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Ready, Set, MegaRun!

Known as the pinnacle driving lifestyle adventure, MEGARUN is an eight-day exclusive road rally adventure along the West Coast.

For the third year, FUSION OF IDEAS has developed the event’s exclusive app that is used by the event drivers. The app allows drivers to get real-time updates, view the daily schedule with route information and checkpoints, and see the locations of other drivers through an interactive map.

Targa Trophies first partnered with the FUSION OF IDEAS in 2014 with the goal to move away from paper road maps and schedules to a fully digital experience. This ultimately changed the way participants interacted with the event.

Each year, the app is updated with a new look and new features that are tailored to the event.

MEGARUN’s nine-city tour kicks off Friday, May 31, in Las Vegas and finishes on Saturday, June 8, in Seattle. The MEGARUN formula circles around bringing together the best cars, people, driving roads and adventure destinations into an event experience.

Get a sneak peek of this year’s exclusive app in the video below, and follow along on the tour through Instagram.

 

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Why Choose A Custom Mobile App For Business Training?

There is a surge in the number of remote employees in the workforce. According to Deloitte’s 2018 “Global Human Capital Trends” report, 37% of the leaders surveyed said they expect an increase in contractors by 2020, 33% predict a rise in freelancers and 28% foresee growth in gig workers.

As a response to the growing number of remote employees in the ever-changing world of technology, many companies are undergoing a digital transformation, which is the integration of technology into all aspects of a business. And in the digital transformation journey as it relates to business training and education, finding the right software to digitize your existing business training program can be daunting.

With an abundance of software solutions out there, how do you ensure that your employee’s Learning Experience will meet the goals of your organization? And what do you need to consider when implementing new training techniques for your business?

Mobile Application For Training

Most mobile users can agree that most of what is done on our devices, from looking for a nearby restaurant to getting the latest news, is done through apps. That’s because mobile apps are faster, easier to use and more engaging.

The usefulness of mobile apps can be carried into business training and education. Mobile applications are driving the market because they are easy to use and do not require a new IT infrastructure when implementing them into the existing training programs.

A Customized Learning Experience

Mobile apps are remarkably different from traditional business training formats. While traditional learning modules follow a linear learning format, digital learning on a mobile application allows for a personalized experience.

While there are many options for training mobile apps, one size does not fit all. There are pros and cons to each software and you will either have to compromise your program to fit the software or utilize more than one software to fit your needs.

A custom-built mobile application allows organizations to remove, alter or add content to fit the needs of the business. Through a portal, admins can push updates and adapt to varied training needs, including compliance, soft skills, products and change management. Training can be delivered to mimic the organization’s actual work environment, and content branded with company logos and corporate color schemes.

If the idea of a custom application is appealing but the thought of developing an app from the ground up is daunting, consider a customizable content management system (CMS).

A templated application that displays content using a list or menu view, a customized CMS allows you to personalize the fonts, colors, designs, and logos to fit your brand. You can add, modify and remove content to fit your training module. With just one template, you can create various versions of your program, depending on your training needs. And finally, you can create rules to qualify how each course is approached.

On the admin side, you’re equipped with an easy-to-use web admin portal where you can continuously make changes to the content on display. This gives you a streamlined way to create and manage an app without having to hire a dedicated developer. After an initial design and development period of the app, the system is entirely yours to control. The end result, a cookie-cutter setup process with unique, personalized results.

Ready To Build?

If you are ready for a custom application for your workplace training program, a good place to start is with the leadership in the department where the training is coming from, as well as your IT team. Getting your IT involved early in the process will alleviate potential issues when implementing the application into the existing IT ecosystem.

It can also be beneficial to survey past or potential trainees who may be using the app to understand the level of their technical knowledge. The more information available, the more prepared your company will be when speaking with an app developer. Start with your end goal in order to properly communicate direction and insight to the app developer.

Custom applications should be tailored to your business to allow greater efficiency. Employees who use a mobile application will get the maximum Learning Experience, ultimately saving the company time, money and resources.

This article was originally published in eLearning Industry.

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Maximizing Digital Content on Mobile Devices

In today’s digital world, content is king. How does your business distribute important content, such as documents, images and videos, to your stakeholders? Content is futile if it’s not accessible or being utilized properly. And with nearly five billion mobile device users worldwide, mobile devices offer the most accessible, effective way for you to share content.

What is digital content?

Digital content is defined as any content that exists in the form of digital data. Beyond PDF, image and video files, digital content can also be an audio file, an infographic, a case study or client testimonial, or even a dedicated mobile application.

What are the different types of digital content?

Browse the internet for just a few minutes and you will see endless amounts and types of content. Check out this list of 101 different types of digital content you can try for your business.

Why should businesses preload digital content on mobile devices?

There are two main reasons businesses preload digital content on mobile devices:

  • Brand experience. Businesses use digital content to differentiate themselves, elevate their brand experience, and engage with customers. In particular, companies that give mobile devices as corporate gifts benefit from having preloaded digital content. When the recipient sees your company logo and can immediately access relevant information about your business upon turning on the device, it takes the recipient to another layer of the brand experience.
Black Box Corporation used customized Apple iPads with preloaded digital content as employee gifts.
Black Box Corporation uses customized Apple iPads with preloaded digital content as employee gifts.
  • Workflow efficiency. For enterprises with remote employees, a sales team or field workers, preloading digital content on company devices can help employees to enjoy maximum flexibility with increased productivity.

As an example, Atlas Roofing utilizes Apple iPads to help its contractors execute daily tasks efficiently. These iPads are preloaded with Atlas applications and worker tools and personalized with custom home and lock screens, enabling the contractors to access the resources they need with a click of a button.  

Atlas Roofing offers Apple iPads with preloaded, dedicated applications and tools for its contractors.
Atlas Roofing offers Apple iPads with preloaded, dedicated applications and tools for its contractors.

Where does FUSION OF IDEAS fit in?

FUSION OF IDEAS maximizes the reach of your digital content by preloading PDF, image or any other files onto a mobile device without you ever having to touch the device. We can customize your home and lock screen, remove or hide applications, and upload content to digitally personalize the device for your business.

At the end of the day, it’s about ease of use, engaging your user, flexibility and productivity, and accessing the right information anytime, anywhere. For more information about our digital content services, visit fusionofideas.com/branding.

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The Life Mastery Institute® iPad Brand Experience

Mary Morrissey, founder and owner of Life Mastery Institute®
Mary Morrissey, founder and owner of Life Mastery Institute®. Photo credit: marymorrissey.com

Inspirational speaker and best-selling author Mary Morrissey is a dream builder, who empowers others to achieve new heights of “spiritual aliveness, wealth and authentic success.” Morrissey is the visionary behind Life Mastery Institute®, a life coaching certification program that has transformed the lives to tens of thousands of people worldwide. 

Through Morrissey’s certification program, coaches are trained and mentored to learn how to effectively teach others and build their own successful, difference-making life coaching business. Coaches also receive in-depth mentoring, tools and templates for authentic client attraction, heart-centered client enrollment and business-building.

As part of the certification program, the coaches-in-training are given a customized Life Mastery Institute® iPad with books, music, program audios, and teaching tools all preloaded on the device. Each piece of preloaded content is handpicked by Morrisson, who encourages coaches to use the iPad as an all-in-one tool to find the resources they need for their life coaching business.

The Life Mastery Institute® iPad Brand Experience, Created by FUSION OF IDEAS

The Life Mastery Institute® iPad brand experience begins with a printed letter from Morrissey to welcome to coaches to the program. The next layer is the unboxing of a custom blue and gold branded device sleeve that is precisely fitted around the iPad box. Inside the box is the Life Mastery Institute® iPad customized with the logo etched on the back of the device. Through FUSION OF IDEAS’ proprietary laser etch process, the carefully designed artwork on the iPad will not fade, chip or rub off. And finally, the homepage of the iPad is completely personalized for the program with a custom home screen and dedicated apps and content preloaded onto the device.

To learn more about how FUSION OF IDEAS can create a brand experience for your business, visit fusionofideas.com/branding.

Custom-branded Life Mastery Institute® iPad
Custom-branded Life Mastery Institute® iPad
FUSION OF IDEAS mockup for iPad
FUSION OF IDEAS mockup for iPad
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5 Must-Have Features for Your Mobile Business App

As a business owner, you see the benefits of having a mobile application to help create efficiencies, cut operation costs and increase mobility.

Before you rush into the development stage, you should clearly identify your primary goals for your mobile solution and secondly, understand the features that you may want to be included in the app.

While most app features are discovered during initial conversations with the developer and discussed throughout the development process, it is still important to know and understand the elements of an effective mobile app.

To help you get started, we’ve put together the top five features of good mobile apps:

1. An Attractive User Interface

Visual design is not only about selecting the perfect images, colors, icons, fonts, but also determining how the appearance of the application impacts the user experience. The architecture and design phase is typically the first phase of every app development process, as it lays the foundation for the look and feel of the app.

2. Ease of Use

Eliminating any barriers to entry when using the app is another important element in creating an effective workplace application. You may lose users if they find your app difficult to navigate. In order to create the best user experience, it’s important to test your app with different user groups to find out how comfortable they feel while interacting with the app’s content across different platforms and environments. The journey throughout each section of the app should be smooth and seamless.

3. Fast and Reliable Performance

Have you ever used an app that loads slowly, crashes or completely shuts down while running? Understandably, most users have little patience for poor functionality and end up uninstalling or abandoning the problematic app. The most successful apps have fast response times and run continuously in the background. This is generally tested during the quality assurance phase in the app development process.

4. Simplicity

While it’s tempting to throw in fancy features on your mobile app, you lose your user when there are too many buttons and clicks in the app journey. Sometimes a simple, templated app, such as FUSION OF IDEAS’ Dynamic Content System (DCS), can be the best choice to meet your business needs.

5. Updated Content

When you have a system for pushing new or updated content and features to your app, you can continue to improve the reliability of the software. For businesses, it’s important to keep policies, sales messages and security issues up to date.

 

While understanding these qualities and features is essential to creating an effective mobile app for your business, it’s even more important to find the right partner to build your software.

The FUSION OF IDEAS dedicated in-house app development team follows a rigorous nine-step process when designing and executing a mobile application. Our number one priority is to create a custom mobile software solution that is tailored to your organization, and we are proud to have developed more than 300 mobile applications for companies of all sizes and budgets.

Contact our app development team to start a conversation about the possibilities of using technology to take your business to the next level.