NEWS: Luxury cognac uses NFC chip to connect with consumers

10-01-2019

As announced at the AIPIA Congress in Amsterdam, Rémy Cointreau is to integrate an NFC chip technology, supplied by some of the Association’s leading members, NXP Semiconductors and Selinko, into the cork stopper of all the decanters produced for its Louis XIII luxury cognac brand.  This enables buyers to register their purchase and become a member of the Louis XIII Society, a private club where members can enjoy exclusive content, unique experiences and personalized services through their smartphones.

NXP provided the chip while Selinko provided its NFC-expertise and its software platform to instantly link the client to the LOUIS XIII Society.  The companies say it is a perfect case to underline how connecting objects to the IoT can provide an exclusive experience for valued clients.

After removing the seal, purchasers will simply have to tap and scan their NFC-enabled smartphones on the cork stopper to access the Louis XIII Society landing page to create or log into an account. The decanter number will then be automatically registered.  It will also tell them if the bottle has been previously opened and about the authenticity of the seal, as the tag remains active.

Membership of the Louis XIII Society provides bespoke services such as customized decanter engraving, pre-releases of limited editions, contact with a Personal Advisor for private tastings and ultimate experiences, as well as an invitation to network with Louis XIII Cognac connoisseurs registered all over the world, the brand explained.

In addition, the Smart Decanter will bring added services to clients allowing them to customize gifting messages that will appear when recipients scan their decanter. “Every decanter will feature this smart solution worldwide,” says Ludovic du Plessis, Louis XIII’s global executive director. This innovation will be launched globally starting February 2019.

Speaking at the Congress, NXP’s senior global marketing manager Smart Products, Sylvia Kaiser-Kerhaw predicted the number of IoT connected objects will surpass 40 billion by 2021, as more and more Brands look for feature-rich connectivity.