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State Chancellery of Saxony

Event app: Quick overview, better orientation

The event app "German Unification Day 2016", released by the State Chancellery of Saxony, provided the over 450,000 guests attending the official federal celebrations in Dresden from 1 to 3 October 2016 with a digital guide helping them to quickly gain an overview of the highlights of the citizens' festival.
With just a few clicks, visitors could find events of interest to them and save their favourites, which were then displayed on an interactive map. Alongside programme recommendations, the app also provided users with information on travelling to and from the event, invited them to discover the history of Saxony or embark on a digital journey through time in Dresden's city centre. It was, in short, a comprehensive digital service package that fit into any pocket.


  • Requirements

    Building digital bridges

    The official unification celebrations were the highlight of the Free State of Saxony's presidency of the Bundesrat; with 450,000 guests from across Germany and around the world it was also one of 2016's most significant events. To give visitors a fast overview of the wide range of offerings from more than 400 exhibitors, the numerous concerts and many other events, the State Chancellery of Saxony as event organiser chose to move towards digitalisation: through the ICT industry network Silicon Saxony it found a partner in T-Systems MMS for developing a multimedia event app.
    Referencing the event's motto "Brücken bauen" ("Building bridges"), the chief of the State Chancellery of Saxony, State Minister Dr Fritz Jaeckel, described the app as "a bridge from the analogue to the digital world" – a bridge the app built for the attendees of the three-day celebration. But the Chancellery wanted the app to not only provide orientation, but also be so clearly structured and simply designed that anyone could easily use it. By offering its content in multiple languages, the app also acknowledged the international significance of the celebration and built "bridges out into the world", according to Jaeckel.

Solution

Digital orientation and background knowledge

Together with Leipzig-based start-up ApiOmat and with support from Infineon Technologies AG, Advanced Mask Technology Center GmbH & Co. KG and the Dormero Hotel, T-Systems MMS created the app for German Unification Day 2016 in just three months.

Available in four languages – German, English, Czech and Polish –, the app offered both a graphic overview and a list of topics in a range of categories: stage, dance, children, sports and knowledge. Signpost icons additionally allowed users to save selected events as favourites. The positioning function of their smartphones then showed users on a map how far they were from the respective event locations.

Also integrated into the app were various services as well as interfaces to Dresden's public transport system and German railway company Deutsche Bahn, ensuring that the app always maintained its service aspect. The icing on the cake: at particularly impressive locations in Dresden's city centre, such as the Frauenkirche, the app allowed users to take a short trip through time. A simple swipe across the screen showed them what the corresponding location looked like before reunification.


  • Benefits

    Comprehensive service for every visitor

    No more hectic scrolling: thanks to the app "German Unification Day 2016", visitors to the citizens' festival didn't have to spend much time browsing the website, poring over flyers or scanning the 150-page printed programme. Instead, just a few clicks told them where exactly their preferred party was getting started. The app allowed users to quickly and easily navigate the festival grounds and the many events – in four different languages. Based on categories and starting times, they could also digitally compile their personal highlights conveniently and easily. In addition, the app playfully delivered historic background knowledge.
    "With this app we are offering our guests an excellent service", said State Minister Dr Fritz Jaeckel proudly as he uploaded the app to the Apple App Store and the Google Play Store during a visit to T-Systems MMS. The minister emphasized that this was "first and foremost thanks to the dedication and the expertise of T-Systems MMS and other supporters in the Silicon Saxony network".

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