About the Client

Sidewalks is a newly formed business created to address the important issue of mounting education cost and debt. Their mission is to make education funding more accessible, convenient, and successful for individuals, families and schools, while supporting and encouraging patronage at local businesses. Sidewalks teams with local businesses to allow consumers to earn loyalty points, which translate into cash. The cash can be directly distributed into a college savings account or paid into a student loan account. Sidewalks' goal is to promote customer loyalty and make charitable college savings contributions more accessible, convenient, and frequent for both consumers and businesses.

The Challenge

Sidewalks is one of many companies that have come to Segue with a solid idea to be transformed into reality. Starting with development of the company name and logo, Segue was tasked with helping to create the Sidewalks brand and identity, and translate that into technology solutions to both market the concept and operate the business. To attract a user base, we needed to provide mobile apps for consumers that were simple to use and feature-rich, with a supporting website to provide program information and other needed functionality.

Segue's challenge was to consider all these needs and provide robust functionality that could be used by consumers, businesses, and information seekers.

The Solution

Segue Technologies® developed a mobile app for both iOS and Android devices that allow consumers to locate participating businesses and earn rewards by simply scanning a QR code at the customer site. Users can see how much they've earned to date, and share their Sidewalks experiences via their mobile device's communication features.

In addition, a fully-featured website provides prospective and existing Sidewalks non-profits, businesses, and consumers with information about the program. Using the website, users can manage account preferences and settings, such as savings account designations, loan accounts, and rewards plan options. A robust administrative area was also created to allow Sidewalks staff to manage accounts, setting, and contributions. Several reports are included to provide Sidewalks staff with data needed to better understand their business' activity.

The application allows businesses to provide continued community outreach, which will serve as an additional source of brand advertising. It also provides increased exposure to potential new customers and an easy way to track giving goals and progress.