Recognized for its out-of-the-box approach to navigation, Sproute App was one of the winners of Fast Company's 2020 Innovation by Design Awards. The service starts from the premise that our contemporary lives are primed by convenience and efficiency. That this causes us to miss things. Therefore, instead of necessarily showing users the quickest way of getting somewhere—it gives them more options to consider.
There are three modes in Sproute App—the Sightseer, the Nightlight, and the Commuter. The first option will generate a route that might not be the most direct, but one that will allow you to see the most interesting landmarks along the way. The Nightlight creates a route that avoids unlit streets as much as possible. Finally, the Commuter generates 100 routes between your location and your destination so that you have something to pick from.
Image Credit: Sproute
Why This Trend Is Growing
- Mood-specific Navigation
- The development of apps that cater to specific moods or needs of users creates opportunities for disruption in the navigation industry.
- Alternative Route Recommendation
- Alternative route options generate opportunities for innovation in the transportation industry by providing users with more than just the quickest option.
- Risk-aware Routing
- The implementation of risk-aware routing such as the Nightlight option can lead to disruptive innovation in the navigation industry by addressing safety concerns and improving user experience.
Industries Being Reshaped
- Navigation
- The development of mood-specific navigation apps provides opportunities to innovate in traditional navigation and wayfinding industries.
- Transportation
- Alternative routes generated by navigation apps can lead to innovation in the transportation industry by providing new options for commuters.
- Safety and Security
- The implementation of risk-aware routing can lead to disruptive innovation in the safety and security of navigation and transportation industries.
