Gloucester is rapidly gaining a reputation with UK and global companies to test Smart City and Digital High Street initiatives.

Up and down the country, towns and cities are faced with the challenge of rejuvenating the retail sector in a climate where stores face online giants on an uneven playing field.

Gloucester is working with several partners to tackle the issue, acting as the perfect test bed for innovative solutions.

One such example is the GL Card, which offers touchscreen kiosks and mobile app functionality.

It is a collaboration between Marketing Gloucester, tech firm Rewarding Visits and Gloucestershire Live.

Guy Chatburn, of Rewarding Visits, which won a £1million Innovate UK grant to develop digital high street solutions, said: "We chose Gloucester as the partner location for the third phase of the roll out of our technology, primarily because alongside a great digital infrastructure, the city had a 'can do' organisation like Marketing Gloucester that already had the trust of a wide range number of partners throughout the city which it could rally together relatively easily in order to enable our project to happen.

"They were especially good at helping us work with other organisations operating in complimentary areas such as Stagecoach and Trinity Mirror.

"There was also a much lower learning curve as Gloucester has a team with an understanding of the tech and the issues facing towns and cities, and that has definitely led to us having a much stronger offering in a shorter period of time."

Jason Smith, chief executive officer at Marketing Gloucester, added: "Gloucester is the ideal place to test their technologies from the point of view of physical environment, infrastructure and partners already operating in the city.

"This is a city where we present solutions, not problems, to businesses wanting to be involved and we welcome new partners."

The GL Card utilises NFC chips and QR codes at kiosks (or touchpoints) throughout Gloucester city centre.

Members of the scheme can easily browse an extensive range of promotions to suit their preference and print off vouchers.

Building on the Gloucester Residents' Card, Rewarding Visits' application will allow retailers and service providers the ability to communicate with their customers.

The scheme will be launched on 31 March to coincide with Gloucester's Residents' Weekend on 31 March to 2 April.

What do you think? Email mark@moosemarketingandpr.co.uk 

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