Top 5 Industries Ultrasonic Tech Will Transform in 2019

The smartphone is increasingly becoming the “command center” for so many aspects of consumers’ lives—from managing everyday tasks, to shopping, and more. It’s no wonder then, that the ability to connect to users’ devices is increasingly valuable to brands looking to create meaningful interactions with consumers and drive conversions.

However, connectivity between consumers and businesses has been challenging, from technologically inefficient solutions (e.g., Bluetooth), to fraud-prone solutions (e.g., QR codes) until recently.

Enter ultrasonic technology, which is slowly revolutionizing the way in which consumers are able to connect with businesses via their personal devices. Let’s look at five key industries where ultrasonic data transmission is poised to continue to make an impact.

Retail

Retail is evolving at a rapid pace, and we see increasing convergence between the shopping channels, with consumers shopping online, using mobile, and in-store—or some combination of these. The importance of omnichannel is paramount, and ultrasonic technology is poised to power key aspects of the in-store experience.

Using LISNR’s ultrasonic tones, retailers can pair a consumer’s device with the wifi network in-store, thus allowing users to seamlessly access the retailer’s network. Data-over-audio also helps authenticate users’ retailer-specific rewards programs seamlessly via the retailer app accessed in-store. Using tones that are broadcast from a user’s phone to the in-store microphone eliminates the need to use phone numbers and other personal data, thereby creating a more secure experience.

Ultrasonic tech is also poised to further power location-based, proximity marketing techniques, enabling retailers to advertise relevant promotions to consumers based on precise in-store location data. LISNR’s unique Precision KAB ‘short range’ tones are unique in their ability to micro-target down to what section of a store aisle the user is visiting. Then retailers are able to send targeted promotions for the aisle or area of the store the shopper is in.

Mobility

Ultrasonic data transmission is improving the mobility customer experience by making it increasingly seamless and frictionless. In fact,LISNR tones recently integrated with popular providers RideYellow and FlyWheel to easily match drivers and riders, eliminate curbside confusion, and create a more secure driver-rider experience. In partnership with automotive OEMs such as Jaguar Land Rover, ultrasonic tech also offers the ability for riders to be “paired” to their car in order to personalize and control in-car settings, such as temperature and radio station selection.

QSR

One industry where consumers always expect efficiency and speed is QSR (quick service restaurants). Major fast food brands are digging deep into mobile payment solutions to help make the food ordering, payment, and delivery process smooth. In a competitive market with a myriad of food options, providing speedy, top-notch service and streamlining the customer journey is key. Using ultrasonic tech to pass information between the consumer’s mobile phone and the fast food venue, consumers can experience a frictionless process to order and pay for food, ultimately making fast food faster.

Finance

In the finance sector, data transmission over audio brings innovation and added security to payment systems and card networks. The Equinox and LISNR partnership brought forth a first of its kind integration in point-of-sales terminals. The market is bound to see an expansion of this technology to many other payment terminals, across a variety of venues and payment types. Also in payments, ultrasonic tech is poised to help power mobile payments via integration within retailer-specific apps and card networks. Both are becoming priorities for merchants who are looking to own the complete customer journey, from a consumer’s first point of entry and all the way to payment.

Travel

In the travel industry, ultrasonic data transmission can help eliminate common hassles that currently proliferate today’s travel experience. Access control at airports and other mass transit venues is plagued by inefficiencies and factors that frequently slow down the process. Cutting down on the queues and streamlining the check-in and payment process will go a long way to helping smooth out the customer experience. Mobile travel tickets can be accessed easily on mobile devices without the need to connect to transit wifi systems, which can be unreliable. Ultrasonic tech can even help ease the process of ordering and paying for food and drink once a passenger is on a train or plane.

This is just the beginning, and we’re looking forward to continuing to make a mark on major industries in 2019 using ultrasonic data transmission. To find out how LISNR can help transform your business, please contact us.