ShopSavvy, an Android application that lets users take pictures of product barcodes in order to compare prices at different retailers, has long been one of my favorite apps. It’s true that I live in Canada so I’ve never actually had the chance to try it, but the concept amazes me in its practicality and its ability to provoke in me a fantastic image of the future of shopping.
This morning, Big In Japan, the maker of ShopSavvy announced a big partnership with Krillion. Using Krillion’s StockCheck technology, ShopSavvy can now view real-time product inventory at local stores when a product barcode is scanned. This is pretty cool when you think about it. Previously you’d actually have to contact a store to see if it carried the product. Now you know where to get the best price and if that place is carrying said product. Then you can simply order online or head to the bricks-and-mortar store version and purchase whatever you’re looking for.
Given Krillion’s coverage of real-time stock in more than 40, 000 retail locations across the United States, it’s unlikely you’ll find a place without coverage unless you’re looking at a corner store or mom-and-pop type joint.
ShopSavvy also recently incorporated Skyhook’s XPS hybrid positioning technology, improving its location fixes. Combine exact location information and real-time product information and this is an application that defines relevancy.