Finding misplaced items is easy with this solution, writes Balqis Lim
“WHERE’S my wallet?” “Have you seen my keys?”
These are some of the most-asked questions that we can all relate to. Losing an item is not just annoying and inconvenient, it can sometimes be nerve-wracking, especially when you are in a hurry. Two young men decided to solve the problem, by creating a product that could track items anywhere.
Edison Lim and Max Chua, both 27, decided to cease operating their one-year-old events company to start TAG La Technology in December 2015.
Their product, TAG La, is an item finder that can be attached to your personal belongings and connected to your phone using Bluetooth to keep track of your things. It locates them by “ringing” when they get misplaced.
RESEARCH
Initially, Lim says they were not sure of the kind of product they wanted to sell. They decided to look through Kickstarter, a US-based crowdfunding platform focused on creativity and merchandising.
“We saw an item finder that is a hit on the platform, which raised US$10 million (RM42 million) even before it was launched. We tried looking for the same type of product here. We went to every shop but could not find such an item. That’s when we saw the huge opportunity and decided on an item finder as our pioneer product,” adds Lim.
The first version of TAG La was OEM, short for original equipment manufacturer. OEM refers to the act of a company branding a product to match its name and offering its own warranty, support and licensing of it.
Due to lack of knowledge on technology, Lim and Chua decided to offer OEM products for 1½ years only. In the first year, they sold 10,000 units to individuals and corporate customers.
When they had gained enough revenue, they decided to inject the money into research and development to develop their own item finder.
“We engaged with foreign companies which agreed to develop our TAG La tracker and mobile application. It was challenging as the first prototype had connectivity problems. Communication with the foreign companies was not easy either. We even flew to our developer’s office in China and India to solve the problem,” says Chua.
Early this year, the company finally came out with TAG La V2, a more compact device, slightly bigger than the old 50 sen coin and with a more powerful sound. The existing mobile app has also been updated for a smoother user experience.
Some 60,000 units have been sold to date.
HOW TO USE
Attach TAG La to any item that you don’t want to lose such as keys, wallet and backpacks, and connect it to the TAG La app. Once a connection is established, the TAG La app can track the item. When needed, the user can open the app and tap on the “Find me” button to ring the Bluetooth tracker.
As an alternative, you can find your misplaced phone by pressing on the TAG La twice and your phone will ring, even if it’s on silent mode.
What if the device is out of range? Fret not. Lim says once the device and your phone have exceeded the connection range of 22 metres, a notification will pop up on your phone and the app will display the last location of the Bluetooth tracker. Once the user is near to the area, it automatically connects again and you can use the app to find it.
The user can also ask the TAG La community for help through the app. If other TAG La user passes by your item, you will receive an updated location on your app immediately.
The item tracker uses a CR 2032 Lithium coin battery that can last up to six months, depending on use. These batteries are replaceable and easily purchased in the market.
TAG La is also great for selfie lovers as it can be used as a remote. “Using our in-app camera feature, users can click on TAG La’s button to take photos. No timer and selfie sticks are needed.”
MOVING FORWARD
TAG La is a practical solution to recovering lost items but the company wants to be a tracking solution company and globally recognised as a Malaysian brand.
Its next project is to track vehicles and humans. “We have already completed our vehicle tracking device, which will be launched soon.
So how does it work? For example, a company with 10 drivers will traditionally have to either call or WhatsApp them to track their whereabouts, but with the device and platform, you can trace the driving behaviour, car health report including battery and engine temperature, and more, in real-time. “It’s a plug-and-play device,” says Chua.
The company has also engaged with a few ride-sharing companies for partnerships on the upcoming product called Track La.