INSPIRE by VASAP iOS and Android Mobile App

The Commission on the Virginia Alcohol Safety Action Program (VASAP) is a state agency focused on reducing the number of impaired driving-related crashes. They are responsible for oversight of Virginia’s Ignition Interlock Program and ensuring that participants and Interlock Vendors are abiding by state regulations.

Challenge

Oversight of this program previously involved an arduous inspection process that was very time-consuming. In order to improve this process, VASAP commissioned the creation of a custom mobile app that would allow them to conduct these inspections in a more efficient manner. They also wanted to provide an easy way for participants and Interlock Vendors to access important information about the program and regulations. The mobile app needed to be usable on phones, tablets, and computers and available for use from the Apple and Google application stores.

Solution

Marathon developed a mobile app that was user-friendly, secure, and allows for large data entry, push notifications, user query, and document uploads. The app allows the public to find and get directions to VASAP sanctioned facilities and allows the VASAP inspection team to visit the facilities and perform their inspections online using their smart phone. The system was designed to be used by any state wishing to get the same functionality for their citizens and VASAP-like state agencies.

With the requirement for both Android and iOS usability, along with the application being available for both smartphones and tablets, Marathon developed the app using Microsoft Xamarin and Xamarin Forms. By taking this approach, we were able to deliver native iOS and Android apps in almost half the time it would have taken to develop the apps natively. Providing the benefits of having one code base to maintain, Xamarin was a clear choice for the project.

The mobile app accesses data from a Web API built using ASP.NET, hosted as an Azure app service connected to an Azure SQL database and Azure Blob storage. The app data is managed by a web application built with ASP.NET Core Razor Pages. For high-quality UI controls in the web application, we leveraged Telerik UI for ASP.NET Core.

Marathon delivered a system that was immediately put into operation. It is now helping the client manage their inspections and helping the general public locate authorized interlock installation facilities.