Visual search firm Slyce has launched a new product for retailers that enables customers to transform photos of physical coupons into mobile-optimised digital versions that can be stored within an app.

The feature, called Snap-to-Coupon, can be integrated into retailer apps and lets consumers take a photo of any physical coupon, from a newspaper, catalogue, receipt or direct mail leaflet, and instantly generate a mobile version within the retailers own app.

The retailer can then take advantage of the coupons digital format to send push notifications reminding consumers to use their discounts, with automatic triggers able to be set up for when coupons near expiration dates or the consumer is close to a branch.

The solution has been deployed in a closed beta test by retail giant Toys R Us, and the company is also currently powering all of its digital and mobile coupons with Slyces Coupon Author platform, which includes options to render coupons in Passbook and Google Wallet.

“One of the biggest challenges retailers face in mobile is giving customers a compelling reason to download their app,” said Mark Elfenbein, CEO of Slyce. “For consumers, coupon accessibility and utility is typically the number one most requested feature for retailer apps. Snap-to-Coupon provides retailers with a highly intuitive feature for their apps which can dramatically increase adoption and engagement.”