Retailer OfficeMax has rolled out an iPhone application to enhance benefits for its MaxPerks Loyalty members and improve the shopping experience for consumers.

There is no doubt that the timing for the launch of this application is spot-on. The back-to-school season is in gear and the holidays are right around the corner.

“We launched a mobile version of our Web site in November 2009, trying to provide customers access to our info while on the go,” said Julie Krueger, senior vice president of ecommerce and direct at OfficeMax, Chicago. “The app provides the most important info for people who are on the go.

“The app takes everything a step further, peeling away stuff that makes it hard for consumers to find what they need,” she said. “We used industry data to see what people are looking for on the go.

“Another big thing is we wanted to provide unique functionality for our loyalty program members to access the data within their accounts.”

To get consumers into holiday buying mode, the application offers shoppers that spend $50 or more online free shipping.

The application lets OfficeMax MaxPerks loyalty members access their account, view reward program progress, edit account information, browse purchase history and redeem rewards at the register right from their iPhone. The application, available for iPhone and iPod touch, is designed to help customers shop smarter and access information and rewards on the go.

OfficeMax is a retailer specializing in both business-to-business office products solutions and retail office products.

The retailer already has a mobile-optimized site, which was built by Usablenet, New York.

The site gives consumers access to their MaxPerks accounts, a store locator, the OfficeMax weekly ad and the various products that the retailer sells.

The iPhone application marks an expansion of OfficeMax’s mobile commerce strategy.

The mobile shopping application provides real-time benefits to customers, including the ability to view exclusive deals and offers, locate OfficeMax stores, and click-through to the mobile-friendly OfficeMax.com site to browse office supply products from their mobile device.

Consumers can navigate through the application and find savings, products and locations.

Users get access to offers and coupons that are exclusive to the application.

MaxPerks members can track their progress via the application and see how close they are to earning their next reward. Loyalty members can view their current rewards and redeem them right from their phone.

OfficeMax partnered with Rosetta, an interactive agency, to create the application and ensure that customers get more out of their shopping experience wherever they are.

“We approached the app as another way to provide loyalty program members with more value,” said Chris Duncan, vice president of loyalty and direct at OfficeMax. “They get rewards right on their device.

“I think our loyalty program is great and this makes it greater,” he said. “Mobile adds more value to the program.”

Here is additional information regarding the application, courtesy of PRNewswire:

Final Take
Giselle Tsirulnik, senior editor of Mobile Marketer and Mobile Commece Daily