I Want More From My Countdown App

Countdown showed some real grocery leadership in New Zealand when they created their mobile application (which is actually not easy to find on their web site). I thought it was great, but now I don’t use it, or my Onecard. Here’s why. 

1. Just to get Onecard out of the way. I have cards for Africa. I made a decision last year to only carry the essentials that I need. My Onecard, my Subway card I now have the iPhone version), my frequent flyer cards and all of the coffee cards, BP car wash cards etc now sit in a drawer and are no longer weighing down my wallet. In fact I don’t even carry a wallet any more because I don’t carry cash.
2. I want my phone to be my Onecard. I want it to recognise me when I come into the store. I spend plenty of money there, but my Onecard points are zero. I always have my mobile with me.
3. I want gamification, the app is really good in what it does do, but its not fun. Give me points every time I take something out of the fridge, and scan it into the shopping list.
4. I want to be greeted by the app when I come into the store. Check me in and give me points every time I go there.
5. I want it to be my concierge, my personal shopping companion, a virtual shopping assistant. I want it to make recommendations based on previous purchases or perhaps even on what I’m buying now.
6. I want self scanning from my mobile as I go through the store. I want the app to tell me how much I’m spending, counter the negative of that by how much I am saving on RRP and that if I spend $15 more this shop I will get a 20 cents per litre petrol voucher.
7. I want to synchronise my shopping list with the rest of the family automatically. Maybe I could hit a button that notifies my wife (or vice versa) that I am shopping and does she want to add anything.
8. Give me extra points or even badges for buying healthy foods.