The Building Centre is well known for hosting innovative Built Environment events in the heart of London.  Now, this innovation has been taken to the next level with their events and product directory service, specifinder, being made available on the go through a mobile app.

We caught up with Michael James who told us a little more...

See the full gallery on Posterous

What made you get your own company app?

With the increased popularity of smart phones and portable devices, we wanted our customers to be able to access our services when they’re away from their desks – whether that be on-site or on the move. We felt that developing an App was a necessary step forward for us in order to widen our audience.

What functionality does the app offer?

The app provides listings of past and future events and exhibitions as well as exclusive videos, photography and programmes  via its built-in micro-apps. Instead of taking away a printed programme, a visitor can download a micro-app soon after an event or exhibition – a much more sustainable and convenient option. The App also includes a guide to our Product Galleries, listing all exhibitors under convenient product categories.

We’ve also incorporated specifinder.com, our online product directory, into the App ensuring that specifiers working on projects large and small can now easily look up suitable building products via a thoroughly modern and user-friendly platform with access to over 10,000 companies and 1,400 product categories - all from their pocket!

How have/will you use the app?               

As well as providing a new platform for us to deliver content from our events, exhibitions and information services, we find that the App is great to use in meetings and presentations when we need to demonstrate what The Building Centre has to offer.

How could your app help you win new business?

As well as generally expanding our audience, the App provides our specifinder subscribers (who are all building product manufacturers,) with added value, because every company who has an enhanced entry on the site will now have an entry within the App. This will potentially provide the manufacturers with exposure to a new audience, giving them one more reason to subscribe.

Who might be interested in the app?

The App would be of interest to industry professionals, students and those interested in architecture, engineering, planning, design and construction

How was it working with the Woobius team?

Working with Woobius was great. They were the hands-down first choice for developing our App because they understand our industry and our target audience. Although we knew what we wanted in an App, the Woobius team made suggestions and recommendations, coming up with some great ideas we hadn’t thought of. 

Who do you think could benefit from a Woobius App?

I think that just about anyone could benefit from an App if they have a product or service to promote, including product manufacturers who could use one to effectively and sustainably provide product information as an alternative to printed brochures for specifiers to use on the move and on site. Architects could also benefit from a Woobius App, they are a superb way to present case studies and photography, effectively showcasing the practice’s work – and I’m pleased to see some have started to do just that!

Download the Building Centre App

Permalink | Leave a comment  »

See the full gallery on Posterous

Are you up-to-date with mobile technology…do you know your apps from your elbow?

With big names such as Make, Building, MIPIM and Open House all recently launching apps, many professionals are now looking at how app technology can be applied to their line of work.

We're therefore pleased to announce our first free 'Mobile Apps in the Built Environment' event in partnership with The Building Centre.  We're delighted to also have CIMCIG (Chartered Institute of Marketing Construction Industry Group), COMIT Projects Ltd (Construction Opportunities in Mobile IT), MobiBiz and tCn supporting the event. 

Speakers from Zaha Hadid Architects, University College London, Competitive Advantage, Woobius, COMIT Projects Ltd and Building Design will come together on 27th March, 2012 to examine how apps can relate to your business. Speak to industry leaders about their experiences in app development, find out how apps and other future developments in mobile technology can help promote your business and discover the pros and cons of the app development process.

Although this is a free event. spaces are limited and would be suitable for any IT/ Marketing/ Business Development professionals or Senior Managers/ Owners wanting to keep abreast of mobile technology.

Speakers:

• Simon John, IT Manager, Zaha Hadid Architects - 'Why have we got a Mobile App?'
• Andrew Hudson Smith, University College London - 'Apps to Make Architecture Smart'
• Bob Leung, Woobius - 'Top 10 Tips on building your Company App'
• Neil Pawsey, COMIT Projects Ltd - 'Mobile Technology in the Built Environment'
• Anna Winston, Building Design - 'The BD App: Our Experiences and Future Plans' 
• Chris Ashworth, Competitive Advantage - 'Marketing & Communications Channels for the Construction Industry'

We'll also be revealing the most popular Built Environment Mobile Apps as part of our competition and giving away an iPad 2 to one lucky voter.

Book Now for free or Nominate your favourite app for your chance to win.

If you've read this far then why not keep up to date with nominations and event info by following @woobius on Twitter or subscribe to our new monthly newsletter. 

Permalink | Leave a comment  »

How does your work environment affect your creativity and productivity?

You may have seen the Channel 4 programme 'The Secret Life of Buildings' a while back.  

Looking at buildings for work, rest and play, the program asked if you can encourage the design of environments that motivate, stimulate, and empower?

''Our working environments lead double lives. On the one hand architecture can be used to control a building population and reinforce a power structure - think of a factory where the offices of the management look over the shopfloor. On the other hand architecture needs to motivate, stimulate, and empower people to feel special and productive. It's a difficult balance to get right and in many ways the modern history of workplace architecture can be seen as a struggle to find that balance.''

Watch a clip looking at the architecture and design of Wembley Stadium and how it has, or hasn't thought about the people using it! 

Woobius get creative but keep things 'Simply Simple!'

So with this in mind, the Woobius team wanted to give our work space a creative edge and have had some great desk designs made up to reflect each of us!

See the full gallery on Posterous

Each of our work station areas has been given a humorous title (reflecting the person that usually works there) including inspirational intellectual, creative engine (Bob), chief scribbler (yours truly), motivational host, design guru (Sam), woobius friends (for guests), business evangelist (Stephen) and success magician (Sasha).

Ok, so it's not quite the epitome of feng shui but it's a start! 

p.s - Thanks to Laura Davis (Sam's girlfriend) for designing them!

Permalink | Leave a comment  »