Blog: Harris + Hoole holds a hackathon for mobile app ideas

If you’re ever unsure about what to do next to improve your mobile app, it’s worth taking a leaf out of Harris + Hoole’s book.

The coffee shop, which is owned by Tesco, used a London hackathon event to get ideas. The team at Harris + Hoole asked developers, designers and young entrepreneurs to come up with ideas that would help it “unlock the value of social engagement” for its app.

One team came up with a way of allowing customers to introduce their friends to Harris + Hoole through a digital loyalty programme, which would keep rewarding them for their friends’ future purchases. Another designed a way to enhance the ‘My Usual’ function, which allows shoppers to order their usual drink via their phone, to include rounds of drinks for groups of friends.

Many of the best ideas in retail are coming from start-ups and small technology companies – tapping into this is a great way of ensuring your online services are up to scratch.