South African technology company GetTOD has launched its reimagined HERO app for tradespeople, such as plumbers, handymen, locksmiths and electricians, empowering smaller operators to access a broader market and business network and better service their customers.

The HERO app provides tradespeople with a portal to a business management tool, consisting of diary management and a quoting tool, as well as access to the growing marketplace of consumers requesting jobs for both private and corporate needs through the company’s TOD app.

The HERO app is at the core of the company’s operation, with several other business platforms calling on the Hero app for available tradespeople in addition to the TOD app.

The latest version of the HERO app provides tradespeople with the time to do more of what they do best by taking care of all of the mundane back-office work, says GetTOD CEO and founder Shannon Mackrill.

“The introduction of the new app follows a lengthy process of versions and workshops with users. We have reimagined our user experience several times and are still adapting to make this experience better for tradespeople,” he highlights.

Therefore, the business management tool has been in development for a few years, with new iterations released monthly, depending on market insights and the addition of new feature sets.

“Hindered by a lack of time and money, we have to follow strict production plans and ensure we ‘box clever’ to meet our development objectives. So far, we are pleased with the progress and are sure our Heros and TOD clients will be too,” notes Mackrill.

The new HERO app’s business management features prioritise simplicity, direct connection and cashless payment. Tradespeople can now email personal job quotes, get them approved, generate invoices, and send them to clients from within the app.

GPS tracking, photo sharing, detailed job card descriptions, tool suggestions and an in-app chat function are also now included.

GetTOD connects customers with credible tradespeople using its Hero app in Cape Town, Johannesburg, Pretoria, Gqeberha, Bloemfontein and Durban, on-demand or at a future date, at any time or day of the year.

“We are constantly adding new cities and towns to our growing network. This is done on a supply and demand basis, as one of our main objectives is to bring constant work streams to our Hero networks. So, as demand grows organically or owing to the development of a special project, we will bring on more Heros to assist,” says Mackrill.

Notably, while South African consumers have been hit hard by the pandemic, many are spending a lot more time at home and are investing in odd jobs that, in the past, they may not have noticed, he adds.

Homeowners request jobs as the need arises; however, corporate clients follow a more structured process where GetTOD is seen as their execution partner, facilitating the rollout and implementation of large and small projects.

“The demand we experience is adequately matched by our tradespeople network and we can flex according to new demand triggers as our platform has been designed to handle infinite job requests and deal smoothly with all associated concurrency, latency and technical issues,” says Mackrill.

This year saw organic uptake of GetTOD's TOD (customer) and HERO (tradespeople) apps predominantly driven by word-of-mouth and small networks.

With GetTOD matching the demand, the company is set on increasing the apps’ 'stickiness' and scaling app usage in 2022 through an official “go-to-market launch” of their various business-to-business offerings.

This will see GetTOD introduce a property management dashboard for real estate agents, landlords and tenants; smart device and fulfilment installation capability; an insurance claim execution platform; as well as increase its on-demand category solutions, which will be complemented by a host of partnership deals and promotions, highlights Mackrill.