Case Studies > Giverrang: Boosting Local Businesses with IoT

Giverrang: Boosting Local Businesses with IoT

Technology Category

Platform as a Service (PaaS) - Application Development Platforms

Applicable Industries

Buildings
Cement

Applicable Functions

Product Research & Development
Sales & Marketing

Use Cases

Building Automation & Control
Supply Chain Visibility

About The Customer

Giverrang is designed for both shoppers and merchants. For shoppers, it is a great way to discover local products and experiences, and earn up to 45% cash back for supporting small businesses. It provides a platform for users to shop local and give back to the community. For merchants, Giverrang is a way to increase local visibility and sales with no up-front cost. It serves merchants by providing them with a platform to list their goods and services, and helps them gain the same marketing muscle as big national companies through promotional channels such as social media, newsletters, and push notifications.

The Challenge

Giverrang, a local marketplace app, was founded with the mission to boost small businesses and increase local spending. The app rewards members with cash back for spending at local businesses, providing a platform for shoppers to discover local products and experiences, and for merchants to increase local visibility and sales. However, the founder, Mark Walerysiak Jr., faced a significant challenge in developing the app due to the high cost of traditional development. His background in journalism and creative writing, and experience in mass media and community and economic development, did not provide him with the technical skills required to build the app himself.

The Solution

Mark discovered Bubble, a no-code platform, which allowed him to build functional apps without code. He was initially skeptical about the capabilities of Bubble, but soon realized that it was a game-changing product. He decided to immerse himself in Bubble to learn how to build not only the Minimum Viable Product (MVP) for Giverrang, but also any kind of tech product. The Giverrang app was built on Bubble and is easy to use. Users simply download the app, register for free, and browse through the products feed in their location. They can add products to their cart and checkout like any online marketplace. Merchants can set up their accounts and list goods and services on Giverrang.

Operational Impact

The use of Bubble's no-code platform for the development of Giverrang has been a significant success. It has allowed Mark, with a non-technical background, to build a functional app that serves both shoppers and merchants. The app has seen substantial growth since its re-launch, with a 120% increase in users and its first sale made in September. The market response to Giverrang's new direction has been very encouraging, leading to plans for further development and expansion. The app's emphasis on supporting local businesses has become even more meaningful in a post-COVID world, and there are plans to raise a seed round, build a team, and scale the app to expand its impact.

Quantitative Benefit