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TabUp – An app developed by Pioneer and invested in by Pitbull!

tabup app maker

For the guest experience it’s… “game changing.”

Through their own mobile devices, guests can order and keep ordering for their on premise table, cabana or any specific location they may be. Extend your existing service and increase revenue, decrease costs all while keeping the very best staff busy and making more money. The guests order more often, receive the best service; the cost/benefits are astounding.

 

Pioneer (New York based App Development) has partnered up with Hermit Crab Technologies to create an iOS and Android application that is quickly being adopted by restaurants and venues across the United States. With exciting new features, Pitbull has jumped on board and invested into the platform as well!

Core Features:

  • QR Coded Locations: TabUp uses QR Codes to uniquely identify the guests’ ordering location on premises, whether it’s a table, dock, cabana, or any other place where service can be provided. It’s inexpensive, easy to implement, and everyone is familiar with them.
  • Order Sharing: This process gives guests the choice to order from their own device on a shared tab, eliminating the requirement to use one device. Order Sharing accelerates the ordering process and give guests a better experience.
  • Built in two-way communication: Enhanced communication with guests that take a longer distance or more time to service improves the guest experience. Marketplace POS systems do not offer two way communication.
  • Guest Controlled Check Splitting: Servers don’t like splitting checks and guests don’t like waiting for their check to be split.  TabUp gives guests the power to split the check on their own, saving everyone time and hassle.
  • Open Tab Technology: Other services require every round to be closed out and paid for prior to being submitted. This is frustrating and limits revenue. With open tab technology the guest experience is enhanced.

App Screenshots:

nyc app maker
Are you looking to create an app? Check out why you should here

Personalized App

The Concept of a Personalized Mobile App

Personalized apps have been making their way into the market and are incredibly useful for selling. Whether the product is a subscription, fitness plan, skincare routine, or merely physical products, a personalized app can increase sales and provide a much more personalized and targeted experience for the consumer.  So how does it work?

 

Personalization

There are many ways in which an app can be personalized, and it will all depend on what algorithms you or your company use, but it is possible that your app can learn to replace human recommendations.  The ability to craft a skincare routine, a workout routine, etc. is all possible through an app. The big question is, how do you create an app that learns users’ preferences?

Questionnaire

The first and most straightforward way to start personalizing the app is to start with a questionnaire.  For example, if you were creating a mobile app to help consumers determine what meals to cook for dinner, your questionnaire can narrow in on what a particular user would like and dislike and then offer recommendations based on their own preferences.  The same goes for skincare and fitness apps.

Like and Dislike

After the initial questionnaire, you should consistently be asking for feedback on the recommendations from the user.  The easiest way to do this is through a like or dislike button on each recommendation. That way, the app is continually learning about the user leading to more targeted recommendations.

Browsing Ability

The app should have the ability for users to browse products, recipes, workouts, etc.  That way, you can track a user’s clicks and browsing data to provide more targeted recommendations. This is also a great way to have the user’s introduced to items that your algorithm didn’t pick up.

 

These were some quick tips when developing a personalized app and why a personalized app could be extremely beneficial for you or your company.  If you’d like to know more about the functions and possibility of building a personalized mobile app, reach out to Pioneer, and we can help you along the way.

 

pioneerapplications.com | #pioneerwithus

Tips for Starting a Food Delivery App

As the COVID-19 pandemic continues to ravage the food and entertainment industry, it is now more than ever that consumers are looking for takeout/delivery.  Here are a few tips on how to start your own food delivery app.

 

Ease of Search and Location-Based

If you plan to have a food delivery or takeout app, you’ll want to make sure your customers can find what they are looking for and not get frustrated and close the app.  The same goes for when they are perusing a restaurant’s menu.  Ease of use and simple ordering methods will make your app more successful.

 

Estimate Delivery/Pick-up Time

Most people, when looking for takeout or delivery, are hungry and want their food as soon as possible. An app with a time estimate will provide customers a sense of patience as they are aware of when to expect their food.  It will also help inform their decision of where to order from as I’m sure they won’t want to wait hours for their food.

 

Payment

This is a crucial factor in a food delivery/takeout app.  Customers should be able to pay and tip through the app.  No one wants to have to search for cash or hope that the delivery driver can swipe their credit or debit card. A payment processor in the app will ensure customer satisfaction and an increase in sales.

 

Ratings/Reviews

This is a no-brainer, most people, when making a decision, will look at reviews and ratings.  If those reviews and ratings are easily accessible, the customer will most likely go somewhere else and spend their money on a competitor.  Make sure to include ratings and reviews for all partnered restaurants.

 

Delivery/Pick-up Options

Ever since the pandemic began, the way we interact, shop, and travel has been changed, so has the way we want our delivery or pick-up.  Make sure your app includes options for your customers to choose from whether your customer doesn’t mind meeting the delivery driver at the door or if your customer opts for a contactless approach.  Options are everything.

 

These were just a few tips to get you started on the road to your mobile app development.  For more tips and advice, follow us on Facebook, Twitter, and Instagram.

 

pioneerapplications.com | #pioneerwithus

App Redesign

App Redesign – When Is It Needed?

Let’s say your business is already up to speed and has an app.  When is an app redesign needed, and how do you decide what you need to change?

Design changes just as quickly as technology, so it’s important to know that at some point, your mobile app is going to need to go through a remodel.  So how do you know when it is the right time?

 

Low Conversion Rates

Is your user base not growing?  Are users bored or not impressed with the app?  Are sales weak?  If any of these apply to your app, it might be time to polish up your app’s UX. (Read more about UX vs. UI)

 

Low Ratings and Negative Comments

Is your app getting negative reviews and minimal stars on the app store?  If so, take advantage of the negative comments and determine if your UI/UX design needs changing.  If you are getting low ratings, it’s probably a good time for a redesign.

 

Modifying your Target Audience

If you modified your target audience just like changing your tactics to captivate your audience, you’d need to change the design of your app.  Your app will have to be modified to accommodate your new audience, as well as your product vision and marketing strategy.

 

Your Company Rebranded

This seems pretty straightforward; if your company has just undergone a rebranding, you’ll want to ensure that your branding is consistent across all platforms, including mobile.  This is an indicator that a mobile app redesign is needed.

 

How to Know What to Change

Like above, user feedback is incredibly valuable when understanding the changes needed to ensure your app’s success.  Analyze all user feedback as well as analytics to get an idea of the changes necessary. Don’t be afraid to conduct some research, whether it is surveying your users or researching the competitor, research can lead you in the right direction when determining app changes.

 

pioneerapplications.com | #pioneerwithus

UX vs. UI Designer

The difference between a UX and a UI Designer

UX and UI designers are used interchangeably, but they are not the same thing.  To start, UI is user interface, and UX is user experience.  Each one is incredibly different, and so are the tasks of a designer.

What does a UI designer do?

A UI designer is typically a more visual person.  A UI designer creates the look and feel of the product through branding and graphic development, user guides and storylines, design research, and customer analysis.  The UI designer is also responsible for the interactivity and responsiveness through UI prototyping, animation, and the adaptation for all screen sizes.

What does a UX designer do?

Unlike the UI designer, a UX designer is responsible for a variety of tasks.  The UX designer is typically 33% marketer, 33% designer, and 33% project manager, and 1% anything else the project requires.  A UX designer’s typical tasks vary from strategic to execution with content, wireframing, prototyping, and analytics in between.

As the differences are apparent between UX and UI designers, why do companies use the term interchangeably?

The answer to why they are used interchangeably isn’t too clear as these are relatively new fields. Still, most of the time, they are used together because the company is demonstrating that they have both designers or are versatile enough to be both.

Now that you know the difference between UX and UI, hopefully, you’ll be able to make a more informed decision when hiring a designer or even to look for a job as one.

If you’d like to learn more about UX and UI design, please visit our website at pioneerapplications.com.

 

pioneerapplications.com | #pioneerwithus

How Pioneer Mobile Applications Got Its Start

Pioneer Mobile Applications was founded in 2012 by Phil Scarfi and has been in business for over eight years. They’ve brought the visions of many individuals and companies to life with mobile app development and design. They’ve worked with Buzzfeed, UMass Amherst, and All in One Music Applications, to name a few. I wanted to virtually meet with Phil and discuss his experiences and where he sees Pioneer going in the future.

So, Phil, what made you want to start Pioneer?

When I first started developing apps, I was making them for everyday tasks that would make my life easier. Eventually, my friends started finding out that I had this skill, and they asked if I could make some apps for them. As time went on, I was able to see the effect I had on other people by being able to bring their ideas to life. It made me feel incredible, so I continued to pursue the mission of helping others turn ideas into reality through mobile apps, and now I’m here!

Do you remember your first client? What was it like to have your first project, and how did it go?

Believe it or not, one of my first clients was also one of the biggest, UMass Amherst. I initially made an app that I could use to gather all of the dining hall menus and put them in one place to quickly see what they were serving for breakfast, lunch, and dinner. My RA in my residential hall found out that I made this and had me tell the Dean of Students about it. The Dean of Students then sent me over to the head of the dining services, and they were interested in building the app out to provide it to all of the students at the universities. Working with large institutions like this had a lot of hoops you had to go through, but it was an incredible learning experience.

Now you’ve worked with some very notable clients, what was that like? Were you nervous about taking on such a client, and what was one of the biggest challenges you faced on that project?

When it comes to working with the more notable clients, I was absolutely nervous. The biggest thing that I have learned is that it’s important to be yourself and act like it is any other client. All of our past client relationships were successful, so as long as we stuck to what we did best, everything should go as planned. The biggest challenge when it comes to working with larger clients is that there are usually many more people involved in the process. It was essential to have a single point of contact for any concerns for issues, but simultaneously have an environment where we can efficiently get feedback from numerous members. Since Pioneer’s clients are based throughout the United States, we turn to platforms to manage communications such as Slack.

If a company, business, or individual was on the fence about having a mobile app, what would you say to them?

If a company, business, or individual was on the fence about have a mobile app, I would be completely transparent with them and list out both the pros and cons. In about 99% of the cases, having a mobile app developed is beneficial in one way or another. We are living in a world where people are spending hours per day on their mobile devices. More and more people are moving away from their computers and getting tasks done on their iPhones, iPads, tablets, and other mobile devices. Whether you are looking to make your business more efficient, solve an everyday problem, or make money, having an iPhone or Android app developed is a route worth exploring.

Lastly, where do you see Pioneer 5 years from now?

In 5 years, I see Pioneer working with a wide variety of clients, both small and large. We hope that some of our smaller clients will grow and turn into larger clients down the road. New technology comes out every day, so Pioneer will continue to stay on top of that and integrate all of these technologies into the apps that we build. Pioneer also has the mission to solve everyday problems through mobile apps, so we have some platforms our team is working on that should be released soon, so we hope you’ll Pioneer with us and stay tuned!

 

 

Wow, that’s great! I’m excited to see what platforms Pioneer has coming out. It’s been great to chat with you and hear about your experiences and advice to others. I think this has been eye-opening for people who are not in the developer world and even those who are. Thanks again and I hope we can catch up soon!

Phil Scarfi, Founder of Pioneer Mobile Applications
Phil Scarfi, Founder of Pioneer Mobile Applications

If you’d like to stay up to date with Pioneer Mobile Applications, follow their social accounts (Facebook | Twitter | Instagram | LinkedIn) and check them out at pioneerapplications.com.

pioneerapplications.com | #pioneerwithus

If you don’t have a mobile app, are you keeping up?

Benefits of having a mobile app

Every year the techies of the world come together to unveil the newest mobile hardware and software innovations, and each year mobile app development companies and the app industry are to thank for the growth of such an influential industry.  Apple and Google or iOS and Android provide the most tangible and valuable platforms for the app ecosystem. As smartphones and apps grow in popularity, an urging question emerges, are you keeping up?  What are the benefits of having a mobile app?

To answer the first question, are you keeping up?  There is no one size fits all answer.  For some, a mobile app doesn’t make sense, but for others, a mobile app is your best asset.  To answer this question, you’ll have to look at the benefits of having a mobile app.

If the benefits outweigh the non-benefits, then you probably should have a mobile app to keep up with competitors.

What are the benefits of having a mobile app?

 

Customer Contact

When you have a mobile app, it is much easier to stay in touch with your customers, because let’s be real, everyone has their phone in their hand at all times of the day and night. This is a considerable advantage of having a mobile app; you can easily send notifications to promote sales or keep your customers engaged.

 

Personalization

Now having a mobile app developed gives you the opportunity to have a highly personalized platform with fantastic mobile app design, and this goes both ways.  The main advantage of a mobile app is your customers can set their preferences and have a highly personalized experience when interacting with your app. This personalized experience gives you the upper hand when building relations with your customers.

 

Engage with your Customers Longer

It’s no secret that consumers spend more time on mobile devices, but did you know that 86% of mobile users spent their time on mobile apps?  That is compared to only 14% of those who spent their time on mobile websites.  If you don’t have a mobile app, your customers aren’t going to be engaging with you for long periods.

 

Brand Presence

This is a no-brainer.

Brand. Brand. Brand.  When your customers install your mobile app on their smartphone, your customers will see the icon of the app numerous times a day, which acts as a mini-advertisement for your brand.  It’s also known that when a customer has your app on their phone, it influences their perception of your brand.

 

ROI and Conversions

This benefit could be one of the most important benefits when it comes to conducting business.

Will you get a return on your investment in a mobile app?  The answer is most likely yes.  A mobile app development company can bring your app to life, and once that app is published, you are more likely to reach more people—new customers.  Once your app is in the hands of your customers, it can be used as a tool to increase conversions.  Since mobile apps are so targeted, you can easily ping specific customers and push them down the conversion funnel, which generates more sales, which makes your investment completely worth every penny.

 

If you’ve made it to the end of this article, you spent valuable time reading about the benefits of a mobile application.  You saw value in each benefit and can most likely answer the overarching question if you don’t have a mobile app, are you keeping up? Most likely, if you don’t have a mobile app, you are falling behind your competitors, but it is never too late to get back in the game!

 

pioneerapplications.com| #Pioneerwithus

Augmented Reality in Mobile App Development

Fantasy and Reality Collide in Mobile App Development

One of the latest trends taking over mobile app development is bringing virtual experiences to life through augmented reality.

This trend has been seen in a number of games or film editors that place virtual objects right in front of you using your mobile device’s camera. Also seen in social media, Snapchat and Instagram use facial recognition to create interactive filters. Perhaps the most expansive example of this mobile app development is Google Maps. They use satellite technology to give you step-by-step directions that use the view right in front of you through your camera. Google even recently introduced a new feature that brings a virtual fox on your screen to follow for directions.

While these technological advancements seem daunting, more and more developers have obtained the tools to integrate them into their web and mobile platforms. Using physics-based techniques, companies have increased their access to 3D technology to use your surroundings and create content based on your location. This gives those companies a whole new market in mobile app development to invent useful and powerful apps that enhance consumers’ everyday experiences. It has even been said that at the rate the technology is moving currently, it will be difficult to determine the difference between a digital and physical scene.

The possibilities of these advancements are near endless. They have already been used in games like Pokemon Go, social media platforms, as well as navigation and public transportation apps. As augmented reality progresses, it will no longer be a figure of speech to say you have the “world at your fingertips”.

 

Blockchain and the Mobile App Development Industry

Blockchain and the App Industry

We hear “Blockchain” all the time as the technology tracking business processes. Most major Fortune 500 companies have explored their technology, but how could Blockchain have an effect on the development of your company’s mobile app?

Blockchain,broken down, is the technology tracking every transaction, creating a “block” with a timestamp keeping records that anyone can view, but no one person can alter. This ensures that business operations are kept honest and legitimate without interference from a third party, explaining why most Fortune 500 companies and other businesses around the world use the technology for the high levels of security and confidentiality they offer.

Logically, Blockchain can play a huge role in financial transaction technology, such as Bitcoin. Many new mobile apps being launched in our modern world use technologies like Bitcoin, or something similar. This is where utilizing Blockchain comes in. Many marketplace apps are now being created, promoting social payments by means of bitcoin and digital transactions. This enables users to buy and sell goods with each purchase monitored and driven by Blockchain, tracking each exchange while securing the actual contents (money) within the exchange. In gaining recognition for its benefits, it has even been announced that iOS will now allow blockchain payment, further promoting social payment systems through mobile apps.

The reach of Blockchain technology has already extended into a vast variety of industries, but for those mobile developers who have yet to catch word, the benefits Blockchain offers are not something to overlook when creating your company’s app. This technology is the future of digital marketplaces, granting you higher degrees of consumer protection and keeping your work, as well as your consumers’ transactions, confidential. If you are looking to expand your business and go mobile, consider using the Blockchain system as you start the development of your app.