The price comparison and voucher market has been steadily growing over the last 12 months, with phenomenal growth seen over the last few months in particular. It seems the consumers appetite for a bargain is greater than ever given the current financial landscape, and the trend only looks set to grow.
Comparison sites now drive on average 10% of online sales, whilst last year saw a 133% increase in voucher searches. This trend shows no sign of slowing, and with the advent of Shop Savvy it may be about to hit the next level.
Shop Savvy
Shop Savvy is a revolutionary shopping comparison service for mobile phones which allows users to compare prices in brick and mortar stores alongside online offerings in order to make an informed decision on the move.
It works by allowing users to scan barcodes with the phone’s camera which are then looked up like a normal shopping comparison service. The innovation comes from the fact that it is not only mobile, but will compare online prices with those available in your nearest stores, and will then give you map directions to the stores, or connect you to the store to check availability over the phone.
Google Android
This is all made possible thanks to Android - Google’s recently developed operating system for phones. Similar to the iPhone the user can download all kinds of gadgets and accessories to their phone in the familiar user-friendly Google format. It is still early days for Android, with the T-Mobile G1 currently the only phone on the market with this operating system, but given the backing it has it’s hard to imagine it not taking off.
The growth of Shop Savvy, and similar services is obviously restricted by the growth of Android phones, and as a result it will currently be limited to technophiles and early adopters. That said it was pushed as a featured application on the launch of the G1 and is currently being highlighted through T-Mobile’s own advertising. This exposure, coupled with how well it taps into the current zeitgeist should ensure Shop Savvy doesn’t remain niche for too long.