Passbook is
an app for receiving, collating and using special offers, tickets and loyalty
points. The first time I read that I almost fell asleep but then the clever
article writer gave an example of how it could be used and I quickly woke up.
Imagine you are walking past a coffee shop and you get a phone alert offering
you a free chocolate chip cookie with your cappuccino. If I was remotely
interested in a coffee I’d be tempted by the offer. The way it works is you get
a barcode on your phone which can be instantly redeemed at the coffee shop
register.
Translate
that process to almost any retail transaction, including what you sell, and the
possibilities look very attractive. I’m not sure how you actually create that
alert on the customer’s phone but I am going to find out. More to come.
