Window Seater is a unique mobile app designed to enhance train travel by delivering place-based stories to passengers as they journey through various locations. The app aims to connect travelers with the history, culture, and natural beauty of the landscapes they traverse.
Challenge
xCelery built and scaled Window Seater from the ground up. This involved not only developing a user-friendly and engaging app but also ensuring that the content was relevant, accurate, enjoyable, and accessible to a diverse audience of train passengers. The goal was to create a seamless experience that would enrich train travel and attract a broad user base, and even entice more people to take trains more polluting transport choices.
Solution
xCelery led the development and scaling of Window Seater. The process involved extensive research and content creation to curate stories that would resonate with users. Leveraging agile methodologies, the team iteratively designed and refined the app to ensure it met user needs and expectations.
We also focused on building partnerships with rail operators and tourism boards to expand the app's reach and relevance. The strategy included integrating the app with real-time GPS data to provide contextually accurate content as passengers traveled, enhancing the overall experience.
Outcome
Window Seater successfully launched and grew, delivering engaging and informative content to train passengers. The app gained traction among users who appreciated the added value it brought to their journeys. Through careful planning, iteration, and strategic partnerships, Window Seater became a notable player in the travel tech space, demonstrating the potential of combining technology with storytelling to create unique travel experiences. In 2022, Window Seater was awarded an FOAK Grant from Innovate UK, and in 2023 was given a Community Rail Network award for the innovation.
