I Made an App for Contactless Sign-in at Businesses

Associatedmisterpotatomato @ struts.in on 29/06/2020 - 12:17
Last edited 29/06/2020 - 21:15

TL;DR: I made an app for contactless sign in at businesses. You can get it (and read about it) at struts.in. There are codes at the end of this post for a free IAP

Hey everyone,

Lately I've noticed that businesses are using pen and paper to track who has signed in to their business at a given time, to comply with government regulations around coronavirus.

The two main approaches seem to be pen and paper, or a QR code for a site to go to to submit your details. I think both of these approaches can have some issues:

Pen and Paper - You touch the pen, and so does everyone else, which is probably a poor idea for something that spreads on surfaces. Of course, good hand hygiene etc helps with this, but in my mind it's probably better to keep signing in completely contactless. Plus, your details are out in the open for anyone else to peruse when they sign in.

Writing your details on an online website - Contactless, but I've seen anything from Google Forms to websites set up for this purpose. The biggest thought I had around this approach was data privacy, and how do you know for sure that your details wouldn't be sold on etc?

I came up with a third approach to this, and it's called struts.in

What is struts.in?

struts.in is a completely contactless sign-in method for companies to comply with recording who has been in their business at a certain time, without using an online data store. The business installs struts.in on a cheap tablet, phone, or chromebook with a front facing camera, and puts it at point of sign in.

Customers arrive, open the struts.in app on their phone, and show it to the device. The device reads the QR code, greets the user, and stores the users' details in a local database.

At a later date, if asked by the relevant authorities, businesses can export a date range of data from struts.in in CSV format as required.

UPDATE: The struts.in app is now a Progressive Web App (PWA). Customers don't have to download the app now if they don't want to, they can just quickly generate a code on the site. All the code runs client-side, no data is stored on the server

What's the cost?

It's free for everyone to sign in to a place using struts.in. It costs $5 for businesses via In App Purchase to put it into checkin mode (so customers can check-in via the app, and so the data can be exported). No subscription or anything - just a once off purchase to support development.

It's under active development at the moment, but I wanted to share it with the OzBargain community for some early feedback. Here are some codes to unlock business mode for Android (iOS is coming soon - I accidentally broke the app store during the upload and Apple are getting back to me šŸ˜¢).

2YK4E6Y0B47KZSA1NMFJBZJ

YET0TQXL5MSUBFC7X326RL2

75UM5ZWGFU5C8TJK9MJLX0C

0PJVR07P9C25KHJBEY65L05

SNA2RUDR80SPEN80ANLTYEB

GLQ9ENDAVC819UEPMS9PKA6

S3WX1M7N947TZZ5LF8GVVFY

CSJN6U8HJNNF01XBKZY6BQY

7ZAA3WHKLFPSPZSLA692KNH

I've been doing mobile development for a while now, but relatively new to the in-app purchase flow. If you have any issues let me know, and feedback is also welcome :)

Free Software/Websites

Related Stores

struts.in
struts.in

Comments

  • MS Paint on 29/06/2020 - 12:31
    +1

    I accidentally broke the app store during the upload

    I find this very hard to believe

    • Associatedmisterpotatomato @ struts.in on 29/06/2020 - 12:33
      +5

      I'm amazed someone read that far in the post. I was uploading a screenshot, the upload hadn't finished, and I submitted the app for review. It was accepted, but now that screenshot is permanently in an 'uploading' state, so I can't submit any updates etc for it. I broke it, but just for my app haha.

    • [Deactivated] on 07/07/2020 - 15:31

      Somebody's never used App Store Connect. That thing is brittle. And looks like it's straight out of 1992.

  • Blue Cat on 29/06/2020 - 12:32

    without using an online data store.

    Woah, in this day and age, I would expect nobody would make an app with offline storage. I see this app really being beneficial for companies that focus on privacy and keeping trade secrets.

    Just to confirm, the app can work perfectly with both the CLIENT and the CHECK-IN TABLET (excluding the in-app purchase) not having any internet access?

    • Associatedmisterpotatomato @ struts.in on 29/06/2020 - 12:34

      After the initial in-app purchase is done to put the app in check-in mode, yeah. It stores it all in a local database.

  • waitinghopefully on 29/06/2020 - 12:57

    Hi OP, I would be interested to give the iOS app a test run
    when it becomes available. Please keep me updated šŸ™‚

    Does struts.in count the number of patrons who have checked in and out?

    • Associatedmisterpotatomato @ struts.in on 29/06/2020 - 13:04

      Thanks! That's really good to hear. It doesn't have a 'check-out' mechanism, only a check-in one. If I owned a cafe I imagine I would have a hard enough time even getting people to check in in the first place haha.

      I was thinking of implementing a feature like '15 people have checked in here in the last hour', as configurable by the business. If you have a timed seating length, like 1 hour per reservation, the count of people currently signed in would effectively adjust itself based on who had signed in recently. Does that make sense? I'm a better developer than communicator šŸ¤“.

      I'll keep you in the loop for sure.

      • waitinghopefully on 29/06/2020 - 13:16

        Thanks. I think a check-in, check-out counter would be useful so we could ascertain the number of people in a premise at any point in time so as to meet the 1 person per 4 sqm (or subsequent 2 sqm) requirement. Just a suggestion šŸ™‚

        • Associatedmisterpotatomato @ struts.in on 29/06/2020 - 13:18

          That makes sense. The app already captures the max person indoor and outdoor when you create the business (doesn't display it at check in just yet but will in a very near update).

          Just to briefly touch on this point again, the app doesn't have a 'check-out' function because I don't think people would remember to check out after they had finished dining. Does my concept of a programmable timer for seating lengths sound good to you?

  • Seraphin7 on 29/06/2020 - 12:58
    +1

    how do you know for sure that your details wouldn't be sold on etc?

    The device reads the QR code, greets the user, and stores the users' details in a local database.

    Hmmm …

    • Associatedmisterpotatomato @ struts.in on 29/06/2020 - 13:02
      +3

      Ah yeah I totally get the contradiction. So imagining two scenarios:

      1. User signs in to online website, submits details etc. Those details are stored in an online database, somewhere, with a third party company. I would assert the difficulty in those details being onsold from that point in time to be fairly low, even more so if the third party were to go bankrupt or out of business for instance.

      2. User signs in to struts.in on a device. The cafe/restuarant owner would have to export the details from the device, and then find a buyer, and complete transaction…. not impossible but the barrier for doing so is higher (at least, in my mind). Plus, I would trust a cafe owner to do the right thing over a random online company overseas.

      Does that reasoning stack up?

      • Seraphin7 on 29/06/2020 - 13:27
        +1

        I'm not technology architect by any means, but I've been conditioned over the years to expect any information that I provide "to end up on a database" somewhere (regardless of the nuances of storage, access, etc.) that is likely to be used for purposes other than its original intent … ranging from the need to supply all manner of particulars to get basic information out of real estate agents (or similar local merchants) only to then be spammed into next week by them, through to ending up on the lists of Russian phishing outfits or other similarly nefarious organisations.

  • Bargain80 on 29/06/2020 - 13:23

    The difficult part is asking customers to install the app before check-in.

    It's fine in office situation as the manager can tell all employees to install the app.
    But in public business situation such as restaurant, I imagine this will put off some people and they might go somewhere else.

    • WoodYouLikeSomeCash on 29/06/2020 - 13:27
      +1

      Yes that is a major flaw, most cafes Iā€™ve been to use a web based system which means customers donā€™t need to install an app.

      • Associatedmisterpotatomato @ struts.in on 29/06/2020 - 13:30
        +1

        This is true, but the issue with the web based systems is the data security stuff which I've mentioned above. Plus, I'm fairly sure you have to sign in over and over again on the web based ones, nothing saves your details.

        I was thinking of adding an option for the QR code generation to happen on the website if people want to, to skip the app install bit.

        • Bargain80 on 29/06/2020 - 13:38

          I haven't looked at your app.
          but yes,maybe add a feature to add detail manually (and save to local, not web based), and option to send link f the app store if the customer enter email address (in case they are returning customers and don't want the hassle).

  • jjjaar on 29/06/2020 - 13:31

    $5 for businesses?

    I have a friend who has created a similar thing (not tech savvy enough to say how similar in terms of data storage etc), but heā€™s not charging anyone to use it.

    https://www.simpleprogramming.com.au/covid

    • WoodYouLikeSomeCash on 29/06/2020 - 13:35
      +1

      I donā€™t really see the problem with charging for it as itā€™s a one off purchase, some people would prefer to support the developer and if they would like a free option they can go somewhere else like you mentioned.

      • jjjaar on 29/06/2020 - 13:41
        +1

        Sure, itā€™s not the biggest cost for venues, and the developer has obviously put in a lot of effort to do it. Just providing alternatives.

      • MrFrugalSpend on 05/07/2020 - 21:35

        @WoodYouLikeSomeCash: "I donā€™t really see the problem with charging for it" … Username checks out

    • Associatedmisterpotatomato @ struts.in on 29/06/2020 - 13:39

      It's great your friend has done that. Development on physical devices (phones etc) costs quite a bit more. For example, iOS Store is $149/year. A macbook to build apps in Xcode is $2000, etc etc.

      • jjjaar on 29/06/2020 - 13:44

        As I said, Iā€™m not tech savvy. Of course thereā€™s costs associated with both versions.

        I guess my friend just created it in spare time and to protect peopleā€™s data so was more concerned in helping others quickly rather than worrying about it being in apps etc or making his time/money back.

        Anyway, it is ozbargain after all, just sharing a cheaper alternative.

  • elgrande on 29/06/2020 - 14:06
    +7

    Customers arrive, open the struts.in app on their phone, and show it to the device.Ā 

    This might be the problem. If I was asked to download an app before entering a premises I would ask them politely to strutoff.

    • Associatedmisterpotatomato @ struts.in on 29/06/2020 - 14:16

      Makes sense. What I've seen a lot of businesses do is let people in and then ask them to check-in at their leisure. Whenever that check-in occurs is okay, as long as it happens at some point during their visit.

      Would you prefer it if you could quickly make a code on the website instead of going the app route?

    • Associatedmisterpotatomato @ struts.in on 29/06/2020 - 17:07

      I'm implementing this on the website, so people can make their code without downloading the app ā˜ŗļø should have it in tonight hopefully

    • Associatedmisterpotatomato @ struts.in on 29/06/2020 - 21:12

      I changed the web site to a Progressive Web App that lets you generate a code without having to download the app. It also gives you the option to save it to your home screen. Thanks for your feedback!

      • elgrande on 29/06/2020 - 23:11

        Ok great, sounds much better.

  • WoodYouLikeSomeCash on 05/07/2020 - 22:27

    Available to iOS yet?

  • Associatedmisterpotatomato @ struts.in on 10/07/2020 - 11:39

    I updated the struts.in site to make it clearer on how the app works and what it actually does. Thanks everyone for your feedback so far :)

  • Associatedmisterpotatomato @ struts.in on 20/07/2020 - 08:51

    Turns out the privacy thing is a bit of an issue… it made the news here this morning: https://www.9news.com.au/national/coronavirus-australia-contā€¦

  • Associatedmisterpotatomato @ struts.in on 28/07/2020 - 22:54
    +1

    I made a video demonstrating the process of how a customer signs in at a venue: https://youtu.be/-_Yq5iVZqFw

    Of course, if anyone has feedback on this definitely let me know :)

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