The Client
TOOR lockbox is a smart lockbox designed for use in the real estate and hospitality industries, where authorized users can be granted permission through the TOOR app to gain access to the keys within the lockbox. TOOR was featured on Shark Tank in 2016 and won the backing of two Sharks with its proprietary technology and unique solution.
The Ask
When TOOR today first contacted us, they were lacking a technology partner capable of taking their initial concepts from ideas to market-viable realities. They wanted an app that could do the following:
- Schedule property tours
- Wirelessly lock and unlock the lockbox
- Show nearby realtors in real-time
- Search for properties
Their ask for our app development team was to create a proprietary technology that would enable safe and secure access for authorized users to designated properties, even when the owners weren’t home. This target audience was to include everyone from real estate agents showing new homes to AirBnB guests arriving at a rental property and household maintenance workers arriving while owners were away.
Our Solution
As with all of our clients, we wanted to get to know their business before starting to develop their app. Our first step towards building a solution for TOOR today was to dig deep and truly understand their business needs, in all their nitty gritty glory. This meant discussing both short- and long-term goals, visions for designs and features, and the overall “why” of the request.
Once we were comfortable in our understanding of the business, we started to develop the underlying architecture of their system. This included fleshing out the API and designing the database that would serve as the system’s central hub.
As the back-end of the app started to take shape, we started work on the front-end. Anticipating a need for ongoing updates, we wanted an option capable of rapid development across mobile platforms. We chose the Ionic platform, which provides that support on both iOS and Android as well as the ability to easily integrate with embedded hardware.
In order to ensure continuity with the TOOR hardware, we created a TOOR prototype using an Arduino and Bluetooth Low Energy (BLE 4.0) Breakout, allowing us to quickly and efficiently test our mobile application against real hardware.
The Successful Results
Our work on the TOOR app helped them successfully launch their proprietary technology. The TOOR smart lockbox went on to:
- Launch and complete a successful Kickstarter campaign ($100k+)
- Gain the interest of Realogy, a Fortune 500 company
- Be featured at the Realogy FWD innovation summit
- Raise $500k on Shark Tank
Want to see similar success for your app idea? See Brewer Digital can help.