INTERNATIONAL. Travel retail and allowances website Duty Free On Arrival is preparing to launch a new app that provides “on the go” access to its information database.
The app gives worldwide travel retail shopping information in nine languages – including Hindi, Chinese, Japanese and Korean – along with an easy to understand display of travellers’ allowances and exemptions for each territory or itinerary.
Users can also find information on specific travel retailers and where they have operations. Later versions will link through to the retailers’ websites.
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“On the go” information: the app offers travel retail and allowances advice in nine languages |
The app does not compare prices or use price comparison algorithms. “We believe that consumers don’t want this and prefer to make their own informed buying decisions supported by easy to find information,” said Duty Free On Arrival Managing Director I. M. Smith.
Duty Free On Arrival is also able to serve the app’s content to other apps or websites, and a second beta version will include links directly to partner retailers for each different travel point or mode (air, airline, sea or land). The app’s information and linking strategy is available for free to travel retailers.
Smith noted that the company’s aim was to bring the consumer directly from the browsing or ticket purchase phase to the action stage.
“It is our belief that if our concept is good enough it will work and the brands will support us by adding location-based offers and promotions, by different languages if required,” he said.
A beta version of the app is being tested. Android and Tablet versions are in production and will be followed by an iOS version (for iPhone users).
