TAP INTO PLANT CARE
A new app is allowing users to tap into a plant care advice service as well as bar-code scanning new plants to get a unique care calendar
Whether it’s selfies, Siri or smartphones, we associate 25 to 35-year-olds with all things technology – however, one thing this demographic are rarely associated with is plants.
This is changing, thanks to a SmartPlant app that allows users to upload their plant collection and receive horticultural care advice.
SmartPlant currently offers users a free ‘lite’ version of the app, as well as a full-feature premium service. The latter allows users to speak to plant experts in their local area, and receive monthly advice relevant to their plants.
The app avoids complicated horticultural jargon that tends to put people off plant care. So, whatever your age or plant knowledge, the app will help you to keep your plants alive.
The central focus of SmartPlant’s design is simplicity – it is easy to understand with a clean, clear design. This makes SmartPlant relevant and simple for the younger generation to get plant care advice, as well as straightforward for the older, maybe less tech-savvy generation.
SmartPlant’s latest innovation, barcode-scanning technology, allows users to receive a free premium membership with each plant they buy and receive monthly care advice.
Once a customer has scanned a plant, the app links to the specific garden centre and products relevant to their monthly advice, helping shops to retain customers, actively engage them, and boost sales.
This provides a useful service to customers and retailers alike. SmartPlant’s data also gives garden centres an idea of who their customers are.
Offering in-store plant experts is costly, however SmartPlant is removing this barrier for retailers.
The barcode scanning technology makes it easy for customers to add their existing plant collection into their digital garden, and receive a care calendar and botanic service.
Once logged in, users will have a smart list of what plants they have and what additional products they need, for example plant fertiliser, or specialist pots or compost for re-potting – making SmartPlant an asset to both customers and garden centres.
SmartPlant is now equity crowdfunding in order to grow its technology and make it compatible with voice-activated services such as Amazon Alexa.
With expert guidance, the less experienced gardener will have all the information they need, and in-turn, the confidence to raise and care-for plants that may be more demanding than they are used to.
And with a booming UK gardening industry worth £5 billion, even after excluding the landscaping and amenity sectors, SmartPlant is tapping into a huge market.
