Workplace service provider Regus has become the latest business to use Apple’s iPhone to reach its customers.

Many retail consumer businesses are already using applications to reach their customers. The new iPhone application, available for download via iTunes, connects customers to Regus’ network of 1,100 locations in 85 countries.

“Regus is on the forefront of providing solutions that aid business professionals in working however, whenever and wherever they want, so an iPhone app that makes finding a flexible work space was a natural fit for us as a company,” said Rebecca Tann, vice president of marketing at Regus, Dallas.

“This app makes it easier than ever to locate, book and simply drop-in to a Regus business center, regardless of location around the world,” she said. “It’s just one more way we’re supporting our customers.
 
“Regus works with business professionals from entrepreneurs and small business owners to corporate customers and their employees, so our target demographic is really any business professional who is regularly on-the-go or traveling who wants the convenience of a nearby, professional business center from which to work.

Regus is a global provider of workplace products and services ranging from fully equipped offices to professional meeting rooms, business lounges and a network of video communication studios.

Clients such as Google, GlaxoSmithKline and Nokia join thousands of growing small and medium-sized businesses that outsource their office and workplace needs to Regus, letting them to focus on their core business.

B2B apps growing in popularity
There are hundreds of thousands of applications available for Apple’s smartphone, which has already sold more than 50 million units.

A recent Regus survey showed that globally 40 percent of companies have successfully used social media as a revenue-generation tool.

Business-to-business applications are growing in popularity, with successful applications such as Salesforce, Evernote and Dropbox becoming top downloads.

In the past, business-focused enterprises have been slower to use mobile and social networks to engage with their market.

However, with companies increasingly using applications to give greater access and flexibility to their customers, Regus joins the market alongside Morgan Stanley, which released a research application in late August, as well as companies such as Staples and UPS, which also offer their own successful business applications.

Designed and built by London-based Wavana Interactive, the application enables customers to search Regus’ global network to locate centers to suit their business needs.

Users can locate the nearest Regus center on the go using GPS, including filtering by facilities, locate it on a map and get turn-by-turn directions.

The application also includes an augmented reality feature which overlays locations and distances of Regus offices over a real-time view from the camera.

Here is a screen grab of the augmented reality feature:

Users can view full descriptions of each center’s facilities, and photos are provided.

A range of in-application enquiry options include one-tap calling, requesting a call back or scheduling a center viewing.

With a few taps, users can make a booking for a meeting room or day office through the application.
Users can share details of office locations with meeting attendees and colleagues.

The iPhone application is expected to become a particularly important tool for the current 500,000 Regus business-world customers worldwide by giving real-time updates so customers can have visibility of the rapidly growing network.

The application is designed to ensure that Regus customers always have the most up-to-date information wherever and whenever they need it.

The new Regus application is being promoted worldwide on all of its social media platforms, including on its Facebook page, U.S. Twitter handle @regususa, global Twitter handle @regusblog, via LinkedIn and across Flickr.

The application is also being promoted on the Regus Web site.

“The best part about this app is that it lists all of our locations globally in 85 countries, which promotes Regus’ unique position of being accessible to our clients all over the world, Ms. Tann said. “It is also a great way to keep up-to-date with our latest new centers in our rapidly expanding network of business centers.

“Within the app, customers can also view center details and photos on their iPhone, so it definitely represents an opportunity for us to show our customers new locations and services,” she said. “It is the fastest, most convenient way to get up-to-date Regus information and locations within an augmented reality feature.
 
“Also, Regus business centers are often located in unmarked buildings such as in New York, so this is a great way to identify where a touch-down office is no matter where you are in the world.”

Final Take
Dan Butcher, associate editor, Mobile Commerce Daily