Smartphones have really changed the way people operate on a daily basis. Right now, I am sitting on the bus on the way to school typing out this blog post, something that would have been impossible only a few years ago! Having access to the World Wide Web on this little device that I can easily store in your pocket is quite amazing if you think about it! So how can we really benefit from going mobile? What are some of the opportunities businesses can garner from this new world filled with iPhones, Blackberrys and androids?
As the summer approaches I have begun tirelessly searching for a job. I've done the internship thing and this summer if I am going to make it to Europe (which is my ultimate plan) I've got to make some a ton of money. So I have applied to several jobs (many over my phone on the mobile site for Indeed) that interest me. This weekend I travelled to Toronto to interview for a summer sales position for a company called D1 Mobile , a small company run by two young guys. What they have done is created this super cool app called Appetite. It's an app that links customers up to super cool, independent restaurants and allows them to check out the menu, look at photos of the dishes and for many of the restaurants, place an order for pick up. What's amazing about this app is not only is really simple and easy for the customer to use, but it also great exposure for the restaurant. There are many other websites that allow you to place orders online, but what's different about Appetite is that it focuses on smaller independent restaurants that the people working at D1 Mobile know are good and know that customers want to have access too, as opposed to a site having a ridiculous amount of restaurants regardless of the quality of their food. The app also allows customers to vote for a restaurant to offer app ordering if they don't yet and have them rate the restaurant. It therefore provides valuable feedback to the restaurant about their customers. All in all this is a really awesome app and I think everyone should take a second and check it out!
This is just an example of how going mobile can be a real advantage for businesses. Having apps or mobile sites really allows a business to get exposure that isn't possible simply over the web. I know that I have several big company apps on my phone, like Starbucks, Freshii, LCBO, etc. The ease of use of these apps is what drives me to use them and therefore makes me more loyal to these companies over others that may not offer apps.
Anyways, I am almost at campus and my thumbs are cramping from typing this all out, but this has definitely been a mobile experience that I will never do again forget.
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