BOSTON--(BUSINESS WIRE)--Creating an entirely new e-commerce layer, Pingup today announced the industry's first mobile API that enables directories and software providers to easily add booking capabilities to business listings. Pingup represents the largest aggregated network of live-bookable businesses nationwide with over 30,000 properties in more than 200 business categories. The company has already directly integrated with several leading scheduling software providers and its new mobile API is in pilot with multiple directories.
According to recent research conducted by comScore, Neustar Localeze and 15Miles, 80 percent of local searches on mobile devices result in a purchase, with the majority of those purchases (63 percent) occurring within a few hours. By effectively adding the services version of a "buy it now" button, the new Pingup API enables listings providers to connect customers with businesses at the moment they are viewing a listing and are ready to book a service or schedule an appointment.
"Offering the ability to book services directly from a third party business listing represents a leap forward in local search and mobile commerce, and provides more value than reviews or checking-in," said Mark Slater, CEO of Pingup. “We solve the huge fragmentation challenge by seamlessly aggregating the real-time booking availability of top scheduling software providers into one API.”
Eager to deploy this "book it now" feature, directories and service listings properties have been challenged by multiple integrations, data complexity and support challenges. The Pingup API enables fast and seamless integration for communities of consumers visiting directories and local guides, search engines and maps, social and location-based networks and daily deal services. This captures consumers’ intent to purchase, allowing them to immediately schedule an appointment or book a service via their mobile device.
For booking software providers, the API represents a new marketing channel for their customers. Now salons, spas, healthcare providers and other service-based businesses have immediate access to a new world of prospective customers who are searching for service providers via their mobile devices. The Pingup API also creates and enhances online service menus for each business, turning menus into content that consumers can take action on.
“Billions of consumers gather around local business listings to read user-generated reviews, view pictures and get information prior to selecting a particular service provider," continued Slater. "Providing these consumers with the ability to take action and book a service within a local listing is a natural behavior path. It is much faster and more convenient than a phone call for the consumer, and it will increase customer traffic and revenue for the local business by essentially making them 'open for business' 24/7. It is a triple win for consumers, listing providers and local businesses alike."
About Pingup
Pingup provides direct, convenient access to the real-time scheduling availability of nationwide local businesses anytime, anywhere - putting the power of action into the hands of the mobile consumer. With its mobile API, Pingup enables directories and local listings providers to quickly and seamlessly bring the power of "book it now" to mobile consumers everywhere. With more than 30,000 properties across 200 business categories on the Pingup platform, the company continues to add thousands of new businesses to its network each month. The company is headquartered in Boston’s Innovation District and backed by Avalon Ventures. For more information, visit www.pingup.com.
