Challenge Summary
Welcome to the American Express Global Business Travel Mobile App - Idea Generation Challenge! For this challenge we are looking for you to help us come up with ideas for a new mobile app that uses mashed up APIs from American Express Global Business Travel and other 3rd parties to provide better service to business travelers.
One of the best ways to reach business travelers is through a mobile device, and the best applications to help business travelers must be location aware. With these ideas at heart, the goal for this project is to create a new, “location aware” mobile app that uses mashed up APIs from American Express Global Business Travel and other 3rd parties to provide better service to business travelers. A wide variety of travel APIs are available - now we need your help to determine which API’s to use and creative ideas on how to use them in new and innovative ways. Make sure to leverage information that is typically available on the phone, i.e. GPS location, Contacts, Calendar, etc...
We look forward to seeing your creative ideas!
Round 1
For Round 1, you are expected to submit your completed idea, including:
1) Summary Paragraph
2) Idea Description (including what APIs it will use)
3) User Stories
4) Any Supplemental Material (i.e. Screenshots or Mockups)
NOTE: If anything is unclear please ask us on the forum and we will be happy to help!
Round 2
In Round 2, you are expected to submit your completed idea including any changes made based on any feedback from the client (if applicable).
1) Summary Paragraph
2) Idea Description (including what APIs it will use)
3) User Stories
4) Any Supplemental Material (i.e. Screenshots or Mockups)
NOTE: If anything is unclear please ask us on the forum and we will be happy to help!
Challenge Overview:
The goal for this project is to create a new mobile app that uses mashed up APIs from American Express Global Business Travel and other 3rd parties to provide better travel experiences to business travelers. A wide variety of travel APIs are available - now we need your help to determine which API’s to use and creative ideas on how to use them.
The question at hand is “How do we effectively service our business travelers once they have arrived at their destination.” While there are many travel related mobile apps available, all of them provide a limited experience. None of them are able to service the traveler from the beginning of their trip to the end in a seamless manner, adding value at multiple points and in different ways throughout their trip. American Express Global Business Travel has a complete itinerary for business travelers booked through their service. How can we use this core information in conjunction with available external APIs to create a superior travel experience?
Keep in mind that even though the reason for travel is “Business”, these travelers have time and interests that are not business related. Also, often times business travelers are groups of individuals coming from different places to meet in one location. How might they collaborate and interact with each other? See the attached use cases for more detail and ideas of where you might focus your efforts.
Idea Requirements:
Your submission should focus on ideas for a mobile application for business travelers that is “location aware”. For example, geo-coordinates (latitude/longitude) could be used to access the information based on where the user is and display information relative to that particular location. Think about the functionality available on a smartphone (e.g. GPS location, Contacts, Calendar, etc.) and think about ways to leverage this along with data / functionality available via APIs.
A list of available APIs and examples is included in the attached document “Example APIs Available.doc”. We’re looking for ways to mashup / combine data from multiple APIs to create a new application that provides useful services or information to business travelers. The attached document (“Example APIs Available.doc”) includes some American Express Global Business Travel APIs, “Branded” APIs, and Outside APIs that the new app could potentially use. We’re looking for your creative ideas on how to mashup some of these APIs to create a unique new application for business travelers.
Organizing Your Submission:
Your submission should contain a detailed description of your idea. Preferably one document, with three (3) or four (4) sections:
1. Summary Paragraph – Describe your app in this paragraph!
2. Idea Description – Describe your idea for a new mobile app and explain how it will be useful for business travelers. Be sure to state what APIs the new app will use.
3. User Stories – Write 2 or more user stories / use cases for this new application.
4. Screenshots or Mockups (optional) - You may include any supplemental material that helps explain your idea. This could include screenshots or mockups you create.
Target Audience
- Business and/or Global Travelers
Judging Criteria
In order of importance, you will be judged on:
- How unique is your idea? Does it exist already in another app or is it brand new?
- If the idea already exists, are you presenting it in a new way that delivers additional value to the traveler?
- How much have you developed the idea. Did you research the feasibility of your idea and explain how it can be achieved?
- Ease of Use for Business Travelers
- How well you follow the guidelines explained above in the challenge spec.
Additional Prizes
- In addition to the prizes listed, the client may purchase any additional ideas for $100 each.
What to Submit
Preview JPG/PNG Image File
Please create your preview image as one (1) 1024x1024px JPG or PNG file in RGB color mode at 72dpi and place a screenshot of your submission within it.
Submission ZIP File
Your submission should be primarily or entirely textual (Word Document, PDF, HTML, RTF), containing a detailed description of your ideas. You may also include any supplemental graphics or photos if it helps explain your idea. Please see the full list of submission formats stated in the requirements above.
Source ZIP File
All fully editable original source files of the submitted design as required by the contest under "Source Files" in the sidebar.
Final Fixes
As part of the final fixes phase you may be asked to complete one round of minor changes to ensure your submission meets the stated requirements of this contest. See more information about Final Fixes here: http://community.topcoder.com/studio/the-process/final-fixes/
Please read the challenge specification carefully and watch the forums for any questions or feedback concerning this challenge. It is important that you monitor any updates provided by the client or Studio Admins in the forums. Please post any questions you might have for the client in the forums.