Dubai-based Fetchr is here and it intends to disrupt the way deliveries are done. The company has recently announced the launch of their app giving users the ability to send or receive anything, anywhere by using their phone’s GPS co-ordinates. Customers can send packages by snapping a picture of the item and choosing a pickup time of their convenience. A driver is dispatched at the scheduled time to the phone’s location, and can be tracked in real time. The delivery is then made based on the receiver’s coordinates provided and the time assigned by him.
How did it all start?
Idriss Al Rifai – while at an event in Silicon Valley California seeking funding – met Joy Ajlouny, a Palestinian serial entrepreneur based in California. Joy at her previous e-commerce company had great difficulty with shipping to the Middle East and most of the packages were sent back to her due to the lack of address system in emerging markets and in the Middle East especially. While on stage, Idriss spoke passionately about solving the problem of the lack of proper addresses in the Middle East and emerging markets. After the meeting, they both connected their ideas on logistics and last mile issues that affect so many e-commerce companies. They both knew that with their combined experience that they would be able to change delivery with technology and help grow e-commerce in the Middle East and emerging markets. Joy decided to join the company and keep on building and improving the solution we offer.
Fetchr raised US$11 million in early-stage funding from venture capitalists in Silicon Valley, the biggest amount in “Series A” funding by any firm in the region. We had a Q&A session with Joy Ajlouny, the co-founder of Fetchr, to give us the story.
What is Fetchr?
As it is currently in the region, customers have to make and receive multiple calls for each delivery to describe the location, creating a very poor customer experience. This is broken down by calls to schedule, calls from courier, calls from driver and calls to driver. With the fetchr app, you don’t need to speak to anyone; delivery, scheduling, rescheduling and driver updates are all done via the app in real time. The app also gives you the ability to have a clear knowledge as to when your package will be delivered (with 15-30 min precision).
How hard was it to raise funds?
There are multiple challenges in the ecommerce space in the region. They deal mainly with the quality of the delivery services, the legal environment (or the lack thereof to operate an ecommerce business) and funding. Despite these massive challenges, e-commerce has shown tremendous growth in the past few years across the Gulf. It represents a fantastic opportunity for any retailer or anybody who want to reach a regional audience with very limited upfront costs.
How is Fetchr planning to position itself in the market?
Fetchr’s vision is to enable all deliveries through technology. We want to be the worlds easiest, fastest, most convenient way to ship anything anywhere. We want to make shipping as easy as shopping, making delivery and pick up as easy as 2 clicks. We want to change standards for delivery, Joy Ajlouny added.
Is Fetchr crowd-sourced?
The service is not crowd-sourced at present, but we are creating the platform for outsourcing and it will be available at the end of the year.
What do you think of aramex’s latest move in joining the crowd-sourcing game?
As the space becomes more mature, competition becomes tough. We are however still very far from the level of saturation you can experience in the US or in other more mature markets. It is still a great time to start an online business as the market grows more than 30% year over year. Some segments of the ecommerce space is becoming more competitive ultimately giving better value for money to the end consumer.
Which countries does Fetchr cover right now?
Fetchr currently operates within the UAE; however we are expanding to new markets.
For more information, you can check out their website and sign up for their app here.
