NEW APP FOR THE MEDIA INDUSTRY JETS OFF

IT is still in the early stages of development, however a Gold Coast-based digital designer has the media industry dubbing his new mobile application "the best new sales tool" to enter the market. 

Jettison Inventory is a web-based app designed for GooglePlay, iPhone and Blackberry and aims to streamline the sales process for companies wishing to unload unsold inventory either at discount of retail prices.

Warren Bray (pictured below), one of the proponents behind the app, says rather than engaging teams of sales staff to unload time sensitive ad space, Jettison Inventory allows companies to send it out as a direct, purchasable deal straight to the palm of client's hands.

"Whether it is newspaper, television or radio, everyone has filler that they are giving away on the day before an edition is due to go to print or air," says Bray.

"We thought wouldn't it be great to sell more to our clients and have a system where one person could do it in 30 seconds opposed to getting a team of 10 to spend eight hours of their time trying to make it happen?"

Bray says emails are no longer sufficient and, if media groups want to grow with consumers, they need to embrace new technologies.

"Everything in technology is moving towards conversion technology. It is all about walking around with your handheld device and being able to be instantly contactable and instantly access everything you need to. This is shiny, new, faster, sexier and simpler because it is fully automated."

Googles 'Our Mobile Planet' May 2013 report shows smartphone penetration rose to 65 per cent of the population, up from 52 per cent the prior year and 37 per cent in 2011.

It also indicates 65 per cent of users access the internet every day and most never leave home without their phone.

Jettison Inventory works on push notifications that instantly notify clients of existing deals and can be purchased at the click of a button. Companies are also able to customise the app with appropriate branding.

Rod Brice, a radio consultant of 40 years and former regional programming operations and research manager for Southern Cross Austereo, has described the app as a simple and contemporary way to reach clients.

"One of the great frustrations for radio is it has a used-by date and so the great thing about this particular app is it is a very simple process to get some actual quality money out of inventory that is available," says Brice.

"And you can use it any way you want you can give it to all of your clients or you can use it for a specialised group of clients.

"And the great thing about this app is it is not just about radio; there are lots of other applications it can be used for.

"I think this is a great app for anything that is time sensitive and has a ready audience clientele that are ready to pick up on spontaneous deals."