Shopsavvy is a program made by Big in Japan for cell phones which use Google's Android-system. It allows shop-goers to make live price comparisons between (web)stores based on barcodes. Then the phone can look for a store in your area using GPS. You can also add certain products to your wish list and visit the store online, look at the location on the map or make a call. Here another slicker, but less clear video.

Shopsavvy won the Google Android Developers contest. With over 300,000 active users it's already the most popular Android-download. Soon Shopsavvy will launch the Dutch version of its software.

Future Vision by Erwin Van Lun on this article

This is an enormous breakthrough. Every product with a barcode! It’s a beautiful example of the progress of the product activation trend. Perhaps currently limited to a single country, but soon all the products in the whole world. Currently just price comparison, later for all features. Producers will do everything they can to be as well-presented as possible, on the cell phone too.

Retailers are definitely going to experience the consequences of this. For any product the consumer will say: It can be cheaper, and that can be shown on the spot. Furthermore web products are delivered at him, so you no longer have to carry anything anywhere. All the advantage the retailer has left is physically showing the product and perhaps advice at the limited choice available in a physical store (and some other minor advantages).

Stores have to evolve into ‘experience stores’: places where you can really try out a product. That retailer will start to ask money to demonstrate the product. They become an extension of the producer, so to speak. Then you can order the product from the retailer’s web store immediately and if you want to have it delivered (or if the physical store doesn’t have it in stock) that can be done too, because the prices on the internet will have to be competitive. With that difference that that physical retailers can give you a fuzzy feeling inside through sensory stimulation that in the virtual world is restricted to sight and sound.

By the by, this isn’t the end. Later we’ll also be able to see if a store has a product in stock and reserve it immediately, with a down-payment if necessary. Then retailland has to be automated really well and a lot has to happen for that, especially in smaller stores. It’s time for retailer action, because it’s getting really hot now. More than ever, seems to me.

Related trends

• Product activation

• in Dutch