Artificial Intelligence

iBeacon technology, the Apple iOS 7 feature that helps mobile devices track their position relative to stationary beacons by using low-frequency Bluetooth transmissions, is getting quite a bit of attention from retailers. Grabbing their interest is not only that devices can obtain individualized information from beacons, but that beacons can also obtain individualized information from mobile devices.

Atlanta - The Home Depot is collaborating with 3-D printer manufacturer MakerBot to start selling MakerBot Replicator desktop 3-D printers online and in 12 Home Depot stores in California, Illinois and New York, beginning July 14. This is the first time Home Depot has offered 3-D printers for sale in its stores and will be a pilot program for MakerBot and Home Depot.

After two years in Android and Apple app stores, coupon website RetailMeNot is planning to make deals more personalized for users, which could have a big impact on retailers’ bottom lines.

The website and app offers coupons and deals to customers based on their location and stores and restaurants that they’ve favorited. Now, with more than 18 million downloads of the mobile app and a June launch of a tablet app, RetailMeNot is planning to expand its capabilities to allow retailers to use the app as a tool for reaching new customers.

New York -- Coupon website RetailMeNot plans to make deals more personalized for users. The website and app offers coupons and deals to customers based on their location and stores and restaurants that they’ve favorited. Now, with more than 18 million downloads of the mobile app and a June launch of a tablet app, RetailMeNot is planning to expand its capabilities to allow retailers to use the app as a tool for reaching new customers.

Drawbridge, a leading cross-device advertising platform, has added former Apple exec Andy Miller to its board of directors.

Miller is a current adviser and the former president and COO of Leap Motion, as well as a former Partner at Highland Capital. Previously, Miller was VP of mobile advertising at Apple, reporting directly to Steve Jobs. He was co-founder and CEO of Quattro Wireless, which was acquired by Apple in 2009 and would become Apple's mobile advertising platform, iAd.

By Mark McCurley, IDT911 Consulting

Bebe is looking to carve out a place for itself in the e-commerce market and to that end is honing its online and mobile strategy.

The retailer has selected Digital Experience Management (DXM) platform provider Qubit to provide a wide reaching and bespoke A/B testing, website optimization and personalization program designed to increase conversion rates. It also plans to launch a new responsive mobile site in the near future.

Scanbuy, a leading mobile engagement solutions provider, has upgraded its ScanLife app for Android and iOS devices, giving consumers the opportunity to receive personalized deals and promotions as well as rewards based on their scanning activity via the app’s recommendation engine.