BC Business
BCBusiness Innovators 2012, Wifarer Inc. | BCBusinessBack: 2012 BCBusiness Guide to Innovation
Congratulations to Wifarer Inc., #15 in 2012's Most Innovative Companies in B.C. Thanks to your trusty GPS you can get anywhere without a map, but as soon as you enter a building you’re on our own. Wifarer’s software-based technology brings wayfinding inside by using WiFi radio frequencies to pinpoint smart phones indoors, giving users an interactive map of the building they’re in.
Thanks to your trusty GPS you can get anywhere without a map, but as soon as you enter a building you’re on our own. Wifarer’s software-based technology brings wayfinding inside by using WiFi radio frequencies to pinpoint smart phones indoors, giving users an interactive map of the building they’re in.
Aside from the perk of never getting lost in the mall again, CEO Philip Stanger notes that this is also a huge marketing opportunity: “Once you bring granular location-based services indoors, it’s really at its most valuable because that’s where shoppers experience their most powerful digital branding experiences.” In other words, mall tenants can now send discount coupons to a customer’s smartphone when they near a store. Other potential applications include location-specific multimedia resources guiding museum-goers through exhibitions.
But what truly makes Wifarer’s technology disruptive is the business plan that accompanies it. Wifarer eliminates unsanctioned applications within a building by using advanced encryption software that gives the property owner sole control of the digital space. “The business model really adds to the overall innovativeness, and adds to the company’s competitiveness in the global market,” notes Innovators panellist Dean Prelazzi.
Now pilot projects in museums, airports and major shopping centres across North America, coupled with Wifarer’s multiple business awards, have led to promising discussions with potential overseas clients in countries from South Africa to Norway.