Bookanyservice, a company aiming to transform the way people compare and book services, recently relaunched its mobile and web platform and is rapidly expanding its offering.
Bookanyservice, based in Dubai Internet City since its foundation in 2016, is an aggregated services marketplace that offers convenient instant service bookings, from house cleaning and pest control, to plumbing and painting, and is rolling out in the coming weeks other business segments including pet care, beauty, fitness, experiences and lessons.
The platform is focused on solving problems for customers, who are looking to book convenient and hassle-free services anytime, anywhere, without having to go through the cumbersome process of finding and comparing quotations on the phone.
More than just a services marketplace for clients, Bookanyservice aims to empower small- and medium-sized service companies with a free proprietary business management web and mobile apps that help them understand and run their businesses effectively - using technology to increase their revenues and lower costs. Small- and medium-sized service providers can use the app to build a digital presence, and tap into previously inaccessible customer segments. The digital platform uses ad boosts, pricing algorithms and packaging tools that let service companies optimise their service prices and drive bookings during off-peak periods.
Bookanyservice Co-founders Magdalena Gatzinska and Zeina Khoury realised there was an opportunity to disrupt the services space after experiencing first-hand the difficulties in finding the right service providers.
“For customers, it can be a frustrating process looking to book the right service provider at the right time, price and level of professionalism. However, for a market to function efficiently, both sides need to be addressed: the needs of small- and medium size service providers at present get little attention. While operating in a highly competitive space, many do not have the knowledge, strategy or the budget to venture into technology or the digital space to improve their business. There is a powerful social benefit element of using our platform as well – it is in line with the UAE’s vision to support and promote SMEs,” said Gatzinska, a former Wall Street investment banker of more than 20 years.
“We want to increase the visibility of service providers, and enable them to better organise their day-to-day operations, manage online bookings and boost promotions during off-peak periods. Through our platform, we aim to be the ‘Amazon for Services’ and add value to both customers and service companies,” said Khoury, who herself runs a successful high-end real estate brokerage firm.
Khoury added “With more than 72.7 million internet users in the MENA region and a higher internet penetration rate, there is a strong market for e-services. We are keen to expand across the MENA region, and are already in discussions with partners in three GCC states. The Arab world has a majority population below the age of 25, which makes it an ideal region for e-services to catch on.”