Apple

Apple, the tech company behind the iPhone and Mac computers, has been implementing a new technology called iBeacon. iBeacon is a small device, powered by Bluetooth 4.0 LE (low energy), that is aimed at businesses of all types. The device interacts with visitors' smartphones in order to provide relevant information and guidance. While seemingly simple, the technology has an incredible array of possibilities for it's use, and since it's introduction in the Fall of 2013, we have already seen many businesses jumping aboard. So what exactly is iBecon, and how can it help restaurants? Read on to find out. iBeacon is Apple's name for its new device, which is actually just a clever Bluetooth transmitter and receiver. The device is a small, discrete grey box that can be mounted almost anywhere (under shelves, in product displays, etc) and it connects to smartphones over Bluetooth, enabling it to determine the location of, as well as push information to nearby devices. This means that, for example, in a restaurant with iBeacon installed, customer's could receive a welcome notice as they walk in the door, as well as a list of specials for that day, and the business would be notified of their arrival, and any information from loyalty programs, such as allergies or preferred names. If the customer ordered ahead to-go, the restaurant could then bring them their order without the customer having to wait for assistance. For grocery stores and retail outlets, a customer could be reminded of items on their digital shopping list as they walk down aisles. For retail spaces, iBeacon's real talent is it's precision. Using triangulation (where a customers phone is recognized by the three nearest iBeacons to determine the person's location), the transmitters can know, within inches, where in the store a customer is located. That customer could be sent promotions for garden supplies when they are in the proper section, or the store's dedicated application could help provide them with directions to a department or specific product. When standing in front of a TV set, iBeacon could push all the specifications for that product to the customer's phone, helping to provide even more information while giving stores the possibility of keeping displays uncluttered by eliminating all the information that would normally go on a placard. This is all very "Minority Report" which, depending on your privacy preferences, can be either very cool or very creepy. That, as many have pointed out, is probably the biggest hurdle faced by Apple's new technology. While customer's are sure to want to receive promotions and extra information, whether or not they will be open to receiving it in this manner has yet to be seen. The system seeks to overcome this problem by making the whole affair an "opt-in" process, which means that customer's will have to have a compatible smartphone, and download the application for the specific store they are visiting. And while newer iPhones ship ready-to-work with the new technology (unsurprising given that Apple makes both iPhones and iBeacon), Android or Windows Phone users will need to install an application that can speak to iBeacon, and even iPhone users will need to download store-specific apps to access more advanced functions, such as store maps. All of that does not address the issue of the data collected, as stores could potentially know who looked at which items, and for how long. Think of it as a loyalty program on steroids. There are countless other possibilities for iBeacon, including, as the Washington Post has pointed out, helping to guide visitors through museums or carnivals, providing relevant information about artworks or rides as visitors approach. Many major names have begun adopting iBeacon and have made plans to roll out the technology through 2014. Notable names include American Eagle Outfitters, Macy's, 20 MLB Stadiums, as well as over 250 Apple stores throughout the US. The Verge recently did a mini-review of iBeacon from the customer point of view, and while the technology looks promising, it still has some kinks to work out. What uses do you see for iBeacon in your restaurant or business? Let us know via Facebook, Google+, LinkedIn and Twitter! Source: The Verge, Image Credit (Flickr)