New all-in-one app to connect Londoners and tourists to jobs, events and local businesses
The creators of a new mobile app launching in London say their goal is to improve Londoners' access to the opportunities and attractions around them.
Described by founders as an "all-in-one digital hub," the MyLondon app has resources for anybody who steps foot in the city, whether they are here for just one day or the rest of their life.
"Often in my friend circle, people say, 'I don't know what's happening this weekend,' so they end up staying home or missing out on some really cool things that might be happening," said Kapil Lahotia, president of London Economic Development Corporation (LEDC).
"Hopefully this app will serve as that bridge between some of the things that are happening and the knowledge gap that residents face."
When users first open MyLondon, they will be asked to fill out a questionnaire that identifies them as a resident, visitor or local student, Lakhotia explained. From there, the app will take them to a homepage that caters toward that group's general needs.
"They'll be able to access information that matters most to them, including multilingual capabilities and AI features that will help personalize the content based on their interests," Lakhotia said.
London residents will be able to see local job listings and current event bulletins, while tourists will have access to information about local attractions and a vacation itinerary builder, said Sean Murray, Tourism London's director of culture and entertainment tourism.
'[Visitors] will be able to say the time they're in the city, how active they'd like to be, whether they'd like a slow-paced or really full day, and some of the things they're looking for – whether it's a great pizza spot, arts and culture, or live music," Murray explained.
"The app will be able to use the resources from our website to put together an itinerary of what a trip could look like for you," he said, adding the app uses artificial intelligence to generate it.
All the current information on the app comes from MyLondon's partners, such as Tourism London, but other local event organizers and businesses can submit listings through its website.
There are also plans to collaborate with Western University and Fanshawe College in the fall to integrate a student hub feature, which will highlight student-only resources and events.
Welcome apps connect newcomers and more
LEDC first came up with the idea for an app a year ago, Lakhotia said, and its development began with a Sarnia-based app builder in spring.
"We saw that in a lot of communities, there's isolation. People are isolated from opportunities, networking, community, events, meeting people, social services, and they don't know where to start," said Liwordson Vijayabalan, who is the CEO of Welcome Platform, which is the technology behind the MyLondon app. "Our platform makes it all accessible."
Welcome Platform has created apps for Kingston, Ont., Jasper, Alta., and Western Nova Scotia, which all focus on sharing resources with immigrants and other newcomers.
"At the very core, it starts with equity … The product is built to make information, opportunities and connections available to everyone," Vijayabalan said, adding that the idea behind "welcome apps" came from his family's own immigration story.
However, MyLondon takes the user-base a step further, Vijayabalan said, calling it his company's first "super app" project that encompasses resources for new, old and temporary Londoners.
"I was looking for a very brave partner to do it with, and [London was] that brave partner," he said.
Vijayabalan and Lakhotia both say they expect there to be modifications to the app as Londoners begin using it and provide their feedback, which will be gathered through in-app surveys in the coming months.
"This is our first kick at the can. It's a strong effort, but by no means is it designed to be a one-size-fits-all," Lakhotia said. "There's a lot of learning that will come from the launch … so the app will improve over time."
"We really hope that over time, the app will serve as a gold standard for how we can start deploying technology better to help users navigate the city in a more effective and friendly way," he said.
The MyLondon app officially launches Wednesday afternoon following an event at Toboggan Brewing Company downtown. It will be available on the App Store and Google Play.
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