From:FoodBev

Thinfilm has launched a global partnership with Tata Consulting Services to create “the next experience in retail”, through a combination of Thinfilm’s proprietary near field communication (NFC) technology and Tata’s portfolio of solutions for retail.

Tata will collaborate with Thinfilm to incorporate the printed electronics company’s NFC OpenSense and NFC Barcode technologies into its TCS OmniStore point-of-sales platform and the TCS Optumera suite of products.

The offering will be delivered through interactive NFC shelf labels at the point of sale, allowing shoppers to tap items with their smartphones to receive product information, promotional offers, usage tips, and other contextual messaging that influences their buying decision. The “opt-in” protocol with NFC, which is much less intrusive than Bluetooth or iBeacons, is geared toward increasing consumer engagement levels, Thinfilm said, strengthening brand loyalty and significantly enhancing the consumer experience.

Retailers and brands will also benefit as data associated with shopper interactions and behaviours is captured through the TCS OmniStore platform and sent to the cloud for analysis.

Thinfilm CEO Davor Sutija said: “NFC solutions in a retail setting are quite empowering to the consumer and can literally transform the buying experience. We look forward to working closely with Tata Consulting Services, one of the most successful technology solutions providers in the industry, to deliver innovative products and services to the retail market.”