Shoprite Checkers claims world first with mobile coupons app

Popular South African retail outlet Shoprite Checkers has announced the launch of its mobile coupon app Eezi Coupons, which enables consumers to get shopping discounts on their mobile devices, and can be redeemed at any Shoprite store.

The retail group claim that these new these mobile coupons will “revolutionise outdated paper coupons. They are available to all South Africans to enhance the consumers’ shopping experience and bring considerable savings to South Africans.”

Using the coupons is quite easy: consumers can download the app and use their unique code when in store to redeem their discounts.

“The total discount will then automatically be taken off their total shopping amount and they will see their savings at the bottom of their till slips. Consumers will have access to thousands of rands worth of savings with one easy code on their cellphones for all coupons available – no printing or cutting is required,” says Shoprite.

Group CEO Whitey Basson reckons that mobile coupons have made consumers even more powerful than before. “It offers consumers a multitude of choice, information, and access to bargains. It is also a new and more affordable channel for entertainment and retailers must keep pace.”

“Affordable smartphones and tablets brings a new era of mass personalization which means retailers need to think and act in a multichannel way. We can’t just deliver what consumers want today, but we have to anticipate how to meet their needs tomorrow,” he said.

The company believes that the initiative will allow it to consolidate its customer data on shopping preferences into a single data repository. This, it says, will allow the group to communicate targeted relevant offerings based on consumers’ preferences without the significant start up and incentive costs of a loyalty card.

Consumers who are unable to download the app can access the coupons via USSD, mobi sites, websites and Facebook. The app also provides other tools such as latest deals, how to find your nearest stores, store hours and a shopping list for extra convenience. With the application, Checkers also becomes the first supermarket to launch a smartphone application in South Africa.

“The EeziCoupons are made possible through the integration of the WiCode platform, a product of WiGroup at the supermarkets’ point of sale. The technology also enables future applications such as the enablement of mobile money transfers and mobile payments at the till points,” says Shoprite.