The innovators behind our Palma Apps
How at4 is transforming our lifestyle with their technology
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The cosmopolitan city of Palma beckons. But if you're not familiar with Mallorca's capital, information technology comes to your rescue – in the form of the MobiPalma app. Not only does it map out public car park locations, it also quantifies the available spaces in each. It highlights any traffic congestion, locates the nearest taxi rank and, if you're flaunting your green credentials, the closest electric-car charging point.
Exploring the island? The Goodbike and Goodwalk Mallorca apps offer audio-guide routes in a choice of languages. If the island has already seduced you, the abcMallorca property portal displays tempting real estate for sale.
The razor-sharp brains behind these and many other attractive, user-friendly, and effective technology solutions work at Palma-based company at4. Julio García founded the business – the first on Mallorca to programme the web – in 1998, with partners Antonio García and Antonio Marí. Nineteen years later, this dynamic company still leads the way, with an impressive list of B2B and B2C clients and industry awards.
The seeds of Julio's passion were sown at the University of the Balearic Islands (UIB). "At the time the Internet was all text and no images – not as we know it today – but it was the ability to connect and search for information using the Gopher protocol that fascinated me."
Even as a student Julio was an innovator: "I introduced the first distribution of the Linux operating system into the UIB. We bought the CD using one of my teacher's credit cards," he recalls. He devoured international magazines about programming and, in 1995 (prior to at4), invested in a business to become the Balearics' first private Internet access provider.
Today the trinity of Artificial Intelligence, the Internet of Things, and Big Data powers at4's innovative solutions. Clients are from sectors including local government, tourism, the nautical industry, healthcare professionals, real estate, gastronomy, and retail. In the latter, an exciting recent project could change the future of personal shopping.
Although the high-quality butcher's Ca'n Jaume Artesans (Mercado del Olivar) was established in 1927, owner Jaume Aguiló knew that his business couldn't grow without technology. He turned to at4 for a solution that would enhance the customer experience. Julio describes him as "a real businessman with an entrepreneur's mindset."
The sophisticated 'Su turno' app enables customers to take their turn for service without having to queue, and even choose who will serve them (useful if that person knows how you like your meat). Customers can continue shopping in the market until the app alerts them to return. A TV monitor at the stall displays live information.
Only Ca'n Jaume's customers benefit from this app at the moment, although at4 expects to sell a similar solution to other retailers. But almost 100,000 people a day on Mallorca use the EMT app, developed by at4 for the Palma bus company. "260,000 people on Mallorca have it on their phones. I'm very proud that we've built something so many people use." Launched in 2015, their other mobility app "MobiPalma" won the European Innovation third prize the same year.
The at4 team of 15 employees includes programmers and designers: "Our projects have to look good as well as work." Within five years, at4 could also be contracting talented people to work remotely from locations such as the UK and Sweden. Julio believes that programming "will become like a third language that everyone will need."
Julio says at4's focus is now on working with foreign clients on Mallorca and further afield: "We are innovators and ahead of our nearest competitors. Being at the forefront has some risks, but we like providing custom-designed software solutions to companies that look precisely for that kind of service."
Inventor Alexander Graham Bell said: "Leave the beaten track occasionally and dive into the woods. You'll be certain to find something you have never seen before." Alongside at4, it could be competitive advantage.
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Looking for innovative, efficient, and cost-effective software solutions? Check out creative IT specialist at4 – at the forefront in this sector. […] at4 Software Development Mallorca
We hope you have found this article about the The innovators behind our Palma Apps useful and that you have many memorable stays in Mallorca as a result of our recommendations.
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