the appfarm

The question you have when you first hear about the Pocket Agent app is, “Just how often would users use an app like this?” The hope is that rarely if ever would it be needed, but for those users that do need to file a claim the State Farm’s app is actually quite an innovative tool.  From it you can begin the claim filing process, take pictures to document an incident, describe the damage involved, as well as contact a local agent or find the nearest repair location.

The Pocket Agent app implements its features well, and provides a much more efficient process for filing claims or staying in contact with State Farm than ever before.  As for whether you need to install it beforehand, the beauty of the iPhone App store is that it can be downloaded in just a minute or two in the event that something does happen.  Of course such a rare frequency of use application like this requires recall on the part of the user that such an app exists, but State Farm has done a good job so far of spreading the word to its customers.

While this is one of the more niche uses of the iPhone’s capabilities, it is representative of a larger trend hitting mobile where companies seek to enhance customer engagement by leveraging the powerful feature set of mobile devices such as the iPhone.  By offering solutions that utilize the touch screen, accelerometer, GPS and camera, companies can prove to their costumers that they are innovating and staying ahead of their competition.

See the slightly random but effective State Farm video summary below:

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For anyone thinking about creating an iPhone app but wondering where to begin, I think the best thing you can do is just sit down and take a shot at thinking through its most basic functionality.  I have always been a big fan of whiteboards and as of late the huge Post It Easel Pads but these are impossible if you travel a lot and are of limited use when trying to collaborate over long distances.  The answer for me has been to use Balsamiq, a tool that allows you to quickly create mock-ups of both websites and iPhone apps.  With Balsamiq I can work through the mechanics of how an app should work, and visually see the flow from action to action.

I think mock-up tools like Balsamiq are even more useful than making great specs and writing out usage scenario examples.  Not only does it help you better develop your idea but it also gives you the ability to share your ideas with other people instantly.  For example, if you are thinking about outsourcing development or are talking to other team members, Balsamiq will let you share your quickly thrown together mock-ups and convey clearly what you want to do.  And by visually demonstrating the flow of how you might want your app to work, not only will other people have a better idea of what you are looking for, but so will you.

Oftentimes we think that conceptually working through an idea is painful, much the same way writing or preparing a speech can be.  But sometimes having the right tools can make it that much easier to throw things together.  Give it a try, you might surprise yourself!

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