THERE’S AN APP FOR THAT
There is an app to help you do pretty much anything these days. There seems no limit to the convenience that modern technology, driven by our smart phones, can bring to our daily lives. Every day, new products are solving problems we may not have known we had. We are all familiar with the way Apps like Uber, Airbnb and WhatsApp have changed the way we do things. And the South African and UAE markets are no exception. Lately, some seriously innovative apps have been designed specifically for these markets. Here are but a few:
UAE
| Fetchr: The UAE lacks street addresses and postal codes; the app uses your GPS co-ordinates to pin point exact locations. You can schedule or a delivery from AED30 plus, track your package and pay for the goods all on your phone. |
| Keno: Using your phones GPS you can get your car washed anywhere at any time of the day starting from AED35 with interior cleaning at an additional AED15. They come with all the cleaning supplies so all you need is your phone! It does not matter where you are parked the Keno team will be there. |
| Entertainer: The famous buy 1 get 1 APP that is hell bent on saving money. The APP starts from AED245 with savings of over AED6300 per annum and over 4000 offers, there is no doubt that whatever restaurant, café or Water Park you want to visit the APP has a discount for. |
| Instashop: Bringing the supermarket right to your door step the APP promises to deliver your groceries to your door within an hour. From diary and eggs to baby care you will surely find all your groceries in one place. |
| Waze: Although available globally, this app is particularly helpful and deserves a mention. Avoid traffic jams accidents and the endless roads of speed cameras with one of the best navigation apps around. With over 85 million drivers on the Waze community you are constantly updated with the latest accidents, police traps and portal speed cameras. |
| Just Mop: The easiest way to book a trusted home maid service for your cleaning needs. From general home to office cleaning to carpet and mattress cleaning, you can sit back and relax and know that your house is tidy in just one push of a button. |
| Dubizzle: One the UAE’s classified APPs where you can buy and sell anything on the move, whether it is a house, a car or a pet, you will surely find a seller or a buyer on this one stop APP. |
| Guavapass: Your one stop APP for all your fitness needs, from group exercises to premier and boutique studios you will find over 100 different classes to take every day in the UAE.
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SOUTH AFRICA
| Snap Scan: A safe, easy, convenient and free payment app that allows you to pay for the goods and services you need, wherever you are. No cash or cards needed. Once you have downloaded the app and linked it you your bank card (Your card details are securely encrypted on your phone), it is simply a matter of scanning the vendors QR code displayed at the checkout or on your bill and enter the amount. At present, more than 30000 retailers. |
| Zapper: When you find a Zapper QR Code on your bill, scan it with Zapper and confirm the amount to be paid. Your payment card details are stored on your phone using secure encryption. Whether you're paying for a meal in a restaurant, a bill at home or paying for a taxi, the experience is the same. Quick. Simple. Secure. |
| Flapp: the official flight booking app of Travelstart. Flapp is the fastest way to search, compare, book and pay for, cheap domestic and international flights - directly from your phone or tablet. Search for your favourite departure and destination airports and get the best deals on all flights within seconds. |
| Snappy Home: An app that allows you to book and pay for home related services including: handyman, cleaning, removals, plumbing, electrical, pest control, painting, gas, storage, security, utility accounts, compliance certificates, home inspection and insurance. Snappy guarantees excellent service through trustworthy and accredited service partners. |
| Admyt: Your time is too precious to wait in queues or look for lost tickets. admyt streamlines the entry and exit at your favourite shopping centres with one with one simple account that gives a you safer, easier parking experience. |
| Namola: an app that allows you to alert your nearest police officers when you need assistance. GPS technology means Namola can pinpoint your location to help police reach you faster |
| Hey Jude: this concierge app is the simplest way to get anything done, when you don’t have time to do it yourself. Whatever your need we have got you covered. It makes your life a whole lot easier, because you have better things to do with your time. For a small monthly subscription you get a real human assistant, every day 24/7, 365 days a year. |
| Mr D: This food delivery app is the easiest and fastest way to get hot, freshly prepared food delivered to your couch, your desk or wherever you are in SA! With over 1400 restaurants to choose from, they’ve got food for every mood. |
| Takealot: shopping app for pretty much anything you can think of with South Africa’s biggest online retailer. |
| Sweep South: Book a home cleaning from your phone. The trusted, experienced and insured cleaner arrives to give your place an awesome clean. Cleaners are background-checked, fully insured and rated by our clients. R38 per hour – Only pay for actual time spent cleaning. |
| Domestly: finds you affordable and background-checked cleaners whether you're at home, or away on vacation. Choose from over 500 trusted and peer reviewed cleaners and make a booking. A trusted cleaner will arrive at your place on time to clean your house. |
| Latest Sightings: Latest Sightings is an app platform that allows visitors who are currently on safari, be they rangers or tourists, to report the animals and events that they are seeing - live. They report their location, time and sighting to Latest Sightings, which in turn broadcasts these 'tings' (a reported sighting) to the smartphone app.
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| GEM Project: GEM offers a mobile payment platform to reward social action in South Africa. Users earn GEMs by volunteering their time and efforts to helping improve their community. Users spend GEMs on digital rewards incl. airtime, electricity, data, movie tickets and grocery vouchers. R1 = 1 GEM |
| VoiceMap: Choose from stories, by journalists, novelists, tour guides and passionate locals. Listen to location-aware stories while you walk. Stay on track with effortlessly interactive maps. Download everything with WiFi, then use VoiceMap offline. |
| Google Trips: Google Trips makes it easier than ever to plan and organize your trips. It automatically maps out a half day or a full day with suggestions for things to see and do. Don’t like what you see? Tap the "magic wand" to see more nearby sights. Each tap of the wand gives you a fresh set of nearby attractions. |
