New Features in Locatify Builder and Locatify Apps

At Locatify, we’re dedicated to continuously improving our system and apps to meet the needs of our customers. Over the past year, we’ve made numerous updates and enhancements to the Locatify Builder and our apps. While we’ve kept our development process low-key, we’re excited to share the highlights of our progress in 2024 and beyond.

Highlights of the Latest Features

1. Progressive Web App (PWA)

Using the Flutter framework, we developed a PWA solution that allows customers to create their own branded web apps for museums or heritage sites. Visitors can scan QR codes to access the app via a web browser (Google Chrome, Mozilla Firefox, or Safari). This feature is ideal for museums, galleries, and tour guides, offering:

  • Indoor and outdoor audio guides with manual or GPS-triggered activation.
  • Content presented in list or map formats.
  • Free tour building and previewing with watermarked content and short audio clips.
  • Easy app generation by uploading content and branding. Learn more here.

2. Project Wizard with Templates

In December 2024, we launched a new Project Wizard with pre-made templates, offering an intuitive way to create projects from a blank slate or a predefined structure. This feature significantly enhances user experience and efficiency.

3. New Virtual Assistant: Step-by-Step Tutorial for Onboarding

We’ve created a step-by-step tutorial for new users onboarding using UserGuiding. This tutorial helps our customers navigate the Locatify Builder with ease, ensuring they can make the most of its features.

4. Multilingual Support

  • The Locatify Builder is now available in French and Icelandic, with a German version coming soon.
  • App UI translations have expanded to include Arabic (a complex addition due to right-to-left navigation), along with French, English, Icelandic, Norwegian, Danish, Swedish, German, Italian, Spanish, Dutch, Lithuanian, Portuguese, and Romanian.

5. Manual Treasure Opening

Originally developed for the Play Trails app in Australia, this feature allows players to test treasure pins without visiting the actual location. It is now available for Turfhunt users and newly published branded apps, offering greater flexibility. Projects can also combine both, manual and automatic location points, creating a versatile experience.

6. App Inside an App with Deep Links

Developed for the Velho app in Finland, this feature enables clients to access their private games within the app, appearing as though the app is uniquely tailored to them. This functionality ensures a personalized experience for Velho’s clients.

7. CMS Offline and Concurrency Handling

Offline Handling: Users sometimes encountered issues when they lost network connection while working in the CMS, leading to lost data. We addressed this by:

  • Notifying the user if the connection to the CMS server was lost.
  • Queuing changes in the browser’s local storage during offline periods.
  • Automatically syncing queued changes with the server when the user comes back online. This ensures seamless workflow and prevents data loss for users with unstable network connections.

Concurrency Handling: Previously, issues arose when multiple users worked on the same project simultaneously, causing one user’s changes to override another’s. We solved this by:

  • Developing an on-screen monitor to notify users if someone else is working on the same project.
  • Instructing users to refresh their page or coordinate with the other user before proceeding. This solution effectively addresses concurrency issues, allowing multiple users to collaborate on the same project without conflicts.

8. Project Cloning

To complement the existing export/import feature, we introduced the ability to clone projects directly in the CMS. This enhancement streamlines the process of duplicating projects and ensures all project information is retained, saving time and effort.

9. Dark Mode for Locatify Builder

Following demand from users, the Locatify Builder now supports Dark Mode, improving usability for those who prefer working in low-light environments.

10. Game Creation with Scoreboard Options

Users can now choose the order of scoring criteria, prioritizing either score or time. This added flexibility allows for more customized game setups.

11. Scheduled Game Start

Games can now be set to start automatically, removing the need for manual activation. This is especially useful for time-sensitive events, like a 3-hour treasure hunt or tours with scheduled checkpoints. Automating the start time ensures a smooth and consistent experience for participants while freeing organizers to focus on running the event rather than managing technical setups.

12. Custom Game/Tour Pins

Content creators can add unique pins for individual games and tours, enhancing customization.

13. Additional Map and Tour Features

  • List View for Outdoor Tours: Previously, only map views were available. Now users can access a list view.
  • Export Photos from Scoreboard: Users can now easily export photos directly from the scoreboard in the Locatify Builder.

14. Improved CMS Communication Tools

  • Message Notifications: Developed for Play Trail, this feature allows CMS users to send messages to apps with a notification bell showing unread messages. This will soon be available to all users.

15. Beta Testing for the New Locatify Builder

The new Locatify Builder, developed over two years, entered Beta in December 2023. After running it in Beta for a year, we’ll be closing access to the old version in February 2024, encouraging all users to transition to the improved platform.

Looking Ahead

We’re excited to announce that in 2025, we plan to introduce new developments using Augmented Reality (AR) in games, alongside other significant improvements. These advancements will further enhance user engagement and elevate the gaming and tour creation experience.

We’re committed to providing innovative and user-friendly solutions for our customers. These updates reflect our dedication to enhancing the Locatify Builder and apps, ensuring they meet the evolving needs of our users. If you have any questions or feedback, we’d love to hear from you!