Our Work
Chevy Fuel Finder
Background
In the autumn of 2008, Chevy tasked Buddy Media with developing an interactive, social media application to spur interest in the automaker’s new line of fuel-efficient cars. Chevy wanted to create excitement for environmentally responsible living by helping Facebook users find the most affordable gas prices in their local areas. The project presented a challenge for Buddy Media’s development team, as the application needed to present users with real-time fuel prices from gas stations around the United States.
Objectives
- Build an engaging Facebook social app-vertisement that would serve as an effective promotional platform for Chevy’s fuel-efficient automobiles
- Develop parsing technology to pull fuel cost data from the open web in order to deliver real-time gas prices to application users
- Leverage pre-existing mapping technology to allow users to view the geographic locations of gas stations in their areas
Solution
Buddy Media worked with Chevy to create a unique user interface that coincided with the brand’s high standards for visual advertisements. With creative development complete, Buddy Media’s technology team set to work building out the application’s functionality. The team leveraged open API mapping technology to create the application’s primary user interface. Once the map’s functionality was in place, Buddy Media began the arduous process of perfecting the fuel price parsing technology that would power the utility’s main functionality. An extensive QA process ensured that the application reliably delivered the most up-to-date fuel prices available. In addition, basic social functionality was built into the application, which allowed users to send gas prices to friends. The development process came to a conclusion with the implementation of a mini-catalogue of Chevy’s line of fuel efficient automobiles on the application’s canvas page.
