Appcelerator Integration Partner: Matchbox Design Group Makes the Move to Mobile
Matchbox Design Group has helped over seventy companies digitally build and grow their brands since their formation in 2006. But this past year, they’ve expanded their reach from building websites to a full mobile strategy by forming a partnership with Appcelerator; Matchbox Design Group chose to partner with Appcelerator due to the cross-platform mobile development capabilities of the Titanium mobile framework.
One of the first applications they’ve made is Telugo, an app that functions similarly to a restaurant’s deal punch cards which reward loyal customers with a free item after they've made a certain number of purchases. Telugo allows local venues to combine their reward systems so that their mutual customers might consolidate all of their cards into one convenient mobile app.
Telugo was released in March and already has over sixty local businesses signed up on its platform along with nearly 1000 users. The application has a map of all the venues that are signed up with the platform. App users can find local venues through geolocation. When one makes a purchase at a designated location, they are presented with a QR code that they may then scan in Telugo to track the number of purchases they've made. Once they have made the necessary number of purchases, users can use Telugo to claim their rewards. Telugo currently has a 5-star rating in the app-store.
In addition to Telugo, Matchbox Design Group has created an application to use at trade shows for Green Diamond Bags, a company that produces clean and reusable grocery store bags. The goal of this trade show app is to showcase Green Diamond Bag products in an aesthetically pleasing manner and to encourage participation through a contact form, ultimately increasing sales and revenue. Green Diamond Bags presents its product in a trade show booth with three iPads mounted on stands, each with the application open. When the app is not in use, it displays a sleek screensaver of the Green Diamond Bags logo on a video loop that heads to the home page of the application upon being touched.
The Green Diamond Bags app features a quick overview of the technology that allows the bags to be antibacterial, AP-360, as well as a gallery of their products. It also displays .pdf files of additional research reports and resources to educate consumers about AP-360 and a spreadsheet to gather contact information from interested parties. The contact form is unique because it was built to retain the submissions when there is no Internet connection; when the device finds a connection and the user enters a code into the first text box the app then pushes those entries to their online database. Since the app is catered towards functioning at a trade show, it is not available in the app store; however, Matchbox Design Group is currently working with the client to turn the products area into a consumer app that allows vendors to purchase their products in bulk.
The latest app the group is working on is an application for a law firm, to help possible clientele determine their needs and contact the firm. The app is going to be for the iPhone and iPad and will deliver articles to users relating to family law and offer users a web view for a client collaboration area. The app will also provide a contact form and directions to the law firm’s offices. This app is currently slotted for release in mid-September.
Though Matchbox Design Group has only recently shifted their attention to mobile apps; they are set apart from other developers in regards to their emphasis on user experience. “We try to find the best way to intuitively deliver your information to users,” said Managing Partner, Brent Feldman. “We are a full service agency and have many strengths in digital marketing including branding, web design, web development, social, and mobile.”
Matchbox Design group is not exclusively a mobile app company but they will continue to focus on opportunities to build mobile apps. According to Feldman, Matchbox Design Group has more opportunities lined up with current clients as an extension of their digital marketing services. “We have things coming up for educational institutions, our financial institution clients and a few other local businesses.”
For more on Matchbox Design Group, check out their website here, or follow them on Twitter @matchboxdesign. You can download Telugo here.
