Photo credit: globalnews.ca
A mother and son duo from Calgary have launched a new application aimed at assisting Canadians in their pursuit of purchasing domestically manufactured products. The app, named O SCANada, was made available on the App Store on February 3rd and utilizes artificial intelligence to help users determine whether products are made in Canada.
Cathy Checora, one half of the team and a self-taught app designer, was inspired to create this tool after reflecting on the public’s increasing desire to support Canadian-made goods. “It really struck me one morning, thinking about how many people want to buy Canadian,” she shared.
The application offers two primary features for users to find out more about products: they can either enter the product name into a search bar or scan the product’s barcode. In return, the app provides detailed information about the manufacturer, the origin of the product, and where it is sold.
Breaking National News Alerts
Stay updated on significant national and global news by subscribing to receive alerts as they happen.
If a product is not manufactured in Canada, the app provides suggestions for alternative Canadian-made options. For instance, if a user searches for Pringles, known to be produced by the American company Kellogg’s, the app will offer recommendations for Canadian brands like Old Dutch or Humpty Dumpty. The app emphasizes that these alternatives support the Canadian economy.
“While shopping, users can instantly check if an item is made in Canada,” Cathy noted. The Checora team aims to continually expand the app’s offerings in upcoming updates and actively encourage more local brands to join the platform.
“We want to create a collaborative environment where users can suggest products that aren’t currently in the app,” said Ryan. “This would allow us to enhance the app’s database and provide users with continually updated options.”
At present, O SCANada is exclusively available for download on the Apple App Store, with plans for the release of an Android version in the near future.
Source
globalnews.ca