Developed by @WalmartLabs, the app is part of the company's effort to bring social and mobile technologies closer to Walmart's operations. Shopycat takes advantage of Facebook users' public data - interests, email, activities, news feeds, location, and relationship status - to generate the list of possible gifts.
Shopycat is one of those ideas marketers had thought to make a reality once they saw the possibility to reach customers through Facebook. While research shows that "a majority of consumers in developed markets do not want to engage with brands via social media," apps like these could change the idea of communicating with brands and buying products through social networks.
The fact that social media doesn't seem to create desired relationships between brands and consumers might be due to many brands' monotonous approach with social networks, like increasing brand awareness by collecting as many "likes" as possible or simply for advertising purposes.
With this app, Walmart has developed an experimental business strategy that could either be a success and adopted by other brands or just become another failed attempt at social media integration.
Source: Ad Age
This idea is very interesting, but believe that there are many flaws with Shopycat. I do not see how you could get gift ideas by your interactions on Facebook. The gift ideas Shopycat would be the systems blind guess to what the consumer would want.
ReplyDeleteWhat ever happened to asking what the person would want as a gift? Most of the time the integration of technology into our everyday life makes life simpler and easier. This is not the case with Shopycat, it causes a headache for customers. For example, I talk about football on my Facebook page, that doesn't mean I want a football for Christmas.
This sounds like another way for Facebook and Walmart to make some money. This is obviously just my own idea, and I have no backing for it, but I could see companies paying Walmart and Facebook to show their products for ideas for gifts on Shopycat.
ReplyDeleteWhich in reality is a great idea for companies. Just pay an advertising fee and then your product shows up in front of the people who are using Shopycat on Facebook. The problem is, as Tyler discussed, is this really going to show people what they want? Shopycat is a good idea for people who have no idea what there loved ones want, but honestly I don't think my family could figure out what to buy me from my Facebook page. Shopycat is a good idea in theory, but I too think there are to many flaws in the system.
I believe Shopycat is a great idea that Wal-mart has created. Shopping for individuals is sometimes hard for family members. This application helps the shopper know what their significant other enjoys and will have the most pleasure in receiving for the holidays. By creating a new form of shopping, consumers will be interested or more likely to try Shopycat. Alex and Tyler are both right by saying that the program is flawed. Sometimes an individual will accidentally click on something on the web. Being specific with gift ideas may be hard in that sense.
ReplyDeleteGoing along with what Tyler said, I don't think people will want something for a present just because they "like" it on Facebook. And chances are, if I like it and there is something worth purchasing, I will have already bought it or asked for it myself. I think this integration is doomed to fail not only because of the flaws it has but also because, in my opinion, more and more things are becoming so wrapped up in technology that something as simple as Christmas gift shopping will not be received well by people. It is easier to go to a store (in this case, Walmart) and walk around the aisles until you find something perfect for someone rather than click through suggestion after suggestion that may or may not hit the mark.
ReplyDeleteAlthough this is an interesting concept, I do not see this being a practical application for most people. I might use this app just for fun to see what Shopycat would come up with, but I would not use it to really get the person a gift. The internet is getting so personal that it is attempting to take the face to face relationship out of interacting. If you are getting a person a gift, I would hope you would know them on a more personal level then what they publicly post on Facebook.
ReplyDeleteThe theory behind this social media integration is pretty revolutionary and has the potential for a lot of success. But as Alex said, I don't think it's really all that practical for family members and gift givers. You run into problems when some people don't put their whole life on Facebook... If a person doesn't choose to post their interests/hobbies, then you're still stuck with what to get that special someone. And as Tyler said, why wouldn't you just ask someone in the first place?
ReplyDeleteHowever I will admit that this approach combines slick advertising and online buying and makes them easier than every before. You don't have to transfer to another site to do all your online shopping. I think that's the real advantage. Facebook will get to keep users on their site and have Wal-mart's joint cooperation (and name/logo) plastered all over the place. It's basically a win-win (for those able to utilize it).
Whether this app succeeds or fails, it's the innovative idea that should be applauded. If it takes off, neat. More money for investors/big business (which I actually think is not so neat, but that's beside the point). If it doesn't take off, then you'll still have people being trafficked to online shopping hubs and retail stores, trampling over people to get that holiday's big purchase.
Kudos America.