The Darwin Military Museum has released a new mobile app that will allow visitors to have a more interactive experience while visiting the museum. The museum's mobile app, which is co-funded by the department's Business Innovation Program delivers geo-tagged audio commentary, supplementary photography, and an interactive online map of the venue and exhibits to visitors.
Director Dr Norman Cramp recognised a need to enhance the museum’s productivity, boost the bottom line and digitise the customer experience to compete in an increasingly innovative military travel marketplace.
"We were lagging behind international military tourism offerings, and with more Australian’s holidaying at home due to the pandemic, we knew it was time move forward – technologically speaking".
The digitisation of the museum's visitor experience has provided a chance to adopt new business models and processes, as well as the ability to quickly change displays and exhibitions, minimise printing costs, and carefully curate the subsequent order of the customer experience. Through the geo-tagged audio commentary supplied along the walking route, visitors are taken on a journey where they can absorb information while at the same time viewing the exhibitions.
"The app is already being widely utilised by the visitors, its implementation has resulted in operational cost savings and it is now a vital tool in the museums focus on visitor satisfaction and so far our guest experiences have been positive.
The app has been operating since June 2021 and is proving a hit with visitors. The World Economic Forum (WEF, 2017), has estimated that in the decade 2016 to 2025, digitalisation will create up to US$305 billion of additional value for the tourism sector alone through increased profitability, while around US$100 billion of value generated in the sector will transfer from traditional players to new digital competitors with innovative business models and value-producing capabilities.
"This project would not have been possible without the co-contribution of the Business Innovation program, thank-you very much to the Northern Territory Government. Without the support of the department’s Business Innovation team and our Innovator in Residence, Mr Geoff Thomas, this simply would not have been possible."
If you have an innovative idea that you are looking to commercialise, check out the Business Innovation Program to see what support is available.
App design by Oliver Thompson www.darwinmultimedia.com.au