The Tribune

By NATARIO McKENZIE

Tribune Business Reporter

nmckenzie@tribunemedia.net

A Bahamian App and mobile marketing company yesterday said it had experienced an “overwhelming response” to its first consumer-based offering, describing it as a location-based deal hub.

Keith Russell, owner and lead App developer at the Bahamas Apps & Mobile Marketing Co (BAMMCO), said the DealTrackr app is its first consumer-based offering for the five year-old firm. The App allows local businesses to issue real time notifications to mobile users throughout the Bahamas.

“We got started on the DealTrackr App last September,” said Mr Russell. “It’s a location-based deal hub. Persons can go to their favourite stores and, while they are there, all of the deals and specials would pop up on their smartphones.

“A person could also just be in the area. If they’re subscribed to the business as they’re driving past a Wendy’s, for example, alerts would show up on their phones to say what deals are going on.

“That’s essentially what the app does,” he added. “It triggers notifications when a customer is in the vicinity of a business, which in turn helps drive people in stores. If you can target people in your location, it’s a greater chance that they will actually come in and utilise whatever deal and special it is.”

As a person walks past or steps into participating businesses, a beacon, placed discreetly inside, can deliver targeted messaging to their smartphones.

Meanwhile, a geofencing virtual trigger can push notifications to smartphones within a set range of each business.

“We have had an overwhelming response,” Mr Russell said. “It actually surprised us. It’s the strongest response we have had to any of our products. This is the first consumer-based product we’re actually putting out; everything else was just behind the scenes for businesses.

“Businesses are excited. They can find out who is interested in the product, who is their base, and target people interested in their offering. It takes out the guesswork in marketing.”

The DealTrackr App is available for free in the Google play store and Apple App Store.