By John D. Sutter, CNN
(CNN) - Phones do everything in South Korea.
On a recent reporting trip to the country, I made a point of asking people about interesting ways they use their smartphones.
Some answers weren't too shocking. Lots of people know Koreans use their phones to make purchases (that's a new-ish idea here in the U.S., and one that Google is pushing) and in place of public-transit tickets.
Cab drivers in Seoul give you weird looks if you try to pay with a credit card instead of with a tap of your phone.
But one answer surprised me:
People now use their phones to buy groceries in the subway.
Over the past five months, Tesco, the British chain, has been opening virtual grocery stores in subway stations and bus stops in Seoul. Commuters use their smartphones to scan and purchase these virtual items, which are delivered to their homes.
"It’s really captured people's imaginations, which is something that’s really magical in retail," said Roberto Munoz, a spokesman for the company, which goes by the name Homeplus in Korea. "It has people thinking outside of the box about how they can purchase things - and the convenience with which they can purchase things."
The subway station walls look just like the shelves of a typical grocery store - only the items are just photographs and each is tagged with a QR Code (those black-and-white checkered things). Shoppers launch a Homeplus app and then scan the QR Codes of the items they'd like to purchase. Money is automatically deducted from the bank account of their choice, and the groceries are delivered to the address they've saved into the system. If you order by 1 p.m., the items arrive that very day.
(If that sounds confusing, you can check out this promotional video to see it in action).
There's plenty of undeserved hype surrounding QR Codes, as Amy Gahran recently pointed out, but this seems like an interesting implementation for a couple of reasons. First, commuters are always wasting time by pecking on their phones while waiting for a train. These virtual stores could make that time more productive. And second, the fact that you can see life-sized photos of the grocery items, I would guess, makes people more likely to buy them. I'm the kind of person who never remembers he's out of milk until he sees milk somewhere. So the virtual store acts as a kind of reminder.
Munoz said the stores are just in the pilot phase for now, with locations in two subway stations and 20 bus stops, all in Seoul. One subway store features about 500 products, he said. A typical bus stop might showcase only 50.
The company isn't sure whether the concept would work outside Korea, but you never know.
"It’s an interesting way for us to be able to put a store nearly anywhere," Munoz said.
Each week, CNN's "The Next List" profiles innovators, visionaries and agents of change. They’re not household names just yet, but they’re movers and shakers in their own worlds. We’re introducing them to you because these individuals are steadily mapping the course to the future with their new ideas.
WHO: Host Dr. Sanjay Gupta
WHEN: Saturdays at 2:30 p.m. ET - All new time!
WHERE: Only on CNN
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Reblogged this on Kae-Kwon-Do and commented:
As I was wondering about how I will buy groceries while living in Seoul, I discovered this article. Last time I was there I hadn't come across this. But it's Fascinating! Boston will never catch up, haha!
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SEO better termed as Search Engine Optimization seems to be the basic necessity of modern day business venture. Roping on the wings of search engine optimization, a business...
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I like the Ocado version they did in London as a pop-up shop.
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@Atlas
lawls for Skyrim.
Look at the subway sign in the picture. The picture is from Busan, not Seoul. Two completely different cities.
You're aware the sign is saying you can go to Busan Station from there, not that they are in Busan Station right?
Actually, to go from Seoul to Busan you have to take a train, as Busan is on the other side of the bloody country. So I think its safe to assume that this picture is one of Busan.
it is in Busan because Jagalchi as the sign says is a famous market in Busan. and Seoul's subways don't go all the way to Busan, you would have to take KTX or the express bus. And line 1 for Seoul is navy blue and goes to Incheon.
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RmcAZ on February 15, 2011 Excellent video this is sniethmog that the masses can read and digest. Keep making videos like this and spread the word. A silver video would be excellent.
Problem with that country and ours... Weed is not legal...
I'd like people to single out all the coffee smokers and not let them have many jobs because they drink coffee.
haha my I mean coffee drinkers.
Maybe you should put down your bong?
Interesting, but one problem with such a system in the US is delivery. Businesses, with the exception of pizza joints, aren't set up for delivery here and would find the concept difficult to grasp, while it's commonplace in Asia and expected. The frequently bizarre schedules of Americans would also work against it; I wouldn't want groceries sitting on my front porch for several hours if I'll be arriving late unexpectedly.
dunno what your talking about, its not that hard to adopt a delivery system. its called a template. grocery store called Safeway delivers groceries for very cheap and the drivers refuse all tips. like a 5 dollar delivery fee.
Plenty of grocery stores deliver. Where the heck do you live? I use Peapod. You order online – they deliver next day. As a matter of fact, they're delivering to me tomorrow morning.
Not plenty. Very few, even in big cities. And they have terrible delivery fee. I used to have my groceries delievered when i had a small baby and my car got broken, but I dont do that these days because of the delivery fees.
My kid's English tutor gave him two sentence epmaxles saying I cost my parents a lot of money because I like expensive clothes. and You cost your teacher extra work because you don't study. I can not figure out why these two sentences use person as subject instead of something on cost sentences. Please comment. Thanks.
A pick-up system would be more applicable here in the states. Use an app to order the groceries and then pick them up, pre-package from the store. People usually do their grocery shopping after work on the way home. Also, using GPS, the app can send you a text message when you reach a predetermined location to remind you that you have groceries to pick-up.
Check out Card Swapp (iPhone and Android)
http://cardswapp.com/
It will change the way you use QR.
Let's do it, let's do it, let's do it, do itAnd do it, and do it, let's live it upAnd do it, and do it, and do it, do it, do itLet's do it, let's do it, let's do itWooooooooooohooooooooooooo I love the positivity in this post! I'm happy beaucse you are happy! And as for your goals: you did great, a great weight loss and those miles? Well you and I know you'll catch up on that, we still have 11 months to go. And now that you're back: time to visit my blog again
I've missed you there too. Have a great weekend Heidi, you've made mine with this great post.
Looks like Microsoft's 2020 concept. I can't wait to see it happen for real.
I used to write long winded rants too...
Until I took an arrow to the knee.
As someone who's lived in Seoul for 4 years, I've never seen anyone pay for a taxi fare by using their money, and no a cab driver wouldn't look at you weird if you tried to pay by using a card. They have the card machines in there for a reason, why would they look at the customer weird?
Sorry typo: " I've never seen anyone pay for a taxi fare by their phone."
Oops
relsik78 on October 24, 2011 @relsik78 and for those below who are looking for an iPad 2 for Free, simply google for: freeipad2tablet.infoMy brother just got one in his mail this morning, awesome stuff!
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Hmmmm.... does anyone remember WebVan? Similar concept, no QR codes, you picked your items out on a website. They went bankrupt.
Yup. I lives in one of their markets. They grew super fast and then crashed quickly. They were literally there for orders one day and completely gone the next. It was very expensive to get the items delivered, so most people would just rather go to the store.
lives = lived
I hardly use my cellphone so I buy a prepaid $99/year for 800 minutes package, but I can see where I'm going to have to go to a smart phone sooner or later. Similar to the story, it won't be long before you can walk through a store, scan items, and pick them up when you check out. I don't know how well that will work in places where you like to check out THE individual item you buy – like looking at the seams and buttons, etc. of clothes before you buy them – but it's sure to speed up things in many stores and result in less counter space taken up with large number of items.
Can you oRder wEeeD?
Sure, but they only give it to people with intelligence, so you won't get any.
Scanning a QR code is at least as difficult as working a shift key, so even if they did offer that option, you wouldn't be able to take advantage of it. You'll just have to keep speed dialing your "friend" the old-fashioned way.
This fake and old.... originally came out in July 2011... additionally it was just an advertising concept for the Canes Advertising awards.
http://english.hani.co.kr/arti/english_edition/e_business/489884.html
http://blogs.forrester.com/brian_walker/11-08-12-tescos_homeplus_innovates_with_agile_commerce#comment-13207
It's not.. I live in Seoul currently and I see it everywhere. I've also used it once and it works perfectly.
Have your ever stayed here in Seoul only for seconds?
It is perfectly work and I do use once a week
and they deliver the package exactly what I want to receive
I tolalty agree with everything you have stated. In fact, I browsed through your several other articles and I believe you're certainly correct. Congrats with this blog.
kocrtbeh on July 1, 2007 The new 2007 Yukon and Yukon Denali both are miles ahead of the previous models. I have the 2007 Yukon SLT, and even with the 5.3 liter it sounds great. I think that the 6.2 liter GM models, such as the Escalade share the same exhaust cylinder as the 5.3 liter. Does your Denali have variable valve timing?
The last time I rode the subway in Soul it was a short trip to Lotte World.....the car was so packed, you could not lift a phone to your face.
I hate to break the bad news,but when I was a kid lots of things could be bought and delivered by using the phone. Our groceries were deleivered to us that way,our ice,our milk,and our animal feed.And we could could pay for it or sign and charge it.The date? 1950's and 60's
It's called a vending machine. Next!
Vending machines are point-of-purchase....the Koreans are ordering food items to be delivered to their homes – not the same concept.
you should bring your ordered stuff milk bread yogurt fruit
it is vending machine so called
if you order with your smart phone ( hope that you have one ) touch
then they deliver the goods to your home
so it is NOT a vending machine
This is sp old, I got wind of this this past Fall and it was probably out there before then, a little behind in your new stories I would say...
Yea, this is NOT COMMON and in fact this picture isn't even in Seoul. Interesting idea, but there are not many people using this system if any.
Has he lost his mind?
Holy cow. Last time I read anything that crazy, the guy who wrote it shot a congresswoman in the head, and a bunch of other people too,
Please refrain from biologically contributing the gene pool. Thanks!
Well, as crazy as the post above sounds, it is partially true. think about it if everyone was using a cell phone that is completely traceable..no more cash..if cash is gone and all credit or cell phone purchases they are getting you away from using cash – cash is the only way to pay for something that is NOT TRACEABLE..this is a FACT. I dont know about all the anti white stuff.. but there are a lot of people out there that are trying to get rid of democracy and the one world government thing is truely a possiblitiy..people tend to disreguard soemthing when its right in there face becuase it sounds absurd..but this is not absurd..its a possibliity..if we hit WW3 and the enitre world is at war, the ONLY place i'd wnat to live is in AMERICA OR CANADA...PERIOD..anywhere else, well – they will probably impliment totaltarian and communistc ways to a point of loossing all freedoms PERIOD
LOL... did you comment on the wrong article?
... or forget to take your meds in the morning?
I do not even know how I ended up here, but I tohught this post was good. I do not know who you are but certainly you are going to a famous blogger if you aren't already Cheers!
Looks like psychopathic typing.
MILLIONS TO BE ASSASSINATED FOR THE SAKE OF $$$ LIABILITIES(mk-ultra, chip implants, electroshocks etc. performed on them) AND NEW WORLD ORDER(multiculturalism = terrorism) POLITICAL AGENDA KNOWN AS "YOU ARE NEXT"(financial liabilities are 2 expensive for the government and it is cheaper to get read of you instead) !!! IF YOU WERE TREATED WITH ELECTROSHOCKS OR DRUGS USED FOR WIPING OUT MEMORY(numerous Americans and Europeans were and are) AFTER ENDURING FORCED CHIP IMPLANTS(or to retard individual = how homeless people are produced), YOU ARE SCHEDULED NEXT !!!
NOW YOU KNOW WHAT ORWELLIAN UNITED STATES CONGRESS(USSR#2) IS SOOO BUSY WHEN PLAYING/CLOWNING(acting) IN FRONT OF CAMERAS ONLY HOW SOMETHING HAVE TO BE DONE(deliberately omitting/delaying facts of genocide as seen on this complain) !!!
http://myshortbiography.blogspot.com/
LEARN TRUTH ABOUT UNITED NATIONS, AMNESTY INTERNATIONAL AS WELL AS NEW WORLD ORDER(MULTICULTURALISM = TERRORISM) GOVERNMENTS(Equal Employment Opportunity Commission) !!! NOT THERE TO PROTECT YOUR RIGHTS, BUT TO DENY YOUR RIGHT TO EXISTENCE !!!
ABDUCTIONS / FORCED BRAIN CHIP IMPLANTS / BLACKLISTING / FORCEFUL UNEMPLOYMENT / MK-ULTRA BRAINWASHING AGAINST WHITE(under "NAZI" lie) CIVILIAN POPULATION TODAY IN 2011/2012 ACROSS THE EUROPE AND NORTHERN AMERICA !!!
http://myshortbiography.blogspot.com/
WHY TO ACCEPT LIABILITIES FOR CRIMES COMMITTED WHEN WE CAN SIMPLY ASSASSINATE OUR VICTIMS(YOU) THANKS TO HUMAN RIGHTS ORGANIZATIONS AND FREE PRESS/MEDIA(most severe censorship of genocide ever !!!)!!
OR
http://www.youtube.com/user/BostjanAvsec OBAMA'S HEALTH CARE RECORDED LIVE IN 2009 !!! EXILING WHITES(US citizens) WITH EXTREME PREJUDICE AND IMPORTING NON WHITES IMMIGRATION REQUIREMENTS FREE !!!
Where's the "abuse" button when you need it?
You need to seek help.
This guy is clearly off his meds! I looked at some of his rants, and it is almost pure gibberish! I think my favorite part was when he claimed to be denied housning even though he claims to have a credit score of 1,000!?! I guess that he didn't know that credit scores don't even go that high!
You gave him way more attention than he was due.
Don't worry - he's being watched.
yakobi, it was kind of like a train wreck ... you know it's not going to end up well, but you just ca't look away!
Grilled-cheese sandwiches.
I'm looking forward to a new world order I don't know about you. The thought of a one world governement is beautiful and it is something we should strive for!
you sir are either A: drunk B: high C: an idiot D: One of those people who hangs around area 51 in tin foil suits E: just a guy who forgot to take his meds or F: all the above.