smart phone apps v2

8/9/2019 Smart Phone Apps v2

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Smart Apps

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1. Background 4

2. DevelopingSmart Apps

5

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Introduction

The term “smart apps” refers to software applicationsthat run on smart phones. The basic purpose of these

applications is to enable users to make use of digitalservices without having to access an internet browser.

They also enable people to use services in ways thataren’t as possible on other channels, that:

o Locate where you are and personalise the

service around that.o Barcode transactional information to make

payments or access services.o Overlay digital information relevant to where you

are.1

With councils looking to promote and share informationabout their services in a way that is quick and easilyaccessible to the general public and looking at waysthat their customers can communicate with them aswell, smart apps appear to offer a potential solution.

This is especially the case due to the increase in use of this technology and its ability to enable people to easilyexchange information and make transactions. This has

led us to research the long term applicability of thistechnology as well as looking at the opportunities todevelop KCC Apps.

This guide should help to you understand thebackground to smart apps and go through the stepsof developing approaches to build new apps whichcan provide council services to the public.

1Otherwise known as augmented reality

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1. Background

Smart applications are being used more and moreacross the country. Indeed, over the past four years,sales of smartphones in the UK have risen almost

tenfold2 with 15% of mobile phone users owning asmartphone. They are predicted to continue growingyear on year by over 35%3.

Furthermore, these applications are not only limited tomobile phone users, as apps can also be accessedthrough other type of mobile applications, such as theiPod Touch or the iPad and so potentially offer an evenwider customer base.

There is limited evidence on statistics for take up of public services apps as they are so new, but for example Warwickshire Council have seen a fifteen foldincrease of smart phone users to its website from1000-15,000 hits since it developed its own generalpurpose smart app. As mentioned above, this is in linewith the increase in smart phone usage across the UK.

For specific uses from a clientele that is less likely touse smart phones, i.e. those out of work, about 6% of Jobcentre Plus customers use its app with over 60,000

downloads.

Alongside the rapid growth of smartphone sales, thereseems strong rationale for further exploring the use of smart phone applications which could provideinnovative and cost effective services for people inKent.

By changing the way people approach using their mobiles and accessing online public services, theseapps, designed to serve people on the move and

developed to provide multiple services, should helpdeliver benefits for both KCC and the people of Kent.

2OFCOM Technology Tracker

3Inform Telecoms and Media

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Developing Smart Phone Apps

Having read the background to why smart apps couldbenefit councils you may wish to develop your own

smart app. To do this you will need to:

1. Develop the approach

2. Engage people in your project

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1. Develop the approach

For the smart apps to become a useful tool for your residents and your council, develop an approach thatfocuses on different strands which all complement

each other.

o Develop a cost benefit analysis of the

effectiveness of smart apps in order to seewhether the benefits outweigh the costs. For thisyou should calculate the proportion of serviceusers who have downloaded the app versus theproportion of users who use online/phone/faceto face access. You should also calculate thecosts to develop and administrate apps versusthe cost of the overall process of developing and

managing the service.

Given the cost of development ranges from £0-£12000 depending on which smartphone youwant to develop an app for and whether or notyou have the skills available to program thelanguage the required, it is recommended toconduct a thorough market analysis.

o Develop a market analysis which analyses the

app economy in Kent to identify local developersthat we could work with to develop your apps.Further, you should learn what types of smartphones are available, which are mostwidely used and review the different platforms4.

o Develop a customer analysis which allows

you to review the different demographicgroupings against smart phone users. This canbe achieved using the Mosaic database.

This should include:o Age

o Gender

o Location

o If they have a high demand on public

services

Optionally, you could assess the behaviour of thecustomers of your service in use of smart phone appsto access local services in Kent.

4Including Nokia Symbian (38.8%), RIM Blackberry OS (19.2%), Apple iOS

(15.9%) Google Android (9.8%).

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o Develop a resource analysis which evaluates

the cost, skills and technology needed todevelop apps to each of the different types of smart phones. This should include the:

o Different types of smartphone appsavailable

o Data traffic by platform

o Costs of developing apps for different

platformso Skills needed to develop apps

o Technology needed to develop apps

o Review of existing online services for

apps5

ResourcesNeeded

Typesof SmartPhone

To developor test outthese tools,we need nota lot (1),some (2) or alot of (3)

Time Technology Research Funding Training

iPhoneOS

2 3 2 2 3

Blackber ry OS

1 1 2 1 2

Android1 1 2 1 2

SymbianOS

1 1 2 2 1

Window

s Mobile 1 2 2 1 2

5For example “Apply for it” apps, “Ask for it” apps, “Find it” apps, “Pay for it” apps,

“Report it” apps.

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2. Engage people in your project

o Encourage app developers to explore how you

could test or pilot these tools out, especiallythose groups helping prototype apps to improve

public services6.

o Raise awareness across your local area,

sector 7, national media8 and other related workstreams in your council. This could be achievedby posting videos on the KCC Website wouldallow you to explain your ideas to the public.You could also feature a vox pop or forum thereto get quick feedback and discover new ideas.

o Involve business units responsible to identify

what research you could capture together of theimpact of apps on improving services.Representatives of your communications,technology, engagement and informationservices are critical.

o Engage companies enabling users to develop

apps for them to see if there any opportunitiesfor collaboration9 and understanding lessonsthey have learnt.

o Sound out people who are already

working on smart apps. This will give you abetter understanding on how to engage thecommunity of developers in this field.

o Get people to help each other.

Encourage volunteers to get together and complete tasks while they’re out and about. Get young people excited about positive activities and connect with each other .

6 http://appsforgood.org/

7

http://www.idea.gov.uk/idk/core/page.do?pageId=9274627 8 http://www.guardian.co.uk/technology/2008/oct/30/politics-web2

9Such as O2 Litmus

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http://app.beextra.org/


http://boredometer.plings.net/



http://appsforgood.org/


http://www.idea.gov.uk/idk/core/page.do?pageId=9274627


http://www.guardian.co.uk/technology/2008/oct/30/politics-web2










smart phone apps v2

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