New app brings consumers and service industry closer
The uniqueness of bringing together the consumer and the serviceman by a new app, FastFix app appears to be serving the middle-class upwards because it is more technologically oriented and also highly service oriented.
Business Times (BT) had the opportunity to speak to Jeevan Gnanam, Executive Director, St Anthony’s Industries Group as to how this app would be of great assistance to those who are in distress in getting some repair work attended almost immediately like, plumbing, electrical, carpentry, masonry or air-conditioning work.
Last week FastFix App was launched at the Hatch in Colombo, partnering with ‘Anton’, a fully owned subsidiary of St Anthony’s Industries to facilitate easy home repairs from plumbing to electrical and later the services would be extended to other areas as well.
He pointed out that the micro entrepreneur or the daily wage earner had to face the largest financial struggle as they were one of the first groups to be affected when COVID-19 impacted the country. He said that this app would provide a platform to those who have lost their jobs to find work and earn a living to cover their daily wages at the least.
He said that the embarkation of this venture not only provides the skilled workers their job opportunity, but they would also be given training to elevate them to be professionals.
When asked when the ordinary ‘Bass Unnehe’ would become a professional like an architect that invariably his charges would go up, Mr. Gnanam said: “When his competence and quality of work is ensured and a work done properly and satisfactorily it has indeed a price”.
This innovative app has two versions designed; one for consumers and another for service providers. When a consumer selects a nearby service provider, that service provider receives a notification to his worker app and the two can connect via the app’s in-built audio or video call options.
The app’s video call facility allows users to explain their requirement to the service provider while virtually showing the issue at hand to resolve it by the customer himself.
More features are expected to be added to the app including a feature to locate the nearest Anton product outlet which further assists the app’s users when searching for the required materials needed for repairs, which can be bought at a special rate when purchased through the app.
The app service would first be available in Gampaha and Colombo districts and later it would be expanded to embrace the entire country. This way the experienced qualitative skilled worker gets an opportunity to be better and permanently employed and also to be capable of seeking foreign employment easily.