The neatest thing I have come across recently is a Canadian app called Checkout 51. It is, in essence, an application that allows you to save money on everyday purchases and your favourite brands in a simple, one-step process.

Every week, a number of offers are released and are ready to be used for a week, until the following Wednesday at 11:59pm. They can range from your favourite cereal to haircare to nail polish- anything you could find in a grocery and/or drug store.

Should you decide to take advantage of a deal, all you have to do is retain the receipt, and upload a photo of it through the smartphone app or through their website. And that’s it! Your cash back dollars will accumulate in your account until you collect $20 or more, which then you can request a cheque.

In addition, Checkout 51’s business model allows it to enter into digital marketing partnerships with companies. For example, Mondelez International has partnered up with the company to create a loyalty program. Checkout 51 now has a dedicated “Christie Corner” where users can sign up, and it will keep track of when shoppers purchase any of the Christie brands. It can help companies understand how and when shoppers engage with their brand, derive valuable consumer insight, and create targeted promotions to further drive sales.

To me, Checkout 51 embodies innovation and strategic thinking in an age where mobile technology is king, and is a clever way to drive engagement among consumers of all kinds to enable them to save money, capturing those that are price-sensitive and/or risk-averse. The future of retail is here, and I look forward to seeing what Checkout 51 has in store for the future.

Every Canadian who has been living here for at least a few years recognizes the iconic Canadian Tire paper currency. The original “Canadian Tire money program” launched in 1958 in five denominations, and has since found its way into consumers’ hearts and wallets, being referred to as “Canada’s monopoly money” and “second currency”.

On Tuesday September 9th, the company announced that it would be taking its currency to digital: customers can now collect rewards through its mobile app, or register for a card/key fob in-store. However, the traditional paper currency will still be accepted, and will not be discontinued on the new future.

This move will be highly beneficial for Canadian Tire. Expanding in the mobile space has become a necessity for many companies in order to stay relevant in their consumers’ minds. By tracking their loyalty program digitally, Canadian Tire will be able to extract and data-mine valuable insight and information about customers’ purchasing habits, preferences, and tailor their marketing and promotions accordingly for effective upselling. It is a win-win for both parties, as consumers will now receive suggestions and targeted promotional deals that are relevant to their interests.

Canadian Tire recognizes the importance of user testing, as they have spent the past two years piloting the program in Nova Scotia to test the program’s usability and design, and it has finally launched for the public. As a frequent customer, I am looking forward to trying out the new digital rewards program myself!