Simon and eBay ‘connect’ for new mall experience
Shopping at the local mall may soon get a lot more interactive for consumers, if retail property owner Simon and eBay have their way.
The companies unveiled this week the “Connected Mall” experience in Palo Alto, Calif. The installation features a “smart” directory developed by eBay for the Simon Innovation Group that elevates the shopping experience by providing consumers with a suite of services, including point-to-point navigation and personalized offers and deals.
"eBay is revolutionizing shopping by bringing the best of digital technologies into the physical world. The 'Connected Mall' pilot with Simon provides shoppers with real-time retail information and deals that will shape mall traffic," said Steve Yankovich, vice president of innovation and new ventures at eBay. "This eBay technology and others will continue to provide consumers with white glove retail shopping experiences."
“Connected Mall” provides retailers with a way to encourage traffic to their stores while also providing eBay and Simon with important customer feedback.
Shoppers will enjoy the benefits of having a more interactive and personal experience to seamlessly navigate their retail experience this holiday season.
Features of the new digital directory include:
A 72" LCD, full HD, all-weather touchscreen viewable in direct sunlight
Mall maps available in 3D view, with accurate orientation of the shopper within the mall to their exact location, including the direction he/she is facing
The option to browse through the interactive map, events, services and store deals, also allowing a shopper to search for what they are looking for by touching multiple categories (food, services, retail, restroom, etc.) Upon selection of a specific store or service needed, the interactive map will highlight its location and the best route
The shopper can then push the directions to their mobile phone and follow the recommended path to their selected store (international mobile numbers are accepted)
A "today" button that highlights events and deals happening on that specific day
Handicap feature allows the shopper to shift the orientation of the map and menu, creating a more easily accessible experience
"Simon and eBay have been working on an exclusive basis in the mall space to enhance the shopping experience and provide retailers with a new and compelling way to engage shoppers," said Mikael Thygesen, Simon's chief marketing officer. "We're excited about our 'Connected Mall' initiative with eBay. It's a great example of leveraging technology in a useful, relevant way in the mall environment, and we look forward to continuing to work with eBay on future initiatives."