Nearest is a business services directory that promotes local businesses across regional Australia. Businesses that match the search criteria will be listed according to how geographically close they are to the users current location.
The app is designed to provide a low-cost advertising medium for local businesses (particularly small to medium sized businesses) and an easy-to-use business directory for local residents. Rather than having local residents and businesses using global search engines and business directories when looking to make a purchase (which will often return search results from other parts of the state and country), they can use Nearest and be guaranteed that the service providers are all locally based.
Push notification has also been incorporated into the app, enabling Nearest to promote businesses and special offers that they might like to make to app users. These promotional push notifications will be limited to one per day (i.e. Nearest businesses will have to apply to be featured on the app) and will be delivered via a scheduling application to ensure that they arrive first thing on a business day. This enables Nearest users to take advantage of discounts and other special offers for a limited period - typically a single day.
Businesses who wish to be featured on Nearest will be able to purchase a twelve month subscription which entitles them a single page within the app, containing a map of their location, an overview of their business, links to their web site and social media channels, their contact details and their business hours.
Nearest users will be able to use browsing and search facilities to find their nearest businesses and then to access their web site and/or to make a phone call directly from the businesss Nearest page using a single touch of their screen.