Apple is continuing to transition its three main retail outlets, its physical retail stores, online store, and main website, into a single experience. Following the deep integration of the Apple Online Store throughout Apple.com, Apple is set to integrate its appointment scheduling services for the Genius Bar and in-store workshops deeply into the main website, according to sources briefed on the plans. The latest indications are that Apple will roll out these significant retail changes as soon as Tuesday, August 25th.
In Apple retail vocabulary, this combined appointment scheduling service is called the “Concierge.” It is the website you currently see (shown above) when you want to schedule a Genius Bar appointment at an Apple Store or register for a Workshop to learn how to use your Apple product. The revamped version will be deeply integrated into individual Apple Retail Store pages versus being its own website.
The new updated web-based service has also been re-written with a focus on accessibility and mobile devices. “Customers with visual or hearing impairments can more easily use the Concierge system,” Apple wrote in a note to retail employees about the upcoming change. As for mobile optimization, the new system will have a unique appearance depending on if it is being used on a desktop, smartphone, or tablet, much like the upgraded Apple.com.
While the Genius Bar system will still technically function as always, the Workshops service will see scheduling improvements. According to sources, the now-complex array of scheduling options will be simplified into three categories of workshops: Discover, Create, and Organize. This should make it a bit easier for customers to find and schedule workshops for topics that pertain to them. Lastly, the updated website will have deep social integration for sharing Workshops via Twitter, Facebook, Weibo, QQ, and email.
Separately, Apple plans to shake up its retail store operations next Wednesday by eliminating the long-existing iPad Smart Sign system and demoting iPod stock storage to accessory walls. Since our last report, sources have added that Smart Sign information will be replaced with pop-up pieces of information on Macs in the store and that iOS devices will be loaded up with special apps to replace Smart Signs.
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Concierge is much more than a website; it handles the Store Inventory, Youth Programs, Workshops, 1to1, a client DB that exceeds 700 million records and much much more. It is constantly being updated.
As for Apple to integrate ‘all this’, I think that’s another major refinement, likely being managed by Angela. Props to her, a great hire.
One by one, everybody off the WebObject boat and onto this new, not-sucky boat. :P
(Waiting to see Apple begin to add deep integration for LINE. Almost half the userbase of Facebook and growing fast outta mean something.)
IDK, but user response for LINE doesn’t look enticing to me:
Download takes awhile?
by Firey Spirit
I used to use Line a lot, and it was one of my favorite messaging apps because of the different things you’re able to send. I ended up deleting Line because it took up a lot of space on my phone. But now when I try to download it again, it takes nearly an hour for the app to completely download, sometimes longer if it keeps saying that the app failed to download. Although Line was my favorite, it’s downloading time takes way too long now.
Still a great app but….
by Tabachnik
Ever Since the update there has been a couple of times that a friend would call and it would show missed but i did not hear it ring. I love this app and it helps me stay connected to the people who are important to me. Just a minor bump in the road.
3 big flaws
by Pomx2
Please fix these asap
– Backup chat history (wechat has this). I’m sick of losing moments with friends every ios updates or when I want to switch phones etc
– Option to turn off “Read receipt”
– Bug: if you don’t read some messages after a while (days) they’ll completely disappear from your chat log before you can read them (but show up in the other person’s)
I guarantee you worse is said about Facebook. They don’t seem to have a user retention issue, do they?
LINE is much more important to Asian users, namely Japan and Korea. If Apple is going to support Weibo and QQ like they have been they should consider doing the same for LINE.
That’s a good point Aeron.
(OT: I don’t like this WordPress nonsense; can’t even reply to your post but can only reply to my own post(?) Who designed this garbage?) /rant
Not sure why, but the “Make a reservation” title kind of reminds me of some of the font that was used in the OS X Lion setup..