Avoid Shop Queues with Phone App

Tuesday 21st February 2012 8:40am

Technology which is currently being trialled in the US allows a person to use their mobile phone to scan an item on the shelf, enabling automatic payment, and then simply walk out with their purchase.

Adelaide-based web developers KOJO were preparing for this new app technology which was set to revolutionise the way people shop.

KOJO senior developer Tom Longo said other technology was being developed to help customers beat the queues in store.

"Some of these advances include giving app users the ability to order and pay for a product, then collect it in-store within the hour," he said.

"Another premise is that you go to the same coffee shop every morning and they know you are a regular customer. Before you walk in the door, your coffee will be ready and you won't have to even take your phone out of your pocket."

"Push notifications" on mobile phones would also be used by businesses to let customers know when products which had been customised were ready for pick up.

Mr Longo said while these capabilities would likely be available first in the US, Australia would not be far behind.

Supermarket giants Coles and Woolworths had already embraced the power of mobile phone apps. Both have produced apps which enabled customers to browse items from their phone and locate what aisle the product was in.

Meanwhile, Adelaide company Hub IT has launched its ordering system iPhone app NoQ.

The NoQ app allows customers to order and pay in advance for their coffee or food orders to avoid queues at the counter. Payment occurs automatically via credit card using a secure third party payment gateway.

Retailers pay a monthly access fee to use the system and also pay 1.95 per cent transaction fee to the company.

Hub IT has investors on board include Economic Development Board chairman and successful IT start-up founder Raymond Spencer who became Hub IT chairman in January, as well as Baker Young Stockbrokers director Allan Young, PKF partner John Sutton, and BankSA chairman John Heard.

SA franchises Bean Bar cafe, Marcellina's Pizza and Wokinabox also have thrown their support behind NoQ.

Source: The Advertiser 21st February 2012 by Alexandra Economou