News

Latest eBay app brings online benefits to brick-and-mortars

August 9, 2013

In a move that strengthens the relationship between online and brick-and-mortar commerce, eBay has launched the Retail Associate Platform — an application that supplies the benefits of online shopper data to local retail merchants.

According to a post on mercurynews.com, the app works on tablets that retail employees carry around in the store, supplying information about customers that have an established PayPal account, the mobile and online payment company that eBay owns. The app tips retailers off to a shopper's likes and dislikes, past purchases and style preferences.

On top of that, the application will show associates available inventory in other stores and online and allow for orders to be placed directly and instantly before the shopper leaves the store.

"Physical stores just aren't going away," said David Geisinger, head of retail business strategy for eBay, in the article. "Without this technology, retailers will be left behind."

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