How Zowedo aims to create an all-around online consumer services platform

The self-funded startup links 500 micro-vendors to consumers.

Need your nails done? How about cleaning and repair services? Online services platform Zowedo can help you with finding, booking and paying for these wide range of personal and home services by linking users with the appropriate vendors as it bids to be a one-stop portal for Singaporeans’ everyday service needs.

Service providers can freely sign up and list their services on Zowedo’s platform. The firm’s “‘Dynamic Scheduler” would then set up its clients’ operating hours and time-slots available for bookings and allow a vendor to offer group classes or one-to-one booking.

In turn, customers would just have to browse, search and compare services before picking a suitable date and time for the required service and paying for it. The startup then receives a transaction fee upon successful completion of the services listed on its platform. 

Antoine Nicole, founder of the self-funded startup, started the business after realising that finding a good service provider for personal or home services is like “finding a needle in a haystack” as most micro-vendors and small businesses are not ready to bring their businesses to a digital platform. 

“Today, you can purchase pretty much anything online, gadgets, fashion, groceries, food, taxi, etc. However, you cannot find services and book an appointment for them instantly. You would have to rely on word-of-mouth or referrals to find someone and there is no transparency on pricing and what the service entails until you try it out for yourself,” Nicole told Singapore Business Review.

After the launch of its platform in November 2018, Zowedo has had over 500 service listings on its platform. “We are still new and our priority now is to provide a comprehensive listing of offers that ranges in service, price, location and schedule so it can satisfy consumer demand,” he said.

“In this day of mobile convenience, customers want to complete their transactions on-demand and receive instant confirmation. As such, we looked at the most common services people need regularly and developed a proprietary appointment booking system suitable for almost any service provider to be able to manage their schedule and accept bookings automatically,” said Nicole.

The startup is in the midst of adding more features to its platform that would enhance the user experience of their clients as they seek to kickstart their Asia-Pacific expansion by 2020.