Uganda is brimming with talent, particularly among its artisans—skilled individuals who provide essential services but often struggle to find a stable market for their expertise. Enter Uncle Bob, a digital platform designed to bridge this gap, connecting artisans with customers in need of their services.
As part of the 40 Days 40 FinTechs Initiative Season 5, Day 26, Uncle Bob is making waves in the tech landscape, transforming how artisans operate and thrive.
Uncle Bob is not just another app; it’s a vibrant marketplace that reimagines connections. The platform allows professionals from various fields to showcase their skills, turning potential collaborations into tangible opportunities.
As Denis Tusubira Kamira, the Project Coordinator, explains, “Uncle Bob is a mobile APP that links customers to Artisans. What we do is that we onboard young men and women on Uncle Bob and make them available to customers who need their services.”
How it works
Using the Uncle Bob app is straightforward. Customers simply download the app, create an account, and request a service provider. The platform ensures quality by conducting thorough competence assessments before onboarding any artisan.
“For example, if a customer is looking for electrical services, when they log on to the APP, they will find different services,” Denis elaborates. “The customer will then select ‘Electrical Services,’ and a dropdown of the various services under Electrical will appear.”
This user-friendly approach not only simplifies the process but also encourages customers to submit an “inspect and quote” request. This allows artisans to assess the job before providing a detailed quotation, ensuring transparency and satisfaction.
Ensuring quality and accountability
Uncle Bob goes beyond mere connections; it emphasizes accountability. After a job is completed, the platform follows up to confirm that the service met customer expectations before processing payment to the artisan.
“The platform has integrated with two Aggregators – Yo Uganda and Pegasus,” Denis notes. “When a customer makes a payment via mobile money, it is deducted and received on our account, and the job will be accepted on the system.”
This innovative payment structure not only secures transactions but also enhances trust between artisans and customers. Looking ahead, Uncle Bob plans to integrate directly with mobile money operators, streamlining the payment process even further.
Impact and reach
So far, Uncle Bob has identified around 5,000 artisans in Kampala, Mukono, and Wakiso, successfully onboarding over 3,500. The initiative is backed by the Mastercard Foundation and the Private Sector Foundation Uganda, highlighting its potential for economic impact.
As the platform continues to grow, it aims to redefine the service provision landscape in Uganda, unlocking new possibilities for both artisans and clients. “The convenience of urban life is about to experience the biggest leap in the recent past with this cutting-edge solution,” the team asserts.
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