# Sale Scanning Credit-crunched consumers turn to automatic means of ensuring a good deal. By [Courtney Scharf](https://www.trendhunter.com/Courtney), Chief Client Officer | Published Oct 21, 2013, updated Oct 28, 2013 | Category: [Business](https://www.trendhunter.com/pro/category/business-trends) Source: Trend Hunter, https://www.trendhunter.com/protrends/sale-scanning ## Key Figures - Trend score: 3.0/10 - Evidence articles: 4 ## What is the Sale Scanning trend? **Sale Scanning:** Automating the process of bargain shopping, apps and browser add-ons that price-check for the consumer make the online market more competitive than ever. Taking out the guesswork and catering to a more tech-savvy shopping market, this shift not only makes online shopping a more attractive option based on price, but also in terms of convenience as well. ## At a Glance - Evidence: 4 featured examples - Articles from: Aug 4, 2012 to Oct 19, 2013 - Published: Oct 21, 2013 - Last updated: Oct 28, 2013 - Patterns: [Reduction](https://www.trendhunter.com/pattern/reduction), [Acceleration](https://www.trendhunter.com/pattern/acceleration) - Megatrends: [Simplicity](https://www.trendhunter.com/megatrend/simplicity), [Artificial Intelligence](https://www.trendhunter.com/megatrend/artificial-intelligence), [Personalization](https://www.trendhunter.com/megatrend/personalization) ## Audience - Gender: 30% men, 70% women - Primary generations: Millennial, Gen X - Top markets: North America ## Examples of the Sale Scanning trend 4 featured examples from Aug 4, 2012 to Oct 19, 2013. - [Item-Hunting Fashion Apps](https://www.trendhunter.com/trends/walkby-app): The 'Walkby' App Does Your Clothing Shopping for You (Category: Tech) Implication: The retail industry has disruptive innovation opportunities to integrate personalized shopping apps and in-store digital shopping assistants to increase convenience and sales. - [Virtual Yard Sale Applications](https://www.trendhunter.com/trends/garage-app): The Garage App Embodies Elements of Instagram and eBay (Category: Tech) Implication: Marketplace platforms can partner with social networks or build similar features to Garage to capture more engaged users. - [Photo-Based Retail Services](https://www.trendhunter.com/trends/marketplace-service): Hashbag's Marketplace Service Identifies Items for Sale on Instagram (Category: Social Media) Implication: Implementing photo-based retail services within e-commerce platforms to enhance the visual shopping experience. - [Money-Requesting Shopping Apps](https://www.trendhunter.com/trends/shopping-app): The 'Ok'd' App Lets You Ask Family or Friends to Pay for an Item (Category: Tech) Implication: The mobile payment industry can capitalize on the growing demand for money-requesting shopping apps, offering secure and seamless transactions. ## Themes within the Sale Scanning trend ### Automated Price Checking Automating the process of bargain shopping with automatic price-checking apps and browser add-ons. ### Social Media-Integrated Shopping Apps The Garage and Ok'd apps integrate with social media, making buying and selling online a fun and social experience. ### Image-Based Retail Services Hashbag's image-based marketplace service utilizes Instagram to connect buyers and sellers, and allows for transactions through PayPal. ## What the Sale Scanning trend means for industry ### For E-commerce Disruptive innovations like automated price-checking and image-based retail platforms have made online shopping more competitive and convenient. ### For Social Media Marketing The social media-integrated shopping apps are great for business professionals looking to expand their online sales channels. ### For Mobile Payment The Ok'd app's ability to quickly transfer funds through mobile devices is a great example of innovation in mobile payment technology. ## Trend signals for Sale Scanning Trend score 3.0 out of 10, from popularity 58%, activity 24%, freshness 8%. - Popularity: 58% - Activity: 24% - Freshness: 8% ## Recent trend clusters - [Costume Commerce](https://www.trendhunter.com/protrends/halloween-brand-activations) (Business) - [Choice Scaffolding](https://www.trendhunter.com/protrends/ai-shopping-tools) (Business) - [Ritual Retail](https://www.trendhunter.com/protrends/beauty-service-retail) (Business) - [Occasion Coding](https://www.trendhunter.com/protrends/commemorative-watch-design) (Fashion) ## Trending in Business - [Fashionable Frozen Yogurts](https://www.trendhunter.com/trends/aritzias-aok-caf) - [Fragrant Body Care Ranges](https://www.trendhunter.com/trends/summer-fridays-body-collection1) - [Social Wellness Destinations](https://www.trendhunter.com/trends/sweat-and-tonics-new-yorkville) - [Lifestyle Subscription Advent Calendars](https://www.trendhunter.com/trends/fab-fit-fun-advent-calendar) All articles: [Business](https://www.trendhunter.com/business)