F1RST launches online platform

On day two of F1RST app’s release, it reached number two in the iOS App store. F1RST made its way to the number two most downloaded application and the number one travel application in the App store. It was ahead of popular platforms like YouTube, Whatsapp, Instagram, Twitter and Facebook.

“We were number two on day two. We are pretty excited about it,” said Nicolas Maloney, co-founder and director of F1RST. F1RST went live at 12:01 am on February 1, and approximately 1,300 users flocked to the website to download the mobile app. More than 3,000 people have downloaded the app to date. The F1RST app has received a performance rating thus far of 4.6 out of 5 stars. Globally, people from approximately 25 countries have downloaded the app. This includes regional countries like Barbados and Jamaica. Other countries like Thailand, Australia, Indonesia and the United Kingdom have downloaded the Caribbean based app as well. Maloney said the largest international downloads they have had are from people in the US with more than 200 users downloading the app.

“We were surprised that the US was one of the biggest downloads for us. We think a lot of college students heard about us and downloaded our app,” Maloney said.

F1RST Media originally intended to launch their online platform when they received support from 100,000 users. Though only 42,000 people signed up on their website, Maloney said those users became “impatient” waiting for the platform and the F1RST team knew they had to launch.

“Our users are excited. They are saying finally the Caribbean is providing something for their own. Yes, we needed enough progress during the first phase so we thought we should have 100,000 users as our goal, but we got 42,000 people and that’s a lot of support,” Maloney said.

Maloney said while many international platforms offer information about the Caribbean, it did not give the in depth insight that a person from the Caribbean could.

“This is a platform that could unite us together as one Caribbean. The people from Jamaica and Barbados were excited. Finally the Caribbean is providing something for their own,” Maloney said.

Designed to bridge the gap between businesses and consumers, F1RST comprises profiles of over 50,000 locations in Trinidad and Tobago, Jamaica and Barbados. The online community will continue to expand as users across the region, and the world, sign up to the network, known as F1RSTNation.

Recently the F1RST team visited Barbados and Jamaica to gather data for the app. The app offers information on those regional countries. Because the app is user content driven, anyone in any country can add data and make the app useful anywhere in the world.

With a fast growing network of more than 27,000 Facebook fans and 42,000 registered users, F1RST is a haven for businesses interested in reaching the tech-forward consumers of the Caribbean. The regional application is categorised by industry. It provides an online visibility via a free profile page, which business owners can claim and update to showcase their establishment in the most flattering light.

Customers can give instant feedback from through ratings and reviews of experiences they had at a particular establishment. The service providers can have real time interactions with their patrons through their ability to respond directly to customers’ reviews as they are posted.

Users can track and reward loyal customers through loyalty programmes designed to incentivise patrons to check in and post reviews. These users also have access to new consumers who may not have otherwise known about their business. F1RST’s application is accessible via their website www.F1RST.com and a mobile application for iOS and Android. Users can now make better informed decisions aided by this social and geo-location based platform.

Through F1RST, consumers are able to search through a constantly growing and detailed database of over 50,000 businesses and places to find exactly what they’re looking for.

They can discover new experiences and rich information on Caribbean businesses, from photos and reviews to amenities and turn-by-turn directions.

Also they can connect with their favourite businesses by following them to learn about updates and experiences by other consumers at these establishments through reviews and ratings.

Consumers using F1RST can share experiences with the F1RST network by posting photos and reviews, as well as by rating products, services and experiences. This process allows users to assist each other in the decision making process. Anyone can build F1RSTNation, by adding businesses and experiences. Users can also provide the F1RST team with accurate information about businesses already within the network.