New app ‘nect’ launched, leveraging iBeacon and gamification

• ‘nect’ now available for iOS and Android devices
• Company to launch month-long campaign in Klang Valley on Oct 12

KUALA Lumpur-based Hyperion Labs Sdn Bhd said it has launched its ‘nect’ app for the Android and iOS platforms, allowing consumers to harvest points at physical shops – without needing to touch their phones – and letting them redeem specials using the accumulated points.
 
The app also complements retailers’ marketing efforts to encourage consumers to be physically present at their outlets.
 
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Nect was built based on iBeacon technology which retailers will be able to leverage to reach out and interact directly with consumers using proximity marketing, Hyperion Labs said in a statement.

Citing Malaysia’s Retail Industry Report dated July 2, 2015, the company said consumers are holding back on spending and retail sales have dropped due to numerous factors, creating a huge gap in between retailers and consumers. nect is designed to fill and close this gap, it added.

“nect … combines and gamifies both proximity technology and conventional points-based systems,” said Hyperion Labs chief executive officer Bobby Ong.
 
nect users (or necters) can harvest nect Points (NPs) without even taking their phones out of their bags or pockets. ‘Harvesting’ is done automatically when they come into proximity with nect beacons installed in all ‘nect-powered locations,’ the company said.
 
necters will receive 1 nect Point for every five minutes to up to an hour at each location, and the accumulated points can be used to redeem specials at the same location.
 
On the gamification front, for each activity – whether it’s harvesting points, discovering new nect-powered locations or redeeming specials – necters gain Experience Points (XPs) that can be accumulated to advance to the next level of app usage.
 
Upon unlocking new levels, necters will get to enjoy point bonuses to speed up unlocking greater specials, said Hyperion Labs, which was founded in 2014.
 
necters will also receive updates from retailers regarding exclusive deals through the app. With this functionality, retailers no longer need to subscribe for SMS services to entice consumers, Hyperion Labs said.
 
To introduce nect to the Klang Valley, the company will launch a month-long campaign called ‘Coffee Up with nect’ on Oct 12.
 
A total of 100 cafes in the Klang Valley will play host to participants who have to exhibit their creativity through Instagram. Weekly cash prizes worth RM500 each, and 1,000 cups of coffee are up for grabs.

For more info, go to www.nectarize.com.
 
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