Peoria Company Reinventing Itself

By Steve Tarter of the Journal Star
PEORIA — The iPod phenomenon has done more than make Apple Inc., makers of iPods, iPhones and other items, a lot of money. It has accelerated the development of the mobile Internet ...   Read complete article here.

Corporate Apps: Why Us? Why Now?

The means of interacting with your customer continue to evolve. One of today’s newest ways to connect is with a corporate app. Here are some examples of how some companies are getting right in their customers’ pockets:

Pizza Hut. Their app allows you to build a customized pizza on your phone by choosing the crust type and adding various toppings, then clicking a button to order it. Convenient for grown-ups and fun for kids!

Nationwide Insurance. While most of us know the steps we should take, it’s hard to think clearly after an accident. Nationwide Mobile helps you contact local authorities and emergency services. It also prompts you to exchange relevant information with the other driver, as well as take pictures of the scene with the iPhone’s built-in camera and record the exact location with the phone’s GPS.

AirStrip OB. Since this is the healthcare issue, I couldn’t neglect the huge impact apps are having on this industry. The Apple website shares an amazing example. AirStrip OB enables obstetricians to monitor different stages of labor even when they’re not by a patient’s side. Developed by AirStrip Technologies, AirStrip OB links individual mobile devices to a central server with HIPAA-compliant authentication, giving obstetricians remote access to live views of delivery room data—including fetal heart tracings, contraction patterns, vital statistics and nursing notes.

“AirStrip OB is an absolutely indispensable app on iPhone,” says Dr. Marco Giannotti. “It fundamentally changes the way I’m able to interact with labor and delivery. In a tenth of the time, without pulling a nurse away from what she’s doing, I get all the real-time data I need at the touch of a button.”

The Wine Connection. Massimo Marinucci runs a $20 million business with six employees, an online enterprise system and his iPhone. “We’re basically a web-based business,” Marinucci explains.

Having instant access to inventory and sales data means that Marinucci can better serve his customers. If a customer walks in and says, “You know, I can’t remember what I bought last time. Can you help?” he pulls out his iPhone, logs into the system and looks up the purchase based on the customer’s name or email address. If the customer decides to buy, Marinucci can process the sale right there, without using the cash register. And that results in a faster transaction for the customer and shorter lines at checkout.


Ahead of the Curve
DLA Creative recognized the trend of apps and launched a spin-off company six months ago. This new entity, appitudez, has already released several successful apps. Having the ability to create these portable marketing tools is just one more way to help clients extend their brand and reach the higher level of customer intimacy that is needed in today’s marketplace. iBi

This article was originally published in interBusiness issues, written by Michelle Lefebvre

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Peoria Company Reinventing Itself With iPhone Apps (Complete Article)

By Steve Tarter of the Journal Star

PEORIA — The iPod phenomenon has done more than make Apple Inc., makers of iPods, iPhones and other items, a lot of money.

It has accelerated the development of the mobile Internet as users learn "there's an app for that" and decide on which apps they want.

An app is computerese for application, if you didn't know.

As iPhones, iPod Touches (which provide the Internet connection without the phone) and other devices proliferate, the market for apps has exploded. Apple's iPod store offers more than 100,000 apps, with more coming available every day.

A Peoria company looks to help in that development.

Appitudez, Inc., a division of DLA Creative, Inc. 3332 W. Willow Knolls Road, already has developed two apps and has more on the way, said Michelle Lefebvre, DLA vice president.

"Financial Calculators" was the first app the Peoria agency developed. It allows the user 11 different calculators in one. The user can figure such things as home loans, auto loans and credit card payoffs - all in the palm of his or her hand. The financial tool sells for $5.99 - pricey by app standards, according to one online reviewer, who still raved about the app's effectiveness.

Then, earlier this year, Appitudez came up with "Cartoonerizer," a free download that lets you take your favorite photograph and convert it to cartoon form.

"Cartoonerizer had more than 45,000 worldwide downloads in the first week of its release on Jan. 5," said Adam Byerly, a partner in Appitudez who handles the tech side of the operation while Marc Lefebvre, DLA co-founder and Michelle's husband, handles design duties.

"Both of our apps have flown through the application process," said Michelle Lefebvre, referring to the official acceptance by iPod's Apple managers. "They receive over 8,000 apps a week for approval and not all are accepted," she said.

The app market is already a billion-dollar proposition, said Michelle Lefebvre. "Experts estimate it will be a $4 billion market by 2012," she said.

While many of the apps developed around the world are games people can play on their handheld device, Appitudez is focused on business, she said.

"We're kicking around ideas for our next app. We're excited about bringing this (opportunity) to corporations. There are plenty of large and medium-sized businesses that could benefit," said Michelle Lefebvre.

National firms such as Geico, Nationwide Insurance and Pizza Hut already offer apps to customers, said Marc Lefebvre. "In the case of Pizza Hut, you actually build the pizza you want online," he said.

The Peoria firm has already been pitching area customers on possible apps, said Byerly.

"For some target audiences, (apps) really make sense. My personal goal is to develop a double-digit number of apps over the next year or two," he said.

As Spencer, the Lefebvre's beagle, pads about the DLA offices ("He's our chief morale officer," said Michelle Lefebvre), change hangs in the air.

While DLA is a 17-year-old ad agency that has worked on all types of media campaigns, the whole concept of building specific downloads for customers is still relatively new, said Michelle Lefebvre. "We've had to reinvent ourself in terms of the services we offer. Part of this involves launching an entirely new service," she said.

Launched last year, Appitudez builds on DLA's marketing experience, she said.

The rapid adoption of apps by the public has proven to be a challenge. "We're still learning as we go," said Byerly.

One thing that hasn't changed is the need to listen to clients about their needs, said Michelle Lefebvre.

"As a marketing firm, our goal is to help companies develop creative strategies to grow their business in spite of difficult times," she said.

And find an app for that.