Virtual shopping coming to a high street near you?
Whilst mobile payments are used extensively in Asia, and QR codes were born there, the idea of virtual stores still seems novel to European eyes.
The BBC thought so, as it ran a technology report in October looking at the virtual store phenomenon. Instead of buying real products from real stores, retailers have created 'thin' stores that display real products on screens or advertising panels, that can then be purchased using the items' QR Codes for later delivery to the customer's home. Obvious places are last minute purchases at train stations.
it's a concept that may find us shopping at Tesco's at the local station or even bus shelter. This could add a completely new dimension to the big retail brands but what would Tesco call this, "Tesco Really Very Local"?