Amazon is experimenting with brick-and-mortar stores where you need the app to just get in. They have at least one in London that a YouTuber I follow (Jazzybum) and her boyfriend went to. They have a turn-style type entry where you need their app to get in. Once in the store cameras follow you and watch what you pick up and everything has an RFID tag. You then just walk out of the store after you're done shopping and the payment is deducted automatically. You can't even get into the store without the Amazon app on your phone though.
I use the Acme app on my phone and their digital coupons. It can save me a lot of money over the course of the year. You don't need the phone with you when you checkout, just the phone number. You scan your first item, then enter your phone number into the terminal, and then finish checking out. The money I save makes it worthwhile. I get bonuses also. With the Acme app, things I buy regularly are marked down regularly to encourage me to still shop there. Those not using the app don't get the same bargains. They pay full price while I get things at a discount.
Most stores have in-store Wi-Fi available these days, so you don't need a cellular good signal to use the apps in-store. I tend to do my app usage at home on my Wi-Fi and then just keep my phone in my pocket while shopping. If you need to access the app while in the store though, you should be able to connect to the store's Wi-Fi.
Futurists tend to think that with facial recognition software and other tracking means, everything will be done digitally and automatically. A store will recognize you when you enter the store. Watch as you shop. offer suggestions based on your history on your phone or on monitors/speakers in the store. Then automatically deduct money from your account for your purchases as you leave.
If you're in the app creation world, a new shopping app where you enter your shopping list, and the app then submits your list to various local retailers to see who will give you the lowest price might be a doable product. You just make your list, hit submit, and the app does the rest. It sends the list to the local retailers in your area and whichever one offers the lowest price gets promoted. Maybe it gives each retailer a chance to offer their best price. Call it ehaggle.com. The app scans their sites to see the prices of the items on your list, then submits its finding to each retailer to give them a chance to improve their offer. If they do, then the new prices get submitted back again until no one ups their offer. Then you're given the results with the option to buy from whichever one you want.
It could work for groceries, electronics, furniture, and anything you buy. You simply tell the app, "I want this." It then does the haggling for you to get you the best possible deal and reports back the results. If you can get Amazon, Best Buy, Walmart, etc. involved in a bidding war for your business with each purchase, it could save you a lot of money. What would be in it for the retailer? They make no money from not selling an item. If they must take a smaller profit from selling something after a long haggling session, they're still making something which is better than nothing.
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