ITWire

The bookshop chain has installed a "QR Wall" in the windows of its retail stores at 10 universities around Australia. The display shows the most popular text books for the courses at that university, each accompanied by a QR code.

According to the Co-op Bookshop, "Students can simply use their smartphone to scan the QR-code for the textbook they want and then pay for it securely using PayPal.

"The specially created mobile website, developed by PayPal, provides instant access to over 160 popular textbooks. With this new innovation there are no long queues, no waiting, and no carrying books home for students as free postage is included."

Greg Smith, the chief marketing officer of the Co-op Bookshop, said the system had been developed "from a growing student need to reduce the time they spend waiting in line for their textbooks during the busy semester start period."

Jeff Clementz, managing director for PayPal Australia added: "The Co-op Bookshop came to us needing a solution that would help reduce the large queues deterring students from purchasing textbooks from their stores. We worked with them to develop a QR-code shopping experience and a fully transactional mobile site within a month."

According to the bookshop, some 60 percent of Australians aged 18-24 own smartphones.

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