Smudge sell Staccar to US company

Christchurch-based software company Smudge Apps has sold its augmented reality software application, Staccar, to US-based InContext Solutions, which claims to be the global leader in 3D simulation software for retail.

Staccar is iOS app for field sales workers selling into retail stores that enables them to create visualisations of in-store merchandising elements  such as display units, planograms (visual representations of a store's products or services on display ) and signage.

InContext Solutions’ says Staccar will enhance is 3D simulation software solution suite.

Jenkin Lee, vice president of product management at InContext Solutions says Staccar enables field sales rep to “remove all guesswork and show a retail manager what a new merchandising setup could look like,” in 15 seconds.

Smudge managing director Reuben Bijl said: "Gone are the days of having to imagine what new elements might look like in a retail space. Now, retailers can see it for themselves in a totally immersive and realistic way. Augmented reality offers tremendous potential to help businesses make better decisions, and Staccar is a perfect example of that.” 

Under the terms of the agreement, InContext Solutions will acquire the underlying technology for Staccar from Smudge, along with related apps and services. InContext Solutions says both companies will continue to support the product through collaborative development.

Smudge was founded in 2008 by Bijl and Toby Vincent to develop iPhone apps shortly after Apple released the first iPhone and created the app store.