Rezo App is one of the most innovative tools available on Playstore and App Store. Indeed, no need to consult your directory to find a plumber, an electrician, etc. Rezo App brings together all these services on a single platform.
How did you come up with the idea of creating Rezo App?
I had this idea two years ago when I came to visit my family in Mauritius. It was hard to find a good and reliable handyman to do some work at my parent’s place. I tried Facebook but it was not helpful. I asked around but the recommended people were either not available or they were not recommended by others. I tried to search on Google, but the result was same as on Facebook. And neither was there any apps to which I could easily get my hands on.
It was a bit disappointing that despite being a growing country, we are still behind in using mobile apps or adopting digital platforms. That is when I decided to go ahead and build an easy-to-use classified ads app where small businesses can easily advertise their services and consumers like me find the right service provider all in one place.
Tell us more about the Rezo App concept.
The concept behind the Rezo App is amazingly simple and straightforward. Small businesses can register on the app as Service providers using their Facebook account, email address or phone number. Once they have registered, they will be able to create n advert to promote their business. They can provide information like address, phone number, websites and a description of the services offered. They will get a month trial and after that, they can either go for a 6 months or 12 months package.
On the other hand, the public can register as a client user. Once the registration is successful, they can browse the different categories of services for free. They can dial the number of the service provider or chat with the businesses directly. There is also an option to give feedback to the businesses or share an advert with friends.
When was Rezo App launched? Is it available on Play Store?
We started in June 2019 with a pilot version and for a year, refined the app based on the feedback we got. Subsequently, In July 2020, we launched the app in its current form. It is available on both Play Store and App store.
So far, can you tell us about these micro-businesses are present on Rezo App?
Our target market is servicebased small businesses which have up to 10 employees. Currently, those are the businesses registered on the app.
What are the services that can be found on Rezo App?
We have a wide range of services ranging from manual jobs like building works and application repairs to professionals like private medical practices. The services currently on offer are broadly categorised under:
1. Appliance Repair
2. Arts and Crafts
3. Beauty and Spa
4. Building and renovation
5. Business Management
6. Food places
7. Cars/Rooms For Hire
8. Health and fitness
9. IT Services
10. Professionals
11. Tutors and Lessons
12. Vehicle Maintenance
13. Weddings and Events
14. Other Category including services like Cleaning, Driving etc.
Since its launch, what is the Mauritian response to Rezo App?
We received some positive feedback from the Mauritian public. Many people sent us messages on how impressed they were with the app. At the same time, we felt some hesitancy from some people about using the app. We have a dedicated staff to help our customers with technical issues and general questions about the app.
Will Rezo App grow more?
The app market is in ascendance in Mauritius and the public is warming to the idea of using apps in their daily life. In the last 9 months and despite the challenging macro-economic factors, many people have joined the app 5 times more than we initially expected. We believe that the Rezo App has a huge potential.
What has been the impact of COVID-19 on the use of Rezo App?
COVID-19 has been both a source of threats and opportunities. Threats in the form that many small businesses have been struggling financially and have preferred to postpone the uptake of a membership even though they have shown initial interest.
On the other hand, the consumers have used the extra time available to them from working from home, to download the app and explore the services available. We have been marketing extensively on social media and we believe that the brand awareness has increased due to more people being present on social media in the pandemic.
Are you looking for a partnership with a Mauritian conglomerate/Mauritian big company to further develop Rezo App in Mauritius?
I think there is a lot of potential in the market segment we are targeting, and we would welcome a local partner. However, we would like a partner who would share same values as us in how we would like to grow.
What are the upcoming projects for Rezo App?
We want to continue to develop the brand awareness of the Rezo app and make it a second nature for Mauritians to use the Rezo App when they are looking for services. There are also new features we would like to launch when the market is ready for it.
COVID-19 has forever changed the habits of consumers around the world. For example, we are talking about the advent of digital. How can Rezo App surf on this digital boom?
With COVID-19, more and more people are opting for online service. Thus, they are hungry for information. They want to read reviews and do want to compare different services before they decide. If a business does not have a digital presence, il may be overlooked. In the long run, those businesses will miss new customer opportunities if they do not get a digital presence. This is where the Rezo App can help to bridge the gap. It allows small businesses to market their services in a very cost-efficient way and access a wider audience.
