Success of Starbucks Mobile Payment Application
Starbucks redefined highly competitive coffee shop business and successfully created an
uncontested market by turning the simple coffee drinking experience into a way of life
experience by drastically redefining the coffee shop environment by adding music, Wi-Fi,
relaxed seating and luxurious interiors. Till Starbucks disrupted the traditional coffee shop
market most of the focus was on the price, location and quality of coffee shops. Starbucks
innovative value proposition includes wide variety of mostly coffee based menu along with
other types of drinks that catered to wide range of audience who are willing to pay top buck for
the luxurious and relaxed interiors that are perfect environment for socializing with friends and
relax.
Another important aspect that Starbucks focused was on the quality of customer service
with an exclusive aim of maximum customer delight and they meticulously recruited and
trained the best talent in the industry that has added huge value to their brand reputation.
Starbucks successfully created an aspirational brand that created highly loyal and delighted
customers who repeatedly come to Starbucks for the unique experience it is offering.
For years Starbucks has been successfully maintaining its dominant position in the coffee
shop market despite the market becoming highly competitive with many players offering
similar product and service offering of Starbucks. There has also been a rise in strong
competition from fast food chains such as McDonalds and Dunkin Donuts that now offer
premium coffee, which is threatening the market share of established players. In order to hold
onto its competitive advantage and create new value proposition for its customers Starbucks
has started to focus on the use of information technology, mobility and particularly social
media. One such innovative value proposition by Starbucks is the Mobile Payments Application.
Starbucks launched its mobile card app in 16 stores in early 2009 and after customer’s
adoption increased, Starbucks expanded it countrywide in United States. The main feature of
the App allows customers to generate a 2D barcode on their mobile device to be scanned and
used as payment in stores. The App is an extension of Starbucks’ existing, tangible, pre-paid
reward card for loyal customers. The App is marketed based on its benefits in saving time and
making purchases more convenient for the customer. Starbucks refers to the App as “the
fastest way to pay.” With this App customers can check their balance, reload card with any
major credit card or PayPal, view transactions and conveniently track their Stars in the MSR
(My Starbucks Rewards) program. The advantages for consumers are speed and one less card in
their wallets. Using the app customers can also locate a mobile payment Starbucks near their
location.
Starbucks mobile payments system is hugely successful based on the fact that 6 million
average weekly transactions worth US$ 1.5 billion in the U.S that accounts for a full 15% of
transactions made at the U.S. Starbucks-operated stores despite the fact many digital wallet
service providers are struggling, according to BI Intelligence. The innovative mobile app has
digital tipping options, dashboard showing the current reward or loyalty points level, points
available with current transaction, pick of the week coffee, recent transactions and messages.
The Starbucks mobile payments application can also integrate with social media sites like
Facebook, Twitter, etc. where customers can proudly show case their reward level milestones
with their friends and family. This will further add up to their brand reputation and brand
loyalty. By simply shaking the phone customers can choose the barcode of the coffee drink they
want to buy and pay accordingly. The app itself is modelled on the social media site interface
where customers can see their regular purchases of Starbucks coffee and rewards points in a
feed-style history and timeline.
By developing mobile marketing programs it seems to present a further opportunity for
Starbucks to fortify the targeted long term relationships with its customers. Customers allow
Starbucks to gain access to their mobile phones in exchange for improved experience and
convenience. Thus, perceived benefits have to exceed perceived risks such as the safety of
personal data as well as the security of financial transactions via mobile phones.
Starbucks’ disruptive mobile strategy integrated its highly successful loyalty program
called My Starbucks Rewards with payments by customers. Starbucks further incentivizes the
customers who habitually buy and pay through mobile app and more reward points are
awarded that are redeemed for free drinks and food. The app’s success is not due to the ease of
payment with a phone compared to cash or debit or credit card but the fact the customer can
see the incentives and rewards he is going to get that will further increase his loyalty with
Starbucks. In a way Starbucks is locking the customer for near future. Starbucks loyalty program
was diligently crafted over the years and it has been the best in the coffee shop industry or any
other industry.
With more than 12 million active users in United States and Canada, Starbucks have
added one more new feature where customers can preorder their coffee using the mobile app
and pick up the coffee later. “A prime example of this is our forthcoming mobile order and pay
initiative that will allow customers to use their phones and MSR (My Starbucks Rewards)
accounts to order ahead of arriving at a store where we plan to pilot in a major U.S. market
later this year,” said Howard Schultz, Starbucks CEO.
Customers wanted this functionality of preorder through mobile for the past few years,
particularly since the mobile based cab hailing service Uber huge success. Starbucks is able to
offer this service right now as the company feels its technology and in-store operations are well
equipped to handle such requests. Starbucks is also expanding the number of drive through
express service outlets that are best suited for preorder system. Starbucks is also talking to
partners and other businesses like retail outlets that will also allow the customers to use their
mobile application payment system, rewards system and loyalty programs in non-Starbucks
outlets.
Through its mobile payment system Starbucks eliminated the need to carry cash, coin
change issues, tipping problems, reduced the time spent on ordering and making coffee,
understanding the menu and coffee types, offers and rewards available, raised the customer
delight, loyalty and rewards, number of visits, new customers and created a new revenue
source for the company, helped in acquiring new customers and also created a uncontested
space in the digital wallet market.
