Mr Sam Wanjohi. He has developed an online platform dubbed Dash2do
through a mobile phone app targeting college students and vocational
workers. Salaton Njau
By SIMON CIURI,
In Summary
- Online platform Dash2do reaps from high-quality services.
Are you overworked and need help to tackle your
to-do-list? Sam Wanjohi has the answer. A few years ago he developed an
online platform dubbed Dash2do through a mobile phone app targeting
college students and vocational workers. Today it controls a portfolio
of errand runners comprising drivers, ushers and shoppers.
The latter involves the clients signing up online for the service and in case a client needs a package delivered, the assignment is circulated to dashers who move quickly to deliver the service through Foresight Ventures, which runs the platform.
“Dash2do is a technology-driven, online concierge and personal service that helps busy people both in Kenya and in the diaspora to get things done in Nairobi while solving the massive problem of unemployment among the youth and skilled vocational workforce,’’ Sam Wanjohi, the inventor of the technology told the Business Daily in an interview.
Their employees are called “dashers”’ and are tasked with different roles depending on the demand.
“They consist of college students, boda boda or motorcycle riders and drivers who are selected for their good attitude, friendly service, experience and skill and go through a rigorous interview and vetting process,’’ he added, underlining how the evolution of technology in the country has played a key role in the growth of his business.
To get the service, customers go to Dash2do website, sign up then top up their account by credit card or mobile money.
They then book online for services such as shopping and delivery, help with packing of boxes, event organisation and cleaning after a party, among other every day jobs that often pose a headache for harried city workers. Once a booking is made, it is broadcast to the dashers’ mobile phones nearest to where the service is required.
One of the dashers accepts the task and the system lets the customer know the name and number of this person. The system then alerts the customer when the task is done.
‘“We have the charges displayed alongside the assignments,’’ said the graduate of Civil Engineering from Birmingham University in the United Kingdom who started his first business at the age of 17 while still a student.
His first venture involved getting a deposit for motorcycles from clients and supplying them with the machines both for private and commercial use. On a good month, Mr Wanjohi says he made roughly Sh40, 000 per month.
On Dash2do, the client is prompted by SMS to log on to his account after the service is delivered, rate the dasher and add an optional tip to enable the money to be debited from his account and paid to the dasher through Foresight Ventures.
“Dash2do is an attempt to make a difference in Kenya’s labour market. Students and vocational workers can run small errands in their spare time on demand and earn money from that. At the same time we are offering busy people a wide range of helpful service at fair rates,’’ said the investor-cum inventor who also controls another multi-million shilling interior design business.
The online investment that cost him Sh1 million to start has grown into a big enterprise with an average of 100 customers per month although he did not reveal how much the business brings in.
‘‘Our main clients include event planners who get students to help with setup or with the ushering.
Doctors also use it to get personal tasks done as they are usually too busy to leave their patients. We have a team of six that co-ordinates our dashers and we are not doing badly in terms of profit,” he added, although he remained guarded on figures.
Mr Wanjohi’s passion for business and technology
goes back to his days in high school when he used to accompany his
parents to business meetings.
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