Mobile App!
The xSite.ing mobile app is being developed by Creative Local Solutions to facilitate trade in Community Way programmes. We initially developed it for our Treegeneration project, but it has been bought back to life to help facilitate Clapton Community Way, which is based on exactly the same underlying model that our own initiative was.
Community Way is a model for community currency development that was originally designed by Michael Linton and is outlined on the Open Money website. At the heart of a Community Way programme is a mutual credit system, which provides local businesses with a means to support good causes, whilst at the same time generating good publicity, new and loyal customers, and increased sales.
Whilst the initial version of the app only worked with Treegeneration, version 2.0 has been built to work with any number of Community Way programmes, and we are hoping that the Clapton rollout will be a big success and will stimulate the startup of many similar initiatives. The app is built using the super cool Ionic framework, and connects to Drupal based Community Way websites on the back end. The app enables people in a Community Way area to make financial contributions to good causes that are supported by their Programme, in exchange for Local Credit which can be redeemed for discounts at participating businesses. The app contains a digital wallet for customers, and built in check out features for participating merchants. Customers present their wallet at the merchant's checkout where the business uses the built-in features to scan the wallet, and except the credit in return for a discount on purchases.