Malaysia-based event technology company Evenesis has signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) with Dutch start-up Caught for the exclusive right to operate the latter’s location-based app in Malaysia.
The customisable Caught app can be used for various event purposes, such as a tool in a corporate teambuilding activity for participants to complete tasks at different stations, or to take participants on a sightseeing trip.
Anitha Krishnan, Evenesis’ sales and marketing vice president, told TTGmice at IMEX Frankfurt that her company was drawn to Caught as “we wanted to do something different from the rest of the market.”
She elaborated on the uses of the app: “It allows the user to experience (a destination) first-hand. For instance, teambuilding participants may be instructed to take a selfie with a man in a pink shirt at Central Market.”
Using the app for such an activity also gives participants a chance to interact with locals, she opined.
Another benefit of Caught, according to Anitha, its that it uses GPS, which allows the app admin or the event planner to know the location of participants, which provides an element of safety.
For Caught, the MoU with Evenesis will allow the company to extend its reach beyond home ground.
Mark Naus, Caught’s co-founder, said: “We’re a start-up from Europe with just three people. You cannot reach the world with just three people. This is a win-win situation as it’ll be an addition to Evenesis’ portfolio, while for us it’ll be a new market we can reach.”
He added that although Caught is a product geared towards DMCs, tourism boards will be able to avail the technology as well, for example, to create a nature walking trail. The app can also be used by corporate companies, all the way up to large-scale exhibitions.
Aside from providing Caught to its corporate event clients, Evenesis will also help with the execution of itinerary and requirements, with client given full control of the app. The app can be downloaded directly to a participant’s device, where downloads are then charged by device.
“If everything goes well, we will expand it to Indonesia as we also have a branch there. We’ll look at the take-up rate before we decide on the next steps,” Anitha concluded.
