by friends.

 
At its Inspirience Centre in The Netherlands, domestic appliance brand Miele gives its visitors use of an iPod Touch to help them navigate the space. Customers register online in advance to make an appointment with a product advisor. In the Inspirience Centre, a GPS-enabled iPod Touch—preprogrammed to the user’s requirements—guides them around the store to items of interest and automatically triggers relevant products to appear on high-definition screens. It also causes their preferred scents and sounds to be emitted as they enter a new zone. The system also provides valuable shopper information by monitoring visitor routes, hotpots and dwell time.

 
Aiming to provide some distraction for young minds is the dual-screen billboard by Ford in the United Kingdom. The billboard had one screen for adults, which played an interactive video of a new car model, and a lower-placed one that provided puzzles and games for children. In total, 11 screens were installed at airports and retail centers nationwide, each generating more than 20,000 interactions over a two-week period.

 
Adding vitality to a somewhat ordinary product, home fragrance brand Ambi Pur installed interactive demo booths at retail centers across Spain to promote its new 3volution range. Customers could hold one of the products in front of the screen to trigger an augmented reality (AR) visual depicting scenes related to the fragrance, which was accompanied by scents emitted from the booth.

>> View the rest at DDI

What is your take on incorporating technology into retail design? Is it the way of the future, or a shortcut to real customer engagement? Share your thoughts with us below in the comments.