Mobile Friendly Enhancements

Our phones have become our computers, and we expect to be able to get the information we need immediately, wherever we are, on our mobile devices. In the US, 83% of us access the internet through our mobile phone. Worldwide, mobile now accounts for over half of all internet traffic. 

The need for information on the go is especially important for you, our users in local government. Inspections, compliance, planning, community engagement. These activities require time spent in the field. Many of Tolemi’s users are away from their desks every day (in normal times, at least). For that reason, the rich, parcel-level data in BuildingBlocks has always been accessible via mobile. But our users, like the rest of the world, expect more today from their mobile experience. More functionality, more ease-of-use, more insights from their data. 

And so we are excited to announce Mobile BuildingBlocks, a total overhaul of the entire user experience specifically designed for iOS and Android mobile devices. We have spent months talking with you to better understand what BuildingBlocks features you need out in the field and how we can deliver them seamlessly through a phone or tablet. The result is Mobile BuildingBlocks, and you can access it today by opening a mobile browser and typing the same url you use to access BuildingBlocks on a desktop. 

So what’s new about Mobile BuildingBlocks?

• Simpler and faster lookup using property address, parcel ID, or owner/business name
• Geolocation, which is just a fancy way of saying you can center the map where you are standing or search for properties within a certain distance of your current location
• Redesigned Property and Owner Profiles to make it easier to quickly find the information you need
• Complete filtering functionality across all data in BuildingBlocks, optimized for mobile
• Toggle between map and list view for search results, and sort list view based on distance from you
• Easy access to all of your Saved Filters, Properties, and Areas
• A mobile-optimized website, not another app you need to download onto your device

“I’m usually away from my desk most of the day. I used to have to do hours of research before and after my inspections—case history, ownership, service calls. Having all of this information on my tablet when I’m in the field saves me hours of research before and after the fact. And I’m just better at my job when I’m more informed going in.”  Code Compliance Officer, Texas

“Mobile BuildingBlocks allows me to be much more proactive. If I spot a potential issue while I’m driving down the block, I can immediately do background on the property history, what permits have been pulled, who the owner is. And what else does he own?” Fire Marshall, California

“I’m at neighborhood events a few times a month, meeting with community members. Now I can reach for my phone and pull up answers to most of their questions immediately. Who’s buying properties in our neighborhood? What kind of redevelopment is happening? What’s going on with the abandoned house next door? We have made some of our data public through BuildingBlocks, and I’ve heard from our residents how convenient it is to be able to access it all from their phones.” Community Development Administrator, New York

“Mobile BuildingBlocks and Sharing means that I can manage my team in the field and make them more effective. I can do my research at my desk, find properties that I need eyes on them, then share them with my officers. They can pull up the email with potential problem properties, launch BuildingBlocks on their phone, and see which ones are closest. No more back and forth to the office, and I can use data to inform where we are focusing our efforts.” Director of Code Enforcement, Washington

So try Mobile BuildingBlocks today. Go to your BuildingBlocks url on any browser, enter your user ID and password, and start exploring.