On Our Radar: mobiSave

With so many new, exciting companies entering the digital advertising scene every day, it’s hard to keep track. That’s why we’ve created “On Our Radar,” a recurring column that highlights a company we’re watching, what it does, and why it should be on your radar, too.

Who are we talking about?

MobiSave.

What is so unique about them?

As consumers, we love to save money on grocery shopping, which has traditionally been done through coupon clipping. I personally like the saving money part, but the coupon clipping part, not so much. There are several coupon apps that allow you to browse for promotions and show a coupon code at the checkout counter — or worse, hand over your precious phone to scan the barcode.  But wouldn’t it be nice if you could just go about shopping as usual and then take a photo of your receipt to get your discounts? No more paper coupons to clip. You also get instant gratification when your discounts are immediately credited to your PayPal account.  Cha-ching! MobiSave, currently in beta (you can sign up for a trial here), is the first mobile coupon system created to do so, designed specifically for consumer packaged goods (CPG) manufacturers to provide cash incentives targeted directly to consumers. Shoppers can use MobiSave’s proprietary mobile app at virtually any retailer, providing a “universal” coupon.

Why should you care?

According to a recent estimate from eMarketer, the number of adults who redeem coupons via mobile device for either online or offline shopping will rise from 78.69 million to 104.11 million between 2014 and 2016, or from 70.0% to 82.0% of all digital couponers. CPG brands would be missing out on a good portion of the coupon consumers by not having a mobile coupon solution.  Also, the costs associated with distribution, redemption and tracking of coupons are significantly reduced. The access to real-time insights on consumer shopping behavior driven by mobile coupons is a goldmine for marketers. Isn’t it time to give a mobile makeover for your trustworthy marketing tactic?

Who is their competition?

Mobile couponing companies such as Checkout51 and Ibotta, both of which allow consumers to redeem purchases for cash back.

What does their future look like?

If mobiSave reaches critical mass in terms of adoption by brands and consumers in the coming months, it could be a game changer in the world of coupons.