By Star Chang, posted Aug 5, 2011 at 8:10 AM, 1,650 views,

Virtual Supermarket Hits Shanghai and Beijing (video)

China’s two biggest cities are following in Seoul’s footsteps by creating more shopping opportunities for commuters. A China e-commerce company launched a new virtual supermarket for China mobile users, which allows them to purchase advertised merchandise on billboard screens at bus and subway stations. Users simply need to download a special app, which enables their camera phones to zap the codes of products wanted. The items purchased can then be delivered within hours to the request location. This new mobile shopping experience is currently being tested in Shanghai and Beijing…

The billboard screens displayed about 80 different types of grocery, from shampoo to cans drink, and even electronic gadget, QR bar codes are printed next to each item on the advertisements. The app support iPhone, Android and WAP, after download and install, shoppers can scan what they want and check out easily on their cell-phones. Once they have completed their purchases, the goods are delivered to doorsteps within 48 hours. Commuters and shoppers can enjoy the market-like aesthetic selection of a variety of products, with the convenience of online shopping. The cost of the whole process depends on the total weight of the groceries and delivery distance. Shipping is free for orders that cost over 100 yuan (US$15.5) in total and less than 10 kiolograms in weight.

Shanghai online shopping company yihaodian.com, is the first Chinese company to introduce the service to Chinese mobile user. The virtual supermarket targets young, tech-savvy consumers who don’t have time to shop the conventional way. The idea is to bring convenience to busy people, who can buy what they need and want during their daily commute. It could eventually change the purchasing habits on Chinese consumer. With China mobile phone users topping over 800 million this year and the number of daily passengers in Shanghai subway set to reach nine million by 2013, the country’s major online grocery is catching up with the trend of virtual shopping. The idea as “very creative”, but it was early yet to predict whether the service would catch on with Chinese consumers.

Source: CNNGo, Xinhuanet, Global Times