Launching Norway’s first Via Ferrata-app

Via Ferrata Åkrafjorden is now launching the country's first Via Ferrata app. In the app developed by Omega Design, you get a good overview of the two Via Ferrata trails that Åkrafjorden Nature B&B offers.

Here you can find information about how demanding the trails are, who the climbing routes are suitable for, safety tips and what to consider if you are planning a trip in the wall. One can also take a virtual tour of one of the walls via the app.

"The app will be a great supplement to our website, and make it easier for our guests to plan their experiences in Åkrafjorden. The Via Ferrata routes suit most people who are in reasonably good physical shape and who can cope with a bit of altitude. We have two routes; if Kyrkjeveggen gets too tough, you can try Ingadalen, which is more family-friendly", says Robert Stråbø Melkeraaen, manager at Åkrafjorden Nature B&B.

Innovative app

The long term goal is for the newly launched app is to be expanded to include other Via Ferrata trail sites.

"It is an advantage for us all that those who wish to climb Via Ferrata routes are able find the various routes. You often want to try more routes if you get excited about this", says Stråbø Melkeraaen.

Via Ferrata ―an Italian term which means "iron path"― is a protected climbing route, built with a steel cable rail fixed to the rock, metal steps, ladders and bridges. This will ensure that climbing can be done in the most safe and predictable manner possible, without the need for special climbing knowledge or experience. This past summer, more than 1,100 people tried the climbing routes in Åkrafjorden, only a couple of percent of them thought it was too tough and turned around. Most of the guests find the Åkrafjord offer on social media, now the entrepreneur thinks it will be even easier to spread good information to larger groups.

We have created the app in both Norwegian and English versions, considering that the international market is large during normal seasons. Now we are hoping the corona pandemic will come to an end, allowing us to open up more next year.

Focus on app development

"For us it has been nice to be able to offer a local operator, which we see investing, to become one of the participants in the app investment period we have had these past six months. The customer has previously expressed a desire for app development and been inspired by European app solutions, which we could use as a starting point", says Astrid Eidhammer Hjelmeland, manager in Omega Design.  Omega's CEO, Petter Aalvik, also believes that the app investment in Omega Design is important.

"Omega has been creating web applications for all years, but the investment in the development of native applications helps to strengthen us as a total provider of digital services. This means that we also strengthen ourselves further in both design and system development, he says.

New app team

The company has recently established its own mobile app team consisting of Bente Bakke, Espen Gjendem and Jostein Skaar. These three came from Omega PS to Omega Design about six months ago.

In addition to mobile app development and film production, the team at Omega Design works with web development, graphic design, PR, communication, courses and text work.

"It is so good to get the mobile app team in Omega Design. This means that we can strengthen both our design and system development, says manager in Omega Design", Astrid Eidhammer Hjelmeland.

Several apps within culture, tourism and recruitment are on the doorstep and will be launched around the turn of the year.

"We in the app team have now acquired competence and experience from several exciting app projects. What we have experienced so far is that apps are in great demand, and the possibilities for what we can achieve are limitless. All that is required to develop a good application is a good idea, a need in the market, enough time and a team composed of competent developers and designers. Now that Via Ferrata is ready in the App Store and Google Play Store, we are looking forward to finishing other applications which we are already well underway with. We try to include the "little extra" in each application, which represents our innovation and investment in the app world. We look forward to the continuation", says leader of the app team Bente Bakke.

"We have had a very good collaboration with Omega Design. They have also created our website and we work with them on our marketing. This is a continuation of our good collaboration", Melkeraaen says.