Duane Reade Inc., a subsidiary of the Walgreen Company, is the largest drugstore and convenient store chain in New York City which is known for its high volume small store layouts in densely populated Manhattan locations. The company has just released the f irst update to their iPhone app which includes the integration of iBeacon that is now being tested at 10-select Duane Reade locations.

According to Duane Reade's press release, "This update significantly adds to the existing features in the Duane Reade iPhone app including: the new Weekly Ads & Coupons, Pill Reminder, DR Walk-In, Preferred Store, Shopping List, Steps and QuickPrints from Instagram. The app update is part of Duane Reade's commitment to foster greater customer engagement with its value-added loyalty offers, including digital and social content initiatives tied to the in-store shopping experience.

The addition of iBeacon to the Duane Reade app vastly improves the customer in-store user experience. iBeacon is a technology Apple introduced with iOS 7 that uses Bluetooth Low Energy and geo-fencing to provide apps a new level of micro-location awareness, such as trail markers in a park, exhibits in a museum or product displays in stores.

The inclusion of this technology to the Duane Reade app adds features such as lock screen notifications when initially approaching a select Duane Reade store location, coupon offers based on historical data and product reviews for timely content at the point-of-decision. iBeacon will initially be available at 10-select Duane Reade stores in Manhattan to test the viability of a further rollout.

"The Duane Reade app plays an integral role in our omni-channel customer engagement strategy," said Calvin Peters, PR/Digital Communications Manager for Walgreens. "Mobile interaction is at the core of our social media success as mobile and social are intrinsically linked; the addition of these new 2.0 features, as well as the integration of iBeacon technology, will continue to fuel our digital customer experience strategy, as we strive to push forward our New York Living Made Easy mantra. It is incredibly important for Duane Reade to be where our customers are, including on their smart mobile devices. This update aligns with our goal to provide them with tools, programs and category specific consumer-generated media that offer relevant convenience, including trusted product and service insights."

The 2.0 update is the first in a series of major app announcements planned for Duane Reade in 2014. The first wave of releases brings the app up-to-par with the features of the Walgreens award-winning iPhone app. Through the app's in-store mode, customers will have quick access to their individual Balance Rewards loyalty program barcode, paperless coupons scorecard indicating the specific number clipped and the savings associated with each, a floor map displaying a bird's eye view of the store location, product locator for item search and location plotting of the item via the in-store map, scanner options allow for instant product scans revealing detailed item information, mobile coupon clipping for immediate redemption at POS facilitating a seamless value-added experience via Balance Rewards, and instant Instagram 4X4 prints directly to a Duane Reade location.

The 10 Duane Reade iBeacon test store locations are: 51 W 51ST ST; 22 W 48TH ST; 661 8TH AVE; 4 COLUMBUS CIR; 771 8TH AVE; 1350 BROADWAY; 1627 BROADWAY; 100 W 57TH ST; 1370 AVENUE OF THE AMERICAS; and 1150 AVENUE OF THE AMERICAS

New York is leading the way for Apple's iBeacon. This month Lower Manhattan will hold a Beaconcrawl event.





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