Finally Public Wifi can do more.

True Digital Engagement in Smart Locations.?

It is well known that Wi-Fi brings great advantages to high traffic locations such as city centres, malls, stadiums, airports and the like.?

If a company has spent a fortune putting in infrastructure for Wi-Fi to give their guests access to the internet, with the intention of engaging?based on an app that they are expecting people to download, they will be greatly disappointed because as a general rule, out of 100 people entering the premises, maybe 4% will actually download the dedicated app. Engaging with visitors in a meaningful way is stalled.?

A frictionless location-based, digital engagement solution that connects directly to the Wi-Fi and loads content immediately onto the user's mobile device through their web browser, a progressive web app (PWA) gives them instant access to everything that a dedicated app would provide (native app), but with near 100% uptake and the option for them to use it as and when they wish.?

What are the advantages that can be brought to the table once they have digital engagement through a Progressive Web App?

A Progressive Web App (PWA) can bring them location-based information, historical information, atmospheric information, local offers and services, excursions etc.

For example, if someone entered a shopping mall or airport the integrated map can guide them as a wayfinder. Once entering a dedicated store, the map transforms into a dedicated menu or store information & products page.?

Malls

When entering a food court a customer could order from multiple units from just one device according to preference and taste buds.?Even for a family of five a digitally engaged system allows for the family to order from four different restaurants on one connected device and have the ease to pay online and then get a notification that the food is ready for collection, as well as the restaurants ability to add loyalty and rewards scheme as a future incentive. This is how stores utilise the system to entice customers into their shops to see their latest releases and special offers.

Football Stadiums?

How can football fans and sponsors properly utilise their experience when entering a football stadium? The ability for all the sponsors to come up and be the first to be seen through the system. From merchandising to monetising; for example, a striker scoring a goal and his shirt popping up on their screen offering them a limited addition signed shirt with the option of the shirt getting delivered to their home. Or auctioning the signed match ball for charity purposes, perhaps for children in need.

Airports?

Airports are desperately trying to find a way to interact with their customers, with profit margins being even less for airport retailers,?coupled with exponentially high rentals, they need to find a way to justify being there, apart from being a brand leader for a flagship store. Within the digital handshake that can be created, implementing digital engagement can allow for re-targeting customers who will have an interest in their product offerings. For example, as opposed to adverts coming from Google, these adverts will come up on the PWA the customer is using. Promoting stores and restaurants within the airport. The PWA can also pick up on customers likes and preferences, ensuring each ad is targeted at the right customer.?

Cities

A way for a local government to interact with their citizens, where both are able to communicate on occurrences around the city. An example of this would be citizens being the first to spot a massive pothole in the road. To avoid potential catastrophes that can happen due to basic lack of knowledge from the city’s local government, citizens could easily take a video or a photograph with a GPS and tag that particular pothole and send it in to a dedicated portal, showing that this is a danger to citizens, therefore somebody should come and deal with it right away.

This is one of many examples; anyone can spot a crime, a fire that has started, a burst water pipe and so many things within a city that can help citizens to interact or bring to the attention of their local council.?Offering digital engagement within a city can be seen as an upgraded version of the yellow pages to not only aid local businesses to serve their customers, but to also notify, alert, engage and bring in tourist opportunities.?

For example, the possibilities of using a QR code at a famous statue will have a sign that reads “Would you like to know more? Scan this QR code.” It will give you not only video, feedback, written text and photographs, it can also allow for an integrated AI where you can verbally ask questions about the statue. Giving context to help citizens interact and engage with not only people and businesses, but prominent attractions, getting to know their city better.

Wi-Fi?

Wi-Fi 6 brings forward the advantage for one to stream at extraordinary higher rates without any buffering. It is much cheaper and its much easier to deploy than 5G, but its also very?new technology. Most people have got Wi-Fi they’ve invested in and have no plans to upgrade. Only new venues and businesses are looking to upgrade to use Wi-Fi 6. Older businesses don’t see the need to change their traditional Wi-Fi for a very long time. Wi-Fi 6 also has the advantage of being backward compatible as opposed to installing new 5G connectivity.?

QR Codes and PWA in Restaurants?

One of the advantages that Covid has brought forward is the crash course in how to use QR codes. Nowadays QR codes are seen everywhere, we see them in restaurants and on coffee shop tables, but the use only allows for very little interaction, just allowing one to see a PDF version of their menu.?

Proposing a far more advanced interaction, A QR code that connects to a PWA where a customer has the ability to interact with the store by calling for service, placing an order, paying their bill and submitting feedback on the services they received.?

The mystery that has perpetuated asking how the physical retailers will manage to compete with the online retailers is mute in that now with what can be brought to the table, an advanced PWA?offers a digital handshake and interacts with customers on all levels.?

Contact me if you want advise or are looking for a Wifi solution that can deliver frictionless 'Location aware digital engagement' creating new revenues streams & customer satisfaction .

Dino Demetriou? www.minime-labs.com?