Tracker
The leading vehicle tracking and recovery company wanted us to update its mobile app
Tracker, which provides GPS and VHF vehicle tracking across the UK and boasts a 95% recovery rate, where 80% of vehicles are recovered within 24 hours.
The Problem
As part of its product package, Tracker offers an account-based service where members can track their car or motorbike, record trips, carry out security checks and report thefts. The majority of customers access their account via a mobile app. In recent years, Tracker has seen the market become crowded, so wanted to introduce some new features and enhance customer experience, to keep its app the number one choice.
What we did
To develop Touch, we used React Native, an open-source UI software framework which is used specifically for building mobile apps. It allows for more rapid app development and smaller overheads, as a single React Native codebase can be used for both iOS and Android. It also works well with JavaScript, which, as a team, we’re expertly versed with.
We integrated with Tracker’s existing REST API to connect the Touch app to Tracker’s backend systems, so that all of the updates and additions would work with the current system. Due to the complicated nature of the data, we chose TypeScript to help us reliably handle all of the information from Tracker.
We implemented many new and interesting elements in this app build. The first was geofencing - a feature which enables users to set a defined location boundary around their vehicle and should it move out of that area, the app sends an immediate notification. Not just useful in case of theft, but also helpful in cases where offspring borrow the car, too.
Mapping system
Mapping is a fundamental aspect of the Tracker app, used both to position a vehicle and to display crime statistics for geographic regions. We adopted Apple Maps for iOS and Google Maps for Android which allowed for cross-platform mapping functionality, all while giving Tracker’s users a straightforward experience that they are familiar with.
Other benefits include the ability to call Tracker directly from the app, should a vehicle be stolen and the ability to monitor up to five vehicles - so the entire family fleet can be covered!
This project involved a huge amount of work within a fairly short project timeline, but using sprint methodology made it run smoothly. Providing Tracker with a test build every week, then incorporating feedback into the backlog for the next sprint, meant we were able to complete this project on time, while meeting Tracker’s expectations. Dare we say it, the finished product actually exceeded their expectations.
Summary
The resulting app is clean, easy to navigate and provides drivers with that additional element of security, knowing they can keep their vehicle secure at the touch of a button. Tracker calls the Touch app “the new secret weapon in vehicle tracking technology” and we couldn’t agree more. To date, it’s had over 5,000 downloads in the Google Play store alone.
We continue to work with Tracker on new features and developments. You can find out more about the Touch app on Tracker’s website.
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