“A man’s got to believe in something,” comedian-actor W.C. Fields used to say. “I believe I’ll have another drink.”
Before downing another frosty beverage, consider raising a toast to a new smart beer glass that keeps track of your drinking – and could be a big money saver too.
The glass, from Tel Aviv-based startup Glassify, gives you discounts every time you order a cold one.
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After downloading the app, order your favorite beer and swipe the smart glass over your phone. The chip at the bottom acts like a barcode, and the discounts load onto your device – just be sure to swipe the code gently to avoid spilling beer on your screen.
Better memory than a bartender
The discounts received from Glassify are personalized based on what and where you’re drinking. The app also remembers what you ordered and will offer targeted discounts on your favorite drinks. The more drinks you order, the more offers you get.
“There’s always an incentive for users to scan their glass,” Ben Biron, CEO of Glassify said in an interview. “This could be anything from a free drink, chaser, or a food combo.”
As for bar owners, there are plenty of advantages for them as well. In one of Glassify’s pilot projects, customers were told that if they scan their glasses they’d get their second drink either 50 percent off or free. According to Biron, customers who usually only had one beer took the second one, and stayed for the third, or fourth, or fifth. Bars saw a significant increase in drink purchases because they gave the second one away for free or at half price.
No wallet required
The app also lets you send a drink to friends, wherever they may be. They can save the drink for later or go ahead and scan their next smart glass to get the free beverage and hopefully return the favor. With Glassify you don’t even need to remember to bring your wallet. You can load money directly onto the app and be charged each time you swipe the glass.
Drinking responsibly
A joint venture between Weisbeerger and Innovation Furnace, Glassify is still testing its cup in bars. Currently there are about 2,000 smart glasses in use by bars worldwide. Glassify just finished piloting the product across Europe and the US with encouraging results.
The team ran pilot programs in Israel, Europe and Asia and discovered a 13 percent increase in sales while 80 percent of the beers served in bars got scanned with the Glassify app. The app won’t let people drink irresponsibly either, limiting their offers to five drinks per person. If you want more, Glassify automatically redirects you to Uber.
Glassify Cup. Courtesy of Glassify
The app is available for download on iOS and Android for free, but you will only operate in a bar equipped with the right cups for it to work. At this stage, the bartender is a crucial piece in the puzzle as they essentially act as salesmen. When customers approach the bar to order drinks, the bartender asks whether they’d prefer a smart glass or regular one. There’s no difference in price.
Of course you can still go out and have a drink the old-fashioned way, with no swiping – and only sipping – required. I’ll drink to that!
Photo and video courtesy of Glassify
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