First of all what's Mobile Couponing?
Mobile coupons may represent special offers, attractive joint promotions and a value/percentage discounts or anything else that traditional printed coupons provide, but stored in any mobile phone/handset .
The mobile coupon can be distributed via SMS, MMS, bluetooth, wappush, email,... – enabling a one-to-one marketing approach. Anytime and anywhere, people are able to receive mobile coupons.
Mobile Couponing - How it Works?
Customers register on a web site, a call center, or directly at a point-of-sale, giving permission for the reception of special gifts and promotions.
When a Mobile Couponing campaign (direct marketing) is launched, registered clients receive "mobile coupons" (discount coupons), which are sent to the mobile phone via SMS or MMS technology, and stored on the phone.
Each "mobile coupon" has a unique special encrypted code in the form of a symbol (2D Code), making the "mobile coupons" very secure, easy to verify and impossible to fake.
Optical readers at the points-of-sale verify the "mobile coupons" efficiently reading the special code from the mobile phone display. The code is validated against a central Mobile Couponing Solution (with the mobile coupon database) and redeemed by printing a unique paper voucher.
Mobile Couponing Solution - 2006 Contest Short-list:
- Mobile Coupons from Regisoft
- Mobile Marketing from Enpocket
- TopVoucher from TopSolutions
- Mobi-Coupon from Mobiqa
Mobile Couponing Solution - 2006 Contest Criteria:
- Truly mass-market solution for all kind of mobile-phones/handsets (without exceptions)
- Best automatic "handset display reading capability"
- Real projects with real brands (not bull...)
- Channels available (SMS, MMS, WapPush, Bluetooth,...)
- Best marketing info available of projects and products
- Overall expertise
And the 2006 Best Mobile Couponing Solution is...
... TopVoucher ...
The Mobile Couponing Solution implemented at McDonalds(TM) Portugal.
If you don't believe that's the best Mobile Couponing Solution check it with your own eyes...
source: http://www.topsolutions.pt
" McDonald’s ™ adopts Mobile Couponing May 01, 2006 - LISBON (Portugal)
McDonald’s ™, the world’s leading foodservice retailer, launch mobile couponing campaigns using TopVoucher solution in restaurants
With this project McDonald’s ™ Portugal becomes the first restaurant chain efficiently and successfully using mobile couponing promotions.
M-Marketing Channels
McDonald’s ™ mobile couponing campaigns are broadcasted via different channels accessible and managed through TopSolutions m-marketing platform:
• SMS or MMS - registered members from TMN marketing database (X-Mensagem) receive a mobile discount voucher as code in a picture message (SMS or MMS) to their mobile phone, enabling them to receive McDonald’s ™ discounts. Customers who are not registered in this TMN database can also request the mobile coupons by sending an SMS to a McDonald’s ™ number.
• Bluetooth – During the Happy-hour (between 3:00 p.m and 7:00 p.m.) customers can also benefit with special discounts, having the Bluetooth feature available and active near the McDonald’s ™ restaurants. Through this channel customers receive as well a special code in their mobile-phone to be automatically redeemed at the restaurants kiosks.
How it works?
The unique and encrypted bi-dimensional code sent on the user’s mobile phone contains information like restaurant name, vouchers, discounts amount as well as an expiration date. In addition, it ensures that the mobile coupon will be redeemed only once (fulfilling all campaign requisites).
Directly at the McDonald’s ™ restaurants, customers can print and convert their mobile coupon, having instant benefits from McDonald’s ™ discounts and special offers.
Installed in McDonald’s ™ restaurants, custom-made kiosks with a matchless scanner are used to scan the mobile coupon directly from the phone’s screen. Using the built-in GSM-module (GPRS), the kiosk verifies on-line the validity of the coupon against a central database and, in case of a valid coupon, prints out unique paper vouchers redeemable at the cash register.
This project come forward as an association between TopSolutions, McDonald’s ™ and TMN, and clearly represents an important landmark regarding mobile couponing in Europe.
About McDonald’s ™
McDonald’s ™ is the world’s leading foodservice retailer with more than 30,000 restaurants serving nearly 47 million people in more than 100 countries each day. In Portugal, McDonald’s ™ have 117 restaurants, most of them managed by its franchisees.
For further information see:
http://www.mcdonalds.pt
About TMN
TMN is the leading Portuguese mobile operator and has maintained its leadership through persistent marketing and service innovation. Far from yield under the pressures created by a more competitive environment and a maturing mobile market, TMN has risen to the challenge, even increasing its market share by several percentage points.
For further information see:
http://www.tmn.pt "
source: http://www.topsolutions.pt
Mobile Couponing - Advantages/Benefits
Mobile marketing promotion of a new product or service
Sophisticated security mechanism
Mobile phones/handsets as a innovative direct marketing channel (marketing one-to-one)
No need for slow and expensive voucher/coupon production/distribution
Fast delivery
Real-time statistics for total inventory control
Last minute promos
System available 24 hours a day
Easily integrated into existing systems and Internet Portals
SMS/EMS, MMS, bluetooth, wappush and e-mail delivery of mobile coupons
Detailed customer Info
Possibility of one-time use or multiple use of mobile coupons
Enhanced perception of brands.
Special Features - Direct Marketing based on client location.
source: http://www.topsolutions.pt