“Ever since iBeacon made its debut on the iPhone in 2013, it’s been heralded as the next big thing for retailers,” Aaron Tilley reports for Forbes. “Using the Bluetooth low energy radio on your smartphone, iBeacon technology can track your location within a few feet of where you are and push you special deals and advertisements onto your phone as you pass by stores.”
“It looks like McDonald’s MCD +1.81% is taking the plunge. 26 McDonald’s franchises in Columbus, Georgia have been testing out the technology with its customers. In a four week trial, these fast food joints have been pushing special deals for McChicken Sandwiches and 10-piece Chicken McNuggets,” Tilley reports. “The promotions pushed McChicken Sandwich sales up 8 percent and Chicken McNuggets up 7.5 percent.”
“‘In the [fast food world], these are big numbers,’ said Robert Hanczor, the CEO of San Diego-based iBeacon startup Piper, which made the app for McDonald’s to send the promotions. ‘They saw significant statistical change in consumer behavior,'” Tilley reports. “Based on these initial results, Piper is working on rolling out iBeacon programs to other McDonald’s franchises in the southeast for an additional 263 retail locations.”
“While retail is the most obvious place to start for iBeacons, there’s plenty of ways the technology can be used outside of retail, such as the smart home and smart cities or even in manufacturing and industrial arenas,” Tilley reports. “Even though iBeacon installation is currently small, analysts are projecting iBeacon hardware will grow to 60 million units by 2019, according to ABI Research.”
Read more in the full article here.
Related articles:
Estimote makes ‘Nearables’ – iBeacon stickers you can stick on anything – August 22, 2014
Apple and the omnichannel: 9 industries already using Apple’s iBeacon – July 29, 2014
Hudson’s Bay and Lord & Taylor roll out Apple’s iBeacon tech across North America – July 28, 2014
Hundreds of London businesses are about to flip the switch on payments via iBeacons – June 19, 2014
inMarket: iBeacon increases in-store app usage, retention, and brand engagement – June 16, 2014
Google wants in on Apple Inc.’s iBeacon party – June 9, 2014
GE integrates iBeacon into new LED light fixtures, Walmart installing in stores worldwide – May 29, 2014
Walgreens and Walmart testing iBeacon, Motorola Solutions launches iBeacon marketing platform – May 7, 2014
Virgin Atlantic trials Apple iBeacon tech for iPhone users at London Heathrow Airport – May 2, 2014
New York City bars to use Apple’s iBeacon for pub crawl promo – April 28, 2014
New sunglasses with iBeacon notify you when lost, act as beacons in retail – April 28, 2014
eh.
iBeacon is commercials.
Is that a commercial?
You’re a commercial. For birth control.
heh. thanks.
their hamburgers lately have made me feel ill. I think they’re changing the ingredients. I find myself going to subway more when i’m in the mood for a quick bite
only thing that sucks is there usually is no free wifi, or its too slow to use
Was there a time when they didn’t then? I like one for a change once in a while when I have a junk rush but really they truly are awful.
If you like subs, go to Jersey Mikes if there’s any near you instead of Subway. They literally slice the meat right in front of you, the cheese too. The difference in freshness and taste is quite massive. Give them a try!
Next thing you know Apple will get blamed for Americans getting fat.
Subway? Really? Those place are as gross as McDonald’s.
Most of the sandwich is veggies you can see being put on the bread. not nearly as gross as mcd’s
When I first glanced at the headline I read it as “Apple’s iBeacon devices find their way into McDonald’s sandwiches…”
And I thought surely somebody will notice their Big Mac is crunchier than it should be. 😋
Thats what is making Fan ill clearly. Dentists will be celebrating mind.
I thought it said bacon. Mmmm, bacon.
Meanwhile, a daily shift of 8% in AAPL is routine.
May be, just may be they start to pay workers better? Other wise it’s no news.
I read this as Applewood-smoked iBacon makes its way into Macdonalds sandwiches: sales increase.