All products featured on WIRED are independently selected by our editors. However, we may receive compensation from retailers and/or from purchases of products through these links.
UK supermarket behemoth Tesco is the latest retailer to push online shopping to the mobile space, and embrace the nascent app boom, brought on by the growing popularity of iPhone, iPad and Android devices.
While previous Tesco-branded apps allowed you to find the exact aisle and shelf placement of the Jammy Dodgers in your local branch (Tesco Finder), buy wine by snapping a photo of the label (Wine Finder), and turn your device into a very expensive clubcard (Teso Clubcard), this latest is the most feature packed yet.
As long as you are registered at the website, the app allows you to find products, create a shopping basket and arrange for a delivery, all on the iPhone. It syncs seamlessly with your online order, too, so if you have a craving for jam donuts while on the move, you can add them to your list.
Despite the immense popularity in apps, only a small portion of retailers have taken the time to expand their online shopping websites to the mobile space. App detractors mostly quote time and budget constraints, plus the preference towards mobile-friendly websites that can work across a number of gadgets, instead of being confined to iTunes or the Android Marketplace.
To combat the budgetary problem, American e-commerce platform Magento has today released its mobile app solution in Magneto Mobile. The team converts online shops into apps, using a template white-label app design, and brands it with the company’s logos and colours. Early adopters of the service include North Face and the Miami Dolphins American football team.
Other retailers are experimenting with uses that both make the app stand out from its website companion and encourage users to download a retailer-specific app to their device. Amazon, for example, includes ‘Amazon Remembers’, a feature where you can snap photos of objects and products you find on the go, and Amazon will attempt to find a similar product for sale.
This article was originally published by WIRED UK
