Bytes Managed Solutions' professional services division has developed a promotions engine for national supermarket group Boxer Superstores' exciting new promotion, "Win a trip to Idols with Khaya", which has been integrated into the group's point-of-sale (POS) system.
The solution enables Boxer to offer a value added service to consumers in the form of a marketing campaign that brings together 2012 Idols SA winner Khaya Mthethwa and popular laundry detergent brand Ariel.
Shoppers can now easily and conveniently cash in on the group's exciting new campaign, running from 10 September to 30 November, thanks to the Bytes Managed Solutions (Bytes MS) solution, which enables unique barcodes to be printed on POS till slips. Customers receive the barcode on their till slip when they purchase Ariel washing powder or the new Khaya album, For You. They can then enter the competition to win tickets for the Idols SA 2014 finals via an unstructured supplementary service data (USSD) number.
USSD is a protocol often used for mobile marketing campaigns. When a user sends a message to the network, a response is sent back to the phone in a format that can easily be seen on the display.
Customers are also able to download two free bonus Khaya tracks, which are not on the CD. During this process, they are prompted to enter the barcode number on their till slip. Once the process is completed, their cellphone number is linked to the barcode and entered into the lucky draws for tickets to watch the preceding shows to the finals.
The winner will receive two VIP tickets to the Idols finals, including an all-expenses paid trip to Johannesburg, accommodation for the night, lunch with Khaya, travel by limousine to the final show at Carnival City, and they will also meet the judges backstage.
"Boxer has had a strategic relationship with Bytes MS for a number of years, and the company plays an integral role in our business solutions delivery," says Gary Ingle, IT executive, Boxer Superstores. "The POS system is a direct touch point with our customers. It's a key enabler in bringing to market unique promotions and value added services, which is why it requires constant innovation and change. The uniqueness of the Boxer-Ariel promotion is a case in point. Given an urgent business need with very tight timelines, Bytes MS, in partnership with the Boxer business solutions team, was able to deliver what we needed. That's why we see Bytes MS as an integral part of our team, rather than merely as a supplier."
Bytes MS played a significant role in enabling the campaign to be rolled out by developing the software for the POS system. "We succeeded in designing a unique promotions engine and a value added service gateway in just two weeks," says Anand Pillay, professional services manager, Bytes MS. "Because it was developed on the group's existing platforms, we were able to keep costs down and reduce the additional investment required. The project was completed by mid-August, in record time."
Initially, the solution was piloted at five Boxer Superstores locations on 9 September in preparation for the launch. The campaign went live the next day at more than 160 stores nationwide.
"This is a key campaign for Boxer Superstores as Khaya is an extremely popular new-age gospel singer who appeals directly to the group's target market," says Alan Anderson, business development director, Bytes Managed Solutions. "We were eager to play a role in ensuring the success of this campaign, and it was a privilege to be chosen as Boxer's preferred supplier. The success of the rollout is testimony to our team's ability to innovate and provide the most extraordinary and innovative technology services for clients within a rapid turnaround time."
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