Interactive store map? Yeah, Staples got that

Staples is bringing the mobile and in-store shopping experiences a little closer together.



The office products giant is releasing a new interactive store map feature on its iPhone app. Currently, the offering is being piloted at 83 select stores across New Jersey, New York, Massachusetts and the Seattle area.



The app update enables customers to pin-point and locate every product in their search at their local Staples store. The interactive map can also route a customer’s trip, showing them the easiest and most convenient way to collect their items and get to checkout.



Staples is working on this pilot program with Point Inside’s Store Mode platform. The platform is a cloud-based mobile platform that allows customers to search products in stores and map out their shopping experience through the Staples app.



The interactive store map pilot program will serve as an introduction to new in-store mobile app features Staples will be launching. According to the retailer, 70% of its app users are omnichannel shoppers.



The new features of the Staples app will allow customers to shop seamlessly between stores and devices, providing easy access to product locations and availability both online and in their local store. In an era where mobile devices represent a rapidly growing share of digital commerce and most customers navigate several channels, including brick-and-mortar, on their path to purchase, blending the mobile and in-store environments makes a lot of sense.



“This pilot program addresses the need to help customers find products quickly,” said Faisal Masud, executive VP of global e-commerce, Staples. “By digitizing the store with features such as interactive maps, we’re able to create a more user-friendly and customized shopping experience that adds real value to their Staples experience.”