Plumber, taxi, excursion? There is a mobile application where you can find almost everything about the island. It's called Lanzarote app and it emerged in 2020 to help revitalize the island's economy after the pandemic. It is non-profit and advertising is free.
Alejandro Delgado's grandfather emigrated from Lanzarote to the United States in the 1950s, so Delgado defines himself as a "Yankee with 100% Canarian blood" because he was born there, but he grew up in the town of Tías.
In an interview with Ekonomus, he explains how the idea came about and presents the fifth version that has just been launched and is also available for iPhones.
- When was the application launched?
The first version was launched in 2020 after the lockdown. We realized that there were going to be huge negative repercussions on the economy of Lanzarote and we wanted to help.
I grew up in the town of Tías and I saw how many lifelong stores were forced to close.
- The application is in English by default, how can I access the content in Spanish?
The application is developed in English, because it is mainly intended for foreign visitors, but the contents can be translated into Spanish, German, French and Italian.
We have also included a translation into Tagalog, Hindi and Arabic and we plan to include a translation into Mandarin Chinese soon.
- What has been your career path until the launch of Lanzarote app?
I am a Yankee by birth, because my grandfather emigrated to the United States in the 1950s to northern Virginia near Washington, but I am 100% from Lanzarote by blood and I grew up in Tías.
"We don't take salaries, it's something done from the heart to try to help and above all to give visibility"
- Who makes up your team?
Initially there were three of us. The main developer, Robert Braddock, from the United Kingdom, but resident on the island for many years. And in the first phase, Gabriela Luksander, who helped us a lot with marketing.
- How much have you invested in the application?
In money it will be about 10,000 euros, but above all what we have dedicated is a lot of time, many hours invested.
Before launching the first version we developed the concept, created the social media profiles and developed the associated website called lanzaroteexpress.com.
The application has been available since 2020 for Android, and now also for iPhones.
- Have you had any public support?
The truth is not much, I hate to say it. Turismo Lanzarote allowed us to download its content and share it, but that's as far as it went.
We received no support from the Cabildo, nor from the town councils, so we said to ourselves: it doesn't matter. We ourselves are going to fight for the people and for what it entails.
- What feedback do you get from the businesses you are supporting?
It gives a lot of satisfaction. We have many stories. For example, a bar in Tahíche, well known among locals, thanked us because for the first time in a very long time a foreign customer came to them through the application.
"The idea is to convey that Lanzarote is much more than sun and beach. Much more than trapping yourself in a hotel to sunbathe"
- Being a non-profit project, how is it financed?
Advertising in the application is free. What we receive is a small commission from products and services that are purchased from companies through the application. We reinvest that commission in the application and its maintenance.
- Does no salary come out?
We don't take salaries, it's something done from the heart to try to help and above all to give visibility.
- How do you make a living?
I work here on the island for a business group. I studied Business Administration and Management.
- What can users find in the application?
We have all kinds of general information such as meteorology, places of interest, where to go, what to do... Then we have the professional services part.
"If the business is on Google, it's in the application"
- What's new in this fifth version?
It includes many improvements compared to previous editions, because we have finally been able to integrate artificial intelligence (AI). The application now includes a logo with a question mark that allows you to ask the AI in real time with current data anything relevant about the island.
- How many people have downloaded the application?
We have approximately 51,000 users adding web and mobile access.
- How many businesses participate?
We wanted to integrate all possible businesses. At first we did it manually, but we realized that there are so many that it was not viable so we have integrated the Google Maps plugin, so if the business is on Google, it is automatically guaranteed in the application.
- How far would you like to go? What is the ultimate goal?
The idea is to convey that Lanzarote is much more than sun and beach. Much more than trapping yourself in a hotel to sunbathe.
We want more visitors to be encouraged to get to know our culture, our heritage, our gastronomy, our history, and to go and spend money in our SMEs and micro-SMEs, which with so much effort and dedication struggle daily to stay afloat.