While they might not be able to give you hints on what to get your friends and family, Macy’s and Portland based Meridian just made it a heck of lot easier to find your way around the store, itself.
Macy’s has just released a new version of their mobile app that provides turn by turn directions in their flagship store. This feature is powered by the same technology employed by the Venetian casino, Powell’s Books, Portland Art Museum, and Jeld-Wen Field—all powered by Meridian.
“Black Friday is a day dedicated to finding the best deals,” said Macy’s chief stores officer Peter Sachse in a statement. “For the first time last year, Macy’s stores nationwide opened at midnight and our customers loved getting a head start on their holiday shopping. We’ve also created a new tool to help customers plan their shopping strategy with an enhancement to Macy’s mobile app that will identify and locate specials throughout each store on Black Friday.”
But the even bigger news (yes, I buried the lede) is that this functionality—turn by turn directions and that omnipresent blue dot inside of a building—is made available by Meridian’s new SDKs. Meaning? Meaning you can add that functionality to your apps now too.
It’s kind of like an early holiday gift for you.
Meridian’s indoor GPS technology has been the sole preserve of companies prepared to build their apps from inside Meridian’s custom editor. Now, however, it’s opened up the platform, introducing a pair of SDKs that let use anyone use its coveted Nav Kit and Blue Dot know-how to help people get around cavernous public spaces. Tested in locations like Miami Children’s Hospital, Sydney Airport and Macy’s, users will be able to get turn-by-turn directions to help them find their gate, offspring or this season’s must-have look — with the latter the first to launch a mobile app built with the technology.
That’s right. No more custom Meridian builds. The power of Meridian is available to any app developer.
Sound interesting? Head on over to the Meridian developers area and get the details on the NavKit SDK and the BluDotKit SDK.
For more on the company, visit Meridian, follow @meridianapps on Twitter, or read the Meridian blog.
