Tomorrow morning I’ll receive an alert on my mobile device – one tap will take me to a personalized packing list with everything I need for my upcoming business trip to Barcelona. There’s a 50% chance of rain – it tells me to pack a coat – just like a gentle reminder from Mom. No need to set my alarm when I go to sleep. My mobile will wake me up when it’s time, taking into account my typical primp time (usually just 30 minutes), and coupling it with real-time data including my flight status, traffic to the airport, and TSA wait times. On the way to the airport, a second alert pops up. The airline notices that I am almost there. Why not hop on the earlier flight and pay an extra $20 for an upgrade with more legroom – helping them free up a seat on my current flight which happens to be oversold. With one click I am confirmed, and the payment is processed.
Knowing I’ll be traveling for the next 12+ hours, a third mobile alert will pop up as I stroll by a vending machine. It’ll offer me 20% off a large bottle of water and a fresh salad from the neighboring café. Ever since I’ve been eating healthier, the deals on burgers and fries have thankfully disappeared. With one more tap, I’ll purchase the offer - my water will drop from the machine and I’ll walk into the café to scan my barcode and pick up the salad.
I’ll comfortably settle into my seat on the plane, appreciating the extra legroom and the fact that I won’t be starving the entire flight. All it took was three simple taps – all in the flow of my day. My life was simplified, a typically hectic and often painful experience completely transformed. My confidence, respect, and loyalty towards the brands that provided the experience would skyrocket.
Is this seamless experience real? Unfortunately, it isn’t. Could it be? Absolutely.
In reality, I will shortly be hopping on a plane to Barcelona for Mobile World Congress 2013, billed as the “world’s premiere mobile event.” SAP will be demonstrating and discussing truly amazing mobile innovations that enable brands to seize this opportunity, turning dream scenarios like mine into rewarding, everyday experiences. It requires an elegant orchestration of technology involving big data, analytics, cloud and mobile. It sounds difficult and complex, but it doesn’t need to be. To find out more, visit the SAP at Booth 7C70 in Hall 7. Can’t make it to Mobile World Congress, visit our MWC site where you’ll be able to access a ton of great content and watch live interviews from our broadcast center.
Follow me on twitter @BrentCohler for live updates from #MWC13
