Shopkick’s shopBeacon tech expands reach

Shopkick, a real-world shopping app, has expanded testing of its shopBeacon technology. The new technology, which was deployed in late November at two Macy’s stores, will be active in thousands of stores nationwide by the end of the first quarter.



"We have created a unique business model for shopping — a win, win, win for shoppers; retailers and brand partners; and for ourselves — and the current traction shows we've made great strides in all three metrics," said Cyriac Roeding, CEO and co-founder of Shopkick. "We have more shoppers, benefiting a bigger network of brands and retailers, and the most leading-edge in-store technology. We are becoming the trusted shopping companion for millions."



According to Shopkick, its users have earned $25 million dollars, redeemed 7 million gift cards, scanned 70 million products with at least 14 million scanned in the most recent quarter and viewed 4 billion products at a rate of 1 billion per quarter.



In 2013, Shopkick pioneered the use of Beacon and Bluetooth Low Energy (BLE) technology in retail with shopBeacon, a shopkick-patented location technology for in-store presence that uses ultrasound, Bluetooth Low Energy (BLE).



"Beacon technology has been met with huge enthusiasm among retailers — but also the need to work with a trusted partner who knows how to manage security, offer management, rewards management and how to deploy cutting edge technology in the large, complex infrastructure of national retailers," added Roeding. "We treasure that role we've won with partners and shoppers and are excited for the added value shopBeacon will bring."



The Macy's partnership was the first time a large mass retailer deployed a Beacon solution, according to Shopkick. American Eagle Outfitters is deploying shopBeacon to 100 locations across the country, including New York City, Chicago, Los Angeles, Dallas, Houston, Miami, Boston and San Francisco.