Rumor: Apple retail app to offer "check-ins," connect employees and customers
MacStories has heard an interesting rumor: that Apple's recent work in location-based networking and "check-in" software will be used inside of Apple's retail stores, specifically to provide better service from employees there. Not a lot is known yet (and MacStories doesn't reveal the source of the info, though presumably it comes from someone who works in or with Apple retail), but the rumor says that Apple would provide an app that's specifically designed to help coordinate the experience of visiting an Apple Store. A customer could check in and set up appointments directly from the app, get push notifications, and even see photos of employees assigned to help them. Employees could also use the app to track customers in the store and receive information about what they were there for.
It all sounds very interesting -- we know for a fact that Apple employees went through some training just recently for the upcoming holiday season, so this app could have been one of the topics discussed. Something like this would definitely streamline things at the Apple Store, and move from the very ad hoc way of splitting up customers and employees to a more directed kind of connection. We'll have to see what Apple reveals as we move closer to this year's holiday sales season.
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MacStories has heard an interesting rumor: that Apple's recent work in location-based networking and "check-in" software will be used...
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Pre-cursor to a Minority Report society? Possibly.
October 26 2010 at 9:34 AM Report abuse Permalink rate up rate down Reply$10 says it happens.
October 26 2010 at 1:07 AM Report abuse Permalink rate up rate down Replyyou won $10. cause it did.
it was actually rather cool. I turned on the app as I was walking in today and was able to put myself in line to buy what I needed. they were very busy so it was about 20 minutes before I got an alert with the name of who I was looking for and where to meet them (apparently there's photos also but I guess this person hadn't taken one yet). As we meet up it looked like he was doing some kind of tagging himself as with a customer, I guess so he wouldn't get anymore alerts that there were customers waiting.
Some folks might 'so what' about this, but having heard fights break out at my local store because "I was waiting for half an hour and he just walked in and got helped" they needed something.
And from the sounds of it, this works if you have a Genius bar appointment also. You can check yourself in and get an alert when it is your turn. Which at my store means no more major crowds hanging around by the training tables cause they can't hear their name being called. It won't get rid of all of them but even one less person back there has to be a help
also had a very good experience at west 14th street (Manhattan) Apple store yesterday afternoon. First thing, I quickly found a staff member to answer a couple questions about the magic trackpad I had bought the day before (I was using too much pressure on one finger when I wanted to scroll), and showed me the right way on one of the display iMacs. When I got up to the third floor (where they have the Genius Bar, workshops, and the software & accessories), I was greeted by a young man asking if I needed to be checked in (for the Genius Bar). I then selected the wireless keyboard and (after a very short wait, was able to find a staff member to process the purchase.
October 25 2010 at 8:54 PM Report abuse Permalink rate up rate down Replywent to the apple store today in Fort Worth- they no longer have the ordered list of people waiting for the Genius bar- the concierge checked me in, and then typed in a physical description of me- so an apple employee would come and find me, and not have to shout my name when it was my turn. Fancy.
October 25 2010 at 7:16 PM Report abuse Permalink rate up rate down ReplyImplemented correctly, this could be awesome.
Of course, it necessitates ownership of an iDevice, which won't help first-time buyers.
That would be nice - there's been times that it seemed like the only way to get checked out there was to pretend to be shoplifting. I'm sure it's an awesome experience for people who need pre-sales support, but walking in and just buying something off the shelf (at least at the store here in Columbus) is a major pain when the store is busy.
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TUAW (or The Unofficial Apple Weblog) is a website devoted to tips, reviews, news, analysis and opinion on everything Apple.
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