A mobile app, designed by Singapore-based techpreneurs in 2011, is now in the Philippines and serves as an online personal concierge and delivery service.
It is an all-in-one on-demand lifestyle platform that saves time by handling chores for users. A market research in Singapore finds that it takes people four hours to complete their weekly grocery runs. In Hong Kong it takes about two and a half hours.
With the unresolved traffic issue in Metro Manila, the delivery service is a welcome alternative to driving out, looking for a parking spot and lining up at the checkout counter in order to bring bulky groceries home.
The app was developed by techpreneurs Joel Sng, Isaac Tay and Jonathan Low who set out to revolutionize how mundane daily tasks are accomplished in a modern urban setting. It is now present in key Asian cities Singapore, Taipei, Hong Kong, Jakarta, Kuala Lumpur, Bangkok, Niseko and Tokyo.
In the Philippines, the online grocery service is available in Makati, Fort Bonifacio, Ortigas, Quezon City (Katipunan and Eastwood) San Juan, Mandaluyong, Pasig (Kapitolyo and Valle Verde), and Pasay City (Roxas Blvd – Buendia)
One of the keys to the start-up’s phenomenal growth is that it teamed up with industry leaders such as Robinsons Supermarket. This is where their trained concierge handpicks the freshest produce and the premium grocery items according to the customer’s specifications, at same-store prices.
The app is set up in a way that the user feels like he or she is doing the actual shopping to meet his or her standards and product satisfaction, with the concierge even able to make substitution suggestions to ensure customer satisfaction.
The service on the app is customer-centric, and there is room to leave specific instructions for the items to be purchased. Deliveries, which are marked for two hours, are from 10 a.m. to 8 p.m. daily, subject to store operating hours, including weekends and public holidays.
There is a flat rate concierge or shopper fee of P150. Free delivery is offered for a minimum spend of P1,500. Otherwise, a delivery fee of P99 applies. Mode of payment options are COD (cash on delivery) or credit card.
“Robinsons Supermarket’s partnership with honestbee presents us with an opportunity to even be much closer to our customers,” says Jody Gadia, general manager of Robinsons Supermarket. “They now have an option to do their grocery shopping with ease through their mobile phones or desktops and still expect the same high-quality, fresh and healthy food and products from our supermarket to be delivered at their doorsteps.”
Robina Gokongwei-Pe, president and chief operating officer of Robinsons Supermarket says “this is just the first step in making Robinsons Supermarket’s products and services readily available to everyone.”
Honestbee.ph. also launched its additional concierge services for laundry pick-up and delivery (including dry-cleaning) and soon, delivery from its premium partner restaurants.
The app is available for free download on App store or Play Store.