AFI Palace Cotroceni, the biggest shopping centres in Romania, is implementing for the first time a permanent solution based on beacons through ZONIZ, an innovative mobile proximity marketing platform, directed at all kinds of commercial centres and networks. With its help, brands will now be able to interact in real time with visitors of the commercial centre and create relevant marketing campaigns, according to affinities.
Developed by the Global e Business Solution (GEBS) company following a €1.5 million investment, the Zoniz platform is based on the Bluetooth Low Energy (BLE) technology, as well as radio transmitters (beacons), which allow for personalized information to be sent to smartphone users, according to their preference and location. The Zoniz app is a 100 percent Romanian product, inspired by an Apple technology that was launched two years ago.
“AFI Palace Cotroceni is a benchmark when it comes to Romanian shopping centres and we wish to provide our customers with unique experiences when we open our doors to them. With the help of this app, visitors can locate their favourite store, read real time information concerning sales and existing offers, or even undertake certain actions that make their shopping experience more enjoyable. Thus, the new technology will not replace the in-store experience but improve it. Even more so, in the near future, we will have the opportunity to generate relevant statistics regarding ongoing campaigns and adapt our strategy accordingly,” said David Hay, CEO AFI Europe Romania.
“The use of mobile phones has become indispensable for consumers and the development of an app that allows them a real time interaction with different locations through the use of their smartphone is a natural step in the digital era. With the help of the Zoniz app, AFI Palace Cotroceni stores will be able to greet their visitors with personalized messages on returning to the store, give information regarding existing offers or can use a series of methods that allow for direct interaction with smartphone device users. The possibilities are countless as long as the information is relevant for consumers, and this invariably leads to a unique experience between the brand and the consumer, through the help of personalized messages,” said Fridolin Bic, CEO Global e Business Solution (GEBS).
The Zoniz app can be directly downloaded from both App Store and Google Play and is available on all Aproid or iOS devices that use the Bluetooth Low Energy (BLE) technology.
In order for users to receive real time offers and relevant information when visiting AFI Palace Cotroceni, they need to download the Zoniz app, activate the Bluetooth Low Energy (BLE) mode and allow notifications. Once the app is downloaded, users will be able to manage offers, choose the brands and types of activities they are interested in and thus receive only relevant information, in accordance with their preferences.
Moreover, brands can create their own promotional campaigns through the Zoniz campaign management mode, choosing predefined templates for different categories such as discounts, vouchers, competitions, treasure hunts, polls, news etc. Another advantage provided by Zoniz relates to the fact that each campaign can be followed in real time and improved according to the data recorded by the system.
Through the implementation of this platform, AFI Palace Cotroceni is thus the first commercial center in Romania to use the iBeacons technology, joining important chains and shopping centres around the world that are developing such projects. Among them are WalMart, Tesco, Macy’s, Simons, Les Terrasses du Port, Swan Center UK, or Melbourne Mall.
