The massive daily deals site Groupon is launching a new service in Austin. It’s called Groupon Now, and it allows people to buy coupons for immediate use in their neighborhoods. You can check out the service here or on a mobile phone app.
In a press release, Groupon says it allows businesses to attract customers when they need them most, “managing the flow of customers in real time.”
The number of daily deals sites has exploded online, with more than ten new sites expanding service to Austin in the last year, the Austin Business Journal reports.
While Groupon is still the largest daily deals site, it has been facing stiff competition from competitors like Living Social, according to Bloomberg News.
Groupon Inc.'s share of online daily deals slipped to 48 percent in May from 52 percent the previous month, as rivals including LivingSocial.com closed in on its lead in the growing market for discounts offered on the Web.
ChicagoBusiness.com reports that the Groupon Now rollout is part of an aggressive strategy by the company to boost its hyperlocal presence in advance of an IPO.
