South African on-demand home cleaning startup SweepSouth has launched a mobile app, expanding on its web-based platform to bring greater convenience to customers.
Launched in June 2014, SweepSouth enables the booking of tailored cleans at the click of a button. The service is targeted towards customers who require a quick and convenient way of connecting to reliable cleaners.
The startup raised US$600,000 in funding early this year, on the back of being the first South African startup to participate in the 500 Startups accelerator in Silicon Valley, between July and November of last year.
It has now rolled out a mobile app, which automatically tracks and saves addresses through GPS technology – eliminating the need for directions. It sends customers discreet real-time notifications when their cleaner is en-route, has arrived and clocked out for the day.
Once a job is completed, secure, cashless payment is processed and both sides of the transaction are given the opportunity to rate their experience.
“We saw an opportunity to disrupt and modernise an inefficient and outdated industry,” said SweepSouth co-founder and chief executive officer (CEO) Aisha Pandor.
The app allows easy access to future and past booking details, as well as cleaner profiles – an important personal touch.
“We provide customers with a photo of the person assigned to their job and a little information on her background, interests and family. Inviting someone into your home requires trust, so when connecting customers to a stranger, we think it’s important that they are introduced,” said Pandor.
Co-founder and chief technology officer (CTO) Alen Ribic said the app was built in-house by engineers who have become familiar with customer requirements and the specific challenges of the industry.
“Our product uses cutting edge technology to provide our customers with the most seamless on-demand experience available,” he said. “As geolocation tracking and travel time estimates become more accurate and incorporative of transport delays, the app will become more and more powerful.”
SweepSouth – currently available in Cape Town, Johannesburg and Pretoria – will launch in Durban later this month, and is looking at international expansion next year.
