November 16, 2017
To all the press
GMO TECH, Inc.
Results of the demonstration experiment of "GMO App Capsule" and the next-generation IoT sales promotion tool "Smart Plate"
The number of beach house app installations increased by approximately 380% compared to the same month last year!
~ "Smart Plate" will be available as an optional service starting this winter ~
GMO TECH, Inc. (CEO: Akihito Suzuki, hereinafter referred to as GMO TECH), a GMO Internet Group company that provides online customer acquisition services, has announced that it will launch an O2O(※ 1)A demonstration experiment was conducted from August 1st (Tuesday) to August 31st (Thursday) 2017 to promote app installations using "Smart Plate," a next-generation IoT sales promotion tool from Aquabit Spirals Inc. (CEO: Tomohiro Hagiwara), for a store app created with the app creation service "GMO App Capsule."
As a result, the number of installations of the official app (compatible with iPhone®/Android™) for the beach house "SkyDream Shonan Beach Lounge" in Enoshima, Kanagawa, which was the subject of the experiment, was an outstanding result, increasing by approximately 380% compared to the same month last year. In addition, we were able to specifically identify the installation routes.
In light of these results, GMO App Capsule has decided to start offering the Smart Plate as an optional service this winter.
(※1) O2O: An abbreviation for Online to Offline, which refers to the use of information and services available on the internet to promote customer traffic to physical stores.
[Demonstration experiment details]
In this demonstration experiment, Second Factory Co., Ltd. (Representative: Ozeki Koji)(※ 2)We measured the effect of using "Smart Plates" at "SkyDream Shonan Beach Lounge," a beach house in Enoshima, Kanagawa Prefecture, operated by SkyDream Shonan Beach Lounge, which makes use of various IT technologies, to see how much the number of official app installations increased.
The official app was created in the summer of 2016 using GMO TECH's "GMO App Capsule." The design and menu have been updated for 2017, and similar to the previous year, the app has implemented features to encourage customers to visit the store, such as "limited coupons" and "stamps" when customers visit the store.
| Experiment period | March 2017st (Tuesday) -March 8st (Thursday), 1 |
|---|---|
| Experiment location | Beach house "SkyDream Shonan Beach Lounge" (Katase Kaigan Higashihama, Katase Kaigan 1-chome, Fujisawa City, Kanagawa Prefecture) |
| Experimental Method | Promoting app installations with "Smart Plates" A total of approximately 40 "Smart Plates" have been prepared and installed on the terrace seats and in the tatami room seats, and store staff will also carry them to guide customers when serving. Visitors to the beach house can use NFC(※ 3)By simply holding a compatible smartphone over the "Smart Plate," the official app's landing page (LP) opens, allowing users to easily transition to the app installation screen. For devices that do not support NFC, a QR code was also provided for app installation. Furthermore, measures such as the "provision of limited coupons" through the "Smart Plate" and the "provision of stamps" that, when accumulated, would earn users a free drink were also implemented to encourage app installation. |
(※2) An abbreviation for Near Field Communication, a short-distance wireless communication standard that allows communication by simply holding the device over the device.
(※3) Second Factory Co., Ltd. (http://www.2ndfactory.com/) is a company that provides the cloud-based service "QOOpa" that supports store management.
[Results of the demonstration experiment]
1) App installs increased by approximately 380% year-on-year
In August 2017, the number of visitors decreased compared to the same month last year due to the longest rainfall in 40 years, but the number of installations was 466, a 379% increase compared to the same month last year.
2) 71% of installs were staff-driven
By analyzing the contact points of users who installed the official app through the "Smart Plate," i.e., "which plate(s) they used," we compared the number of installations by contact route: terrace seating, tatami seating, and staff (customer service).
As a result, 71% of installations were made using smart plates carried by staff, indicating that promoting installations through customer service is the most effective method.
3) Visualize the number of installs acquired by each staff member
Among the contact routes for "Smart Plate," we analyzed installations via staff members in more detail and visualized the number of installations acquired by each staff member. The staff member with the highest number of installations was approximately 100, accounting for about a quarter of the total number of installations, including those from the terrace and tatami rooms.
Furthermore, by visualizing the number of installations each staff member acquired each day during the experiment, not only was it possible to increase individual motivation, but it was also found that this led to maximizing the number of installations by encouraging staff members to actively learn from the customer service methods and know-how of their superiors, and by having the superiors thoroughly educate other staff members.
[GMO App Capsule offers "Smart Plate" as an optional service]
The results of this demonstration experiment showed that the next-generation IoT sales promotion tool "Smart Plate" has made a significant contribution to increasing the number of app installations.
Additionally, while NFC use on iOS was previously limited to Apple Pay, the iOS 11 update released on September 19th of this year opens up NFC functionality to other uses, and it is expected that the scope of use for "Smart Plates" will expand even further in the future.
In light of these results, GMO TECH has decided to offer the "Smart Plate" as an optional service, allowing stores and facilities to use the "GMO App Capsule" app to create apps and as a marketing tool to increase sales by promoting app installations.
<Overview of optional service "Smart Plate">
| Target | Stores using "GMO Up Capsule" or "GMO Up Capsule PRO" |
|---|---|
| Fee (excluding tax) | Basic initial cost: 10 yen Construction cost: 1,000 yen (1 smart plate) Monthly fee: 300 yen (1 smart plate) *A separate fee is required for "GMO App Capsule" or "GMO App Capsule PRO." |
| Advantages of introduction | 1) Increase in installs 2) Improving store staff motivation 3) Installation Path Visualization |
| Start time | Within 2017 |
[About "GMO Up Capsules"](URL: https://upcapsule.com/)
"GMO App Capsule" is a service that allows you to easily create a store app by simply selecting the design and information on the PC management screen. Even store operators with little knowledge of online sales promotion methods can create original apps to expand their contact with customers, attract more customers to their stores, and increase sales. We also offer a wide range of design patterns, regular feature updates, and a reliable support system.
Since February 2017, we have also been offering "GMO App Capsule PRO" (URL: https://appcapsule.com/pro), an advanced version of "GMO App Capsule," which allows you to create highly unique and highly functional apps, just like developing them from scratch.
[About Smart Plates](URL:http://spirals.co.jp/ja/ )
The "Smart Plate" is a battery-free, plate-like device that can be thought of as a "bookmark for objects" with a built-in IC chip that can be controlled via apps or the cloud. By simply holding your smartphone over the device, you can open a variety of information, such as websites, Facebook pages, Twitter timelines, LINE accounts, videos, maps, contacts, and phone numbers, or launch any app, without having to install any special apps.
Above
[Contact information regarding services]
GMO TECH Inc. O2O Business Department
TEL: 03-5489-6375 (direct) FAX: 03-5489-6371
E-mail: ac-support@gmotech.jp
[Press inquiries]
GMO TECH, Inc. Public Relations Officer
TEL:03-5489-6370 FAX:03-5489-6371
Email: press@gmotech.jp
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