Mobile travel guide specialist Everplaces is switching its focus to the development of B2B applications just two years after launching the capability for travel companies.
The company's chief executive Tine Thygesen plans to step aside with cofounder Christoffer Kaalund stepping up to the CEO position and overseeing the app engine side of the business.
Thygesen says Kaalund was instrumental in the development of the apps platform and is therefore the one who should take it forward.
Speaking during Digital Tourism Innovation Campus in Barcelona last month she said she would continue to be involved on a 'non-operational basis.'
Some good insight (for startups) and further detail on the thinking behind the decision and the app engine are provided on here on Thygesen's blog which also says the B2B side of the business has turned over $400,000 compared to the consumer service which "turns over next to nothing."
Everplaces (TLabs here) started life as a consumer product offering tips to travellers but then demand started to build up to develop apps for travel and tourism companies.
The company therefore decided to develop the technology to be a common app engine. Destination marketing organisations such as the German National Tourism Board use the B2B service.
Kaalund says:
"The point is to be able to build up blocks of functionality for individual apps so that every time we do a custom app, they can then become available to others."
Thygesen adds that the consumer site, which has been popular and something the company has been careful not to over monetise, will continue but not see further development.
"There are parties that are interested in doing something with it. There is no end in sight."