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What can mobile payment providers learn from Pokémon Go?

3rd August 2016

Auka

Nat Bowers

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The Pokémon Go craze demonstrates how something can be nonexistent one day and take the world by storm the next, bringing gamification to the streets and enabling businesses to advertise in new ways, e.g., by sponsoring locations. In the future, the game will enable the ability to drive user traffic to street vendors, retail stores, restaurants and so on by encouraging them to buy 'virtual loot'.

The question is: how will businesses and merchants be able to jump on this craze and attract users to buy their own products? And what is the future of in-store mobile payment solutions for ‘Pokémon Go-ers’?

Daniel Döderlein is the CEO and founder of Auka, a pioneering mobile payments company who has so far helped over 17 banks implement a mobile pay strategy and in the process, get ready for all the myriad of changes PSD2 regulation will require of retail banks.

In comparing Pokémon Go with the success of Scandinavian mobile payments, Döderlein commented: “The fast adoption mobile payments providers enjoyed was due largely to making mobile payments available ‘anytime’ and ‘anywhere’.

“This is what they both have in common: Pokémon Go takes users anywhere at any time whilst Scandinavian mobile payments companies provide payment solutions in the cloud that enable businesses and merchants with the same possibilities. The tipping point will come when merchants implement payment solutions that cater to Pokémon go users.”

Daniel says that businesses must ensure that they are ready for mobile in-store payments or they may see themselves losing out in reaching this new game-driven audience.

“Pokémon Go is available to anyone in the market. The game has an easy enrolment process where the player chooses a username and password and gets going. Merchants will also need to develop mobile payment solutions that are quick and efficient and adapted to this ‘on-the-go’ audience.

“Pokémon Go also encourages the user to interact with points of interest based on location. Merchants and businesses should also replicate this by providing access to nearby merchants and offerings from them based on a location and preferences with quick mobile payment solutions.

“Further, Pokémon Go has vital interaction functionality - allowing you to compete with your friends and soon challenge them in trainer battles. Merchants with apps need to consider including socialisation elements - allowing in app engagement with friends and contacts.”