2. Problem statement
Did you know that billions of people do not have a postal address ? In
most developing countries there is no address system based on street
name and property numbering
If someone wants something to get delivered, or to order a product on
the internet, he will indicate an address that looks like this: “
Chehim, neighborhood of family Oueidat, street of judge Ahmad Oueidat
(A known person), building Samar (no numbering of buildings , but for
example the name of the owner), in front of Bakery Wassim (A “famous”
bakery or stop in the town), fourth floor, Lebanon”. These are all
indications that can evolve with the time (The bakery could close) and
depend on the customer’s knowledge and how he provides his address.
For the delivery man it is very difficult to localize the customer, and
spend hours asking local people in the street if they know the place or
the person, then maybe succeed to deliver the product. The delivery is
not efficient and the cost is high , which makes it a big barrier for the
development of commerce and e-commerce in these coutries.
3. mDelivery
The company that needs its product
to get delivered will scan the
address and send it to a server.
Depending on the country and the
region, the server will send it to a
mobile worker. Usually these
workers have a good knowledge of
the area where they live. We cannot
currently see
The mobile workers open the any of the
application that uses the new
technology for geo location maps names of
on mobile ( e.g. google map). On these streets
Google map for instance you can in Beirut
localize any house with the satellite
images .
With some clicks the worker add
the physical location of the
customer to the map.
4. mDelivery
The mobile worker send
the link of the map with the
localization of the customer
to the company.
But we can
The company rate the currently see
service of the mobile the buildings
worker (on a scale of 5 in these
stars). streets in
Beirut and
The mobile workers with
local mobile
highest score have a
greater chance to get workers can
contacted by companies indicate their
(the server). location
based on the
address
5. Benefits
The mDelivery service can be used by companies in different ways:
E-commerce companies can use it and even linked it to their website to
facilitate accurate address entering and greater safety and trust of their
services (eBay or local e-commerce SMEs)
Delivery companies and posts can use it to improve the efficiency of
their delivery service and reduce their costs of training delivery men of
new landmarks and famous names in each region.
All these companies could pay the mobile workers per address
localization (e.g. 1 $).
It is technologically very feasible as most technological means are
already existent: geolocatisation and mobile technology. It is a
matter of integration and adaption of these technologies.
I trust this mobile service will be beneficial for the growth of
commerce in many developing countries, specially in the MENA
region.
