The R200 000 prize on offer during this year's App of the Year Awards ceremony organised by MTN Business has been scooped by jobbing app, Domestly.
The app, which went live ten months ago, has been named as winner in the Best Consumer App category and overall MTN Business App Of The Year for its on-demand cleaning service application that allows users to browse, book and pay a domestic helper when and where they need them.
Berno Potgieter and Thatoyoana Marumo, both 26 year old and co-founders and developers of the Domestly app, say 600 sustainable jobs have been created through the app which enables domestic helpers to manage bookings, manage their money and find maps and directions to each booking.
"Since we went live in September 2015 we have created 600 full time jobs and these are cleaners coming from 600 families and who are now making a living. It is different from any freelancing apps. It is not micro jobbing, it is full time work, it is 600 families being fed and that is really the big thing for us that gets us going," explained Potgieter.
Domestly is currently available in Cape Town and Johannesburg, with another launch set for Pretoria later this year.
"The big thing about how we packaged the business is that it is a market place. It is about getting into a particular area and letting the market play. Cape Town and Johannesburg are totally different markets, with totally different pricing and we allow (for) that. Going into other markets will be much easier because we are not trying to dictate to the market. It is literally a classic supply and demand," summed Marumo on why the app can be exported to other parts of the continent.
Potgieter added that it is important for more African developers to come up with solutions for Africa because they are more familiar with local conditions. He says the growth of Domestly's staff compliment to 11 full-time staff and 18 part-time employees has been as a result of intimate knowledge of South Africa and the feedback they get from those who find jobs through the app.
MTN has revealed that 450 entries were received in the six categories for this year's Awards. iKhokha app won in the Best Enterprise App 2016 category, HearZA was named the Best Enterprise Development App 2016, Tuta-me scooped the Best Breakthrough Developer App 2016 category, while KaChing was chosen as winner in the Best Most Innovative App 2016 category and Friendly Math Monsters for Kindergarten as the the Best Mobile Gaming App 2016 category.
Alpheus Mangale, MTN Business SA CEO, says MTN Business plans to introduce the App of the Year Awards in more African countries in the next few years, following a successful run in South Africa since 2012.
"MTN is not only a South African brand, it is an African brand. We have made a commitment and the idea is to launch in other markets where relevant. We have to look at how App of the Year and other activities can benefit other African markets and we will do that when it makes sense. We could have this competition in each of the twenty four markets where we operate and then pick a winner from the continent from those finalists. These are some of the ideas we are looking including where to regionalise them into SADC, MENA, ECOWAS and all of that."
Mangale adds that the awards have helped to ensure that app developers across South Africa are able to monetise and commercialise their smart technological ideas with ease, contributing positively to economic growth and the recognition of South Africa's developer community as true innovators.
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