TLDR:
• NFC is a short-range wireless technology that allows for two-way communication between electronic devices, and can be used to enable a variety of features such as product information, customer reviews, and purchasing options.
• The potential benefits of integrating NFC into retail mattress-buying experiences include increased convenience for customers, greater engagement, more efficient transactions, and improved visibility into store sales process and increased door swings.
• Mattress Omnichannel is the ability for a customer to shop either in-store or online and receive the same level of service and experience irrespective of how they complete their purchase.
• NFC can help provide in-store retail with a simple access point to pertinent data to help the customer make a more informed buying decision.
Some ideas on how mattress retailers could use NFC tags include automating IOT devices like positioning an adjustable bed automatically, collecting leads by requesting data from customers who tap an NFC tag placed somewhere visible in the store (e.g., on a display bed), providing virtual business cards, showing digital components of the bed, reviews, videos and more.
NFC For Mattress Retailers: The Future of Shopping for Sleep Products?
With the advent of near field communication (NFC), many industries are beginning to explore ways to incorporate this cutting-edge technology into their products and services. The mattress industry is no exception, with some companies already exploring NFC-enabled mattress-buying experiences, the technological implementation is currently at its fledgling state.
What is NFC?
NFC is a short-range wireless technology that allows for two-way communication between electronic devices. NFC can be used to communicate between devices such as smartphones, tablets, and laptops. In the context of mattresses, NFC can be used to enable a variety of features such as product information, customer reviews, and even purchasing options with a simple "tap" and without having to open a QR code app.
NFC for mattress retailers may be the key to providing their customers with a unique and convenient shopping experience.
What are the benefits of integrating NFC into retail?
There are several potential benefits of integrating NFC into retail experiences, particularly for the mattress industry. These are only a few!
1. Increased convenience for customers
2. Greater engagement with customers
3. More efficient transactions
4. Increased visibility into store sales process
5. Support the sales process
6. Deliver an Omnichannel experience
NFC for mattress retailers may be the key to providing their customers with a unique and convenient shopping experience. By using NFC-enabled devices, customers can easily and quickly access product information, pricing, and availability while they are in the store. This allows them to make informed decisions about their purchase, and ultimately results in increased conversion for the salesperson....not to mention more revenue for the retailer.
NFC for Mattress Omnichannel?
Whether customers simply use the Internet to begin their research or actually transact, there's no debate that the role of online tools in the customer journey is significant and growing. As such, mattress retailers have continued pursuing the ever-elusive Omnichannel experience.
In the simplest of terms, Mattress Omnichannel is the ability for a customer to shop either in-store or online and receive the same level of service and experience irrespective of how they complete their purchase. Read more here about Mattress Omnichannel.
NFC can help be the "bridge" for providing in-store retail a simple access point to pertinent data to help the customer make a more informed buying decision.
How can NFC Improve the In-store experience?
NFC can be used in a number of ways in a mattress store. For example, it can be used to track inventory, manage customer loyalty programs, support the sales process and even make payments.
✓ Inventory management is one of the most important aspects of any retail business, and NFC can help make it more efficient. By tagging products with NFC tags, store employees can quickly and easily scan them to see what is in stock. This information can then be relayed to a central database, making it easy to keep track of inventory levels.
✓ Customer loyalty programs are another area where NFC can be used. These programs can be used to track customer purchases and offer rewards based on spending levels. This information can be stored on an NFC-enabled card or device, making it easy (not to mention fun) for customers to keep track of their loyalty points.
✓ NFC can also be used to support the sales associates by providing information to their customers. Being able to quickly pull specifications, PDP pages, graphics, videos, reviews and more! This helps build trust and confidence in the buying process.
✓ Additionally, NFC can be used for payments processing. By linking a credit or debit card to an NFC-enabled device, customers can make purchases without ever having to take out their wallets. This can make check-out lines move faster and reduce the risk of theft.
NFC for Sales Training & Merchandising
NFC can help retailers gain visibility into store sales processes by providing a simple way to track what products sales people are showing at both a granular level as well as on the aggregate.
For example, Sales people can tap a price sheet while showing a bed and register it as a product they are showing. This data can be used by managers for training purposes to key in on how to improve their individual sales process.
Additionally, all of these "taps" can be aggregated to provide the merchant team with more information about which products are being shown the most/least and give them actionable data regarding which products to carry, how stores should be laid out (wayfinding), and much more!
Other Awesome Ideas for using NFC in Mattress Retail:
1) Automation: With the tap of a card, you can run a script to automate IOT (Internet-connected things) like lights, AC, etc. Imagine tapping an adjustable base and it automatically moves into a pre-defined position and underbed lighting turns on. Woah!
2) Collect Leads: NFC can provide an easy method for collecting leads. A simple tap can request data, ask a customer to "like/follow" your social media accounts, provide a form and more!
3) Provide V-Cards: Instead of printing and carrying around hundreds of paper cards that end up being lost or thrown away, a V-card (virtual card) can provide a salesperson's professional details to the customer. Green friendly and very impressive! Check ours out here:
4) Marketing Campaigns: Getting door swings is the #1 most important challenge in today's market. Imagine using NFC to create an in-store scavenger hunt and driving increased traffic! Promoting it on social media with some clues, and when you tap all of the items you unlock a new discount or a freebie. SO. MUCH. FUN!
5) Requesting Reviews: A quick tap gets your customer right where you want to go, whether that's your review system funnel or directly to the review site. Do this in-store to build the reputation of the location. Do this on mailers to request product-related reviews.
Bonus 6) Ad Campaign Tracking: Tracking click-to-brick is not always easy. Imagine an ad campaign that directs the customer to go to a very specific spot in the store and tap the card to activate the discount. The number of taps can be reviewed and tied directly to a campaign, showing advertisers how effective the conversion rates are for that particular ad!
NFC technology has the potential to revolutionize the retail industry, and the mattress industry in particular. By providing a more convenient, efficient, and engaging shopping experience for customers, NFC-enabled retail experiences can help increase sales and visibility into store operations. With its many potential benefits, it's clear that NFC is the future of shopping for sleep products.