'Avoid the Shopping Crowds' is a web application that lets Dutch shoppers check to see what stores are crowded from afar. The app was developed by 'They,' a creative agency which has branded the app as "anti social media." Avoid the Shopping Crowds monitors the traffic of four stores in Amsterdam, Centrum, 9 Straatjes, Zuid and ArenA, using social media. Check-ins from sites such as Facebook and Foursquare along with photos from Instagram and live webcam feeds are used to measure crowd density.
Avoid the Shopping Crowds provides recommendations about whether or not you should visit a store and even shows historical averages of store traffic. This app is anticipating big things for the future, with eyes on other places people go to in hopes of finding no crowds, such as the beach.
Crowd Avoidance Apps
'Avoid the Shopping Crowds' Helps Dutch Consumers Beat the Rush
Trend Themes
1. Crowd Monitoring Applications - Developing web applications that help consumers monitor store traffic and crowd density in real-time.
2. Anti-social Media Apps - Creating apps that cater to consumers who value their personal space and wish to avoid crowds and excessive social interaction.
3. Location-based Traffic Analysis Tools - Designing tools that leverage social media and real-time data analytics to help consumers determine when and where a location is likely to be crowded.
Industry Implications
1. Retail - Applying crowd monitoring applications to the retail industry could help stores optimize their operations and staffing decisions based on traffic data.
2. Tourism - Developing location-based tools that help tourists avoid popular and crowded attractions can enhance the tourist experience and promote lower-trafficked destinations.
3. Outdoor Recreation - Expanding crowd monitoring technology beyond traditional brick-and-mortar locations to include parks, beaches, and other outdoor areas can enhance the safety and appeal of these spaces during peak seasons.