Category: Apps

This SDK will soon be in the hands of many developers for the creation of applications for users.

SAP has now announced the general availability of its latest mobile app development tools in its Mobile Platform 3.0, which is a software development kit (SDK) that has been designed to allow developers to be able to build applications for business partners, employees, and consumers.

Among the early adopters of this newly shipped software is National Grid, a U.K electricity and gas transmission network.

That company has already used this mobile app development platform update in combination with other tools from SAP in order to provide more than 1,500 field engineers with greater ability for using iOS devices to maintain the energy grid. Those engineers are employing the new system for a broad spectrum of different tasks that include everything from maintenance work that has been completed in the field, to taking photos of the repair work that needs to be done or that has been completed. As soon as the mobile devices connect with a WiFi network, the images that have been captured are stored for transmission alongside the rest of the history for that job, and any additional useful data.

This use of the mobile app development platform will mean a considerable savings on data plan use costs.

According to the UK National Grid’s head of Information Systems, Tina Sands, this new mobile device friendly software from SAP “delivers an incredibly powerful but simple user experience for our field engineers so they can focus on their day jobs.”

Also using a pre-release version of the SAP Mobile Platform 3.0 is Augsburg, Germany-based MSC Mobile. That company’s mobile developers created an application that brings in the power of augmented reality. The concept is that it will allow workers in stores to be able to check whether or not the products that bring in the highest profits remain in stock on the store shelves, or whether they need to be restocked (or reordered, for that matter).

The mobile app development of that MSC Mobile product, which is called Shelf Plus, also provides employees with the ability to view a store shelf through the device screen in order to identify the location of certain items that are on a pre-created checklist.

A popular UK mall is using iBeacon technology for its special “Ladies Night”.

The marketing team at Meadowhall shopping center, located in Sheffield, South Yorkshire, England, has developed a mobile app that uses geolocation technology, which will give its female shoppers the opportunity to take advantage of great deals and bargains during its “Ladies Night” event later this week.

Shoppers with the mobile app can receive real-time discount offers.

Meadowhall’s marketing team, in collaboration with technology startup TagPoints, developed the application. However, the app was not only designed for the upcoming event, but has also been created to work with specific events that are occurring throughout the shopping mall’s calendar. That being said “Ladies Night” will be its initial test.

When users download the app, real-time shopping deals from retailers in the mall will be sent directly to their mobile device. This is made possible through BLE (Bluetooth Low Energy) iBeacon technology.

When a shopper discovers a hotspot, a push notification is sent to their smartphone. All they need to do is tap the notification to activate the offer. Once activated, the offer can be redeemed immediately. Some of the participating retailers include: Hotel Chocolat, House of Fraser, Cath Kidston, and Krispy Kreme.

Meadowhall’s marketing director, Richard Pinfold, said “our upcoming Ladies’ Night event provides us with the perfect opportunity to launch this new platform. We will be closely monitoring our customers’ response to the trial to best manage the frequency and targeting of messages, and indeed the hotspot locations as a result.” He went on to say that iBeacon is an “exciting marketing concept”. It allows Meadowhall to connect with its shoppers and provide them with appropriate discounts and offers based on the customer’s location.

The introduction of geolocation technology is only one of many new systems implemented by Medowhall.

In addition to the app that uses iBeacon, the mall has also put its MallComm app into action, which is an application designed to share information and news among retailers who trade at the shopping center.

Nonetheless, it is the hope of Meadowhall that their trials during this event will help to illustrate the usefulness of iBeacon geolocation technology to retailers and consumers, alike. Location based tech has been rapidly adopted among merchants around the world, but shoppers are more hesitant to take part as they are resistant to opt into programs that involve tracking. Should the technique be employed appropriately, however, this has the chance to become one of the most successful applications achieved, so far.