New Beacon Technology Enhances Mobile Loyalty

First Data introduces device to help small merchants compete on digital engagement.

October 24, 2014

ATLANTA – Thousands of small- to medium-sized businesses across the United States are receiving a device that brings the future of retail technology right into their stores: the Perka™ beacon. First Data, a leader in payment technology and services solutions, has enhanced the Perka mobile loyalty solution with the Perka beacon, a small, low-powered device that communicates wirelessly with the Perka app, enabling increased customer engagement and a faster, more personalized retail experience. (To learn more about how beacon technology works, read “The Beacon Break Through” in the October issue of NACS Magazine.)

“By connecting merchants and consumers in a seamless way at the point of sale, the Perka solution enables even the smallest store to design a customized marketing and loyalty program,” said Guy Chiarello, First Data president, in a press release. “These merchants will have the ability to check-in customers as soon as they walk in the door and create a smoother, faster experience inside their stores.”

The concept is simple: Once merchants place the beacon near the store entrance or point of sale, they can sync the beacon with their Perka mobile loyalty program within minutes. The beacon wirelessly checks customers into stores automatically as soon as they are within range of the beacon (typically about 50 feet).

According to Business Insider’s BI Intelligence report  only 3% of retailers have customer recognition technology in place today.  But that number is expected to skyrocket to 72% within five years, especially among large retailers. The introduction of Perka is meant to give small businesses to opportunity to compete in the space as well.

For more information and technology specifications, visit firstdata.com/perka.

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