Purchasing through Apps is so 2017 - 7 Eleven, BPme, Baskin & Robbins

With our constant attention on our mobile devices, and the fact that we are getting lazier and lazier, one emerging trend is that we have been bombarded with apps. Recently, 7 Eleven brought in an app with an innovative idea - you can lock in a petrol price from today and fill up a few days later when you do need to get fuel, at today's price. However, you need to pay first via the app even before you get to the petrol station. The advantage is cheap petrol any time you want and you don't need to line up to pay for your fuel once you are done and drive away legally. Of course this could have a cannibalising effect on their in-store purchases. For that, the 7 Eleven app also offers in store specials like free coffee, free fruit, free iced coffee and special pricing for many of their products - all redeemable via the app in store.

Then this week Baskin & Robbins enticed their mailing list to install their app with a $10 incentive to sign up. This also takes your credit card details and enables you to order your ice cream via the app. Not sure what this serves except to enable B&R to advertise to you directly via their app. 

Also launching recently is the BP petrol station app BPMe. This was promoted via AMEX and also advertised on TV as a new way of paying for your fuel. There have been teething problems for those early adopters, some didn't get their credit card charged, some got declined after they left the petrol station, others couldn't even get past unlocking the fuel pump via the app. For mothers and fathers with a carload of kids which need to come into the store every time you fill up, apps like these when they work will be very popular! 

This summer, Maccas has also decided to up their app game. They've experimented with at least three types of apps and their newest one is called Ordering if you can't find it in your app drawer. They are offering a special offer every day of the summer. Today was a $3 double cheeseburger and tomorrow is a free hash brown with every purchase. Thanks to ozbargain, here are the upcoming in-app offers - 

• Thursday, 14th December 2017 - Free Hash Brown with any burger purchase
• Friday, 15th December 2017 - Free large sundae with any large fries purchase
• Saturday, 16th December 2017 - Buy a McFlurry, get a Free Apple Pie
• Sunday, 17th December 2017 - Buy a 6 pack of Nuggets, get $2 off Hotcakes
• Monday, 18th December 2017 - Free side salad with medium or large Qtr Pounder, Filet 'o' Fish or McChicken Meal

Hungry Jacks Shake and Win app has been around for a while and still proves to be very popular. If you didn't know this is how you can get free food once a day. Free orange juices or free coffee in the morning are quite regularly offered. Free fries and free large cokes come up quite a bit as well. 

With so many business apps, which app plays have impressed you?