ARIFROV??? GOOD OR NOT???
So basically, AIRFROV is the sharing economy of shared luggage space. and the team yesterday made a rather comprehensive presentation of what it does, its history, etc. However I do have some thoughts about it.
Firstly, people going overseas are probably on holiday, and yes it makes sense that they might want to make some extra cash, but at the expense of their vacation experience? I think not. Imagine going for a 3-day travel and having the need to travel to somewhere out of place to purchase an item? And if that shop happens to be closed?
Next, we can solve this if we Airfrov creates a service that would ensure that these delivery men have a smooth and pleasurable experience. The service could be something that connects the overseas merchant with the local buyer, coming up with a contract to ensure the legitimacy of the purchase. Next, an itinerary is sent to the deliverer, and he can with certainty, make the collection without any unforseen disruptions.
Commercial potential wise, I find it hard to generate large amount of profits due to the lack of attractiveness to delivery men given that the cost of doing so does not justify the rewards -unless the above suggested service is provided.
Lastly, I agree with the group that the UI is boring, especially the colour scheme. More contrast should be added so excite the user's senses.
Firstly, people going overseas are probably on holiday, and yes it makes sense that they might want to make some extra cash, but at the expense of their vacation experience? I think not. Imagine going for a 3-day travel and having the need to travel to somewhere out of place to purchase an item? And if that shop happens to be closed?
Next, we can solve this if we Airfrov creates a service that would ensure that these delivery men have a smooth and pleasurable experience. The service could be something that connects the overseas merchant with the local buyer, coming up with a contract to ensure the legitimacy of the purchase. Next, an itinerary is sent to the deliverer, and he can with certainty, make the collection without any unforseen disruptions.
Commercial potential wise, I find it hard to generate large amount of profits due to the lack of attractiveness to delivery men given that the cost of doing so does not justify the rewards -unless the above suggested service is provided.
Lastly, I agree with the group that the UI is boring, especially the colour scheme. More contrast should be added so excite the user's senses.
Hey Shi Jie,
ReplyDeleteI think your use case for AirFrov seems a bit limited.
There are tons of cases where AirFrov is used (At least from what I've seen):
1) Agreeing to buy goods only when you've travelled and have extra luggage space / time at the end of your trip - This gets rid of the fact that the shop might be closed and afraid of wasting time.
2) Buying goods from a frequently travelled place close-by (Malaysia / Thailand) - You're pretty much a local and know how everything works (where the shop is and how to get there). Besides since you go there so often, the extra cash might offset your travel fees.
As long as the profits are not too bad, some people will definitely use it! The fact that AirFrov guarantees the transaction (because they hold the money) also keeps these users within the App! (otherwise, they could connect with each other through another messaging app and keep AirFrov from making any profit).
I think the crux here for AirFrov is whether they can get a profit with a cut from all these transactions.
-Wilson Tan
Hi SJ!
ReplyDeleteGood points mentioned! I agree with the case you presented where the people going overseas do not want to spend their short time there purchasing items for the clients. It is definitely not the ideal target market for AirFrov. There are some people who go overseas quite often or have so much free time there who do not mind earning extra bucks from AirFrov. I think they are targeting other market segment and not the one you mentioned.
Regarding the profit generated, I feel that as long as there are supplies and demands, AirFrov can always make money out of this transaction. Furthermore, if I am not mistaken, AirFrov charges 7% + S$2 per transaction. It's quite substantial considering what they do is only to match the buyer and the seller and no logistic involved. What they can do probably is to keep constant demand and supply for their service.
Max
Hi Shi Jie, Charlton here. On the topic of luggage sharing, I would like to bring up a service that does exactly that - Airmule (https://www.airmule.com/). I think that the combination of Airmule and Airfrov can solve the problem of travellers not having enough luggage space as the onus is on the client to secure the additional storage space.
ReplyDeleteAlso, regarding the commerical potential, I think there is viablity for people who travel for a living like travel vloggers and news reporter. Nonetheless, to make it more appealing, Airfrov should have surge pricing/tips for special occasion like Black Friday sale to garner the interest of both travllers and reqester.
Hi SJ, This is Khan! You made a very good point on simply the feasibility of this business idea. Although I never tried being a "traveller" myself, I can imagine myself couldn't even be bothered to do such a job during a vacation just for the small bucks. Your solution is indeed a good one to lessen the effect of such hassle. But I do have one additional idea on that. What if Airfrov can detect where you are and push notify the "traveller" that some possible goods are nearby for them to buy and earn that extra cash. This will make it much easier/convenient for the traveller.
ReplyDeleteOn a side point I think there is still potential although the market is small for Airfrov. People who travel not for vacation (like me going back to my hometown once a few months) might happily pick up such a job. They know the place well and wouldn't mind buying some local delicacies to the eager Singaporeans here!