IReach
IReach is a mobile app that gathers craftspeople in a specific niche to facilitate communication between users and craftspeople.
IReach is a platform that collects all of the data from craftspeople and displays their locations in relation to ours. This mobile app contains profiles of various workers organized by category. Contact information can be found in each profile to make it easier for people to access all of the necessary information. Simultaneously, in each category, there will be shops where hand workers can sell their old materials or anything related to their field.
Our daily lives necessitate the use of a carpenter and a variety of other hand-workers, but these workers rarely advertise their services on the internet or on social media, making it difficult for everyone to locate one in their area and even more difficult to select one with a good reputation. I didn't notice this huge lack of communication until I needed a carpenter and wasted a lot of time and energy looking for a good one. In fact, people have difficulty contacting craftspeople who do not have a digital presence or niche, as this creates a significant lack of communication.
IReach will first facilitate communication between users and artisans. It will also introduce hand workers to a new segment of clients who are digitally literate. This will eventually assist artisans in expanding their work and client base.
To ensure that this need exists, I conducted two surveys: one for users and one for craftspeople. The findings assisted me in understanding that many users want a fluid way to communicate with hand workers as many hand workers want to expand their work by being present digitally.
- Improving financial and economic opportunities for all (Economic Prosperity)
- Prototype: A venture or organization building and testing its product, service, or business model
Our platform is almost completed now. We are entering data for the hand workers and displaying their locations on Google Maps. Then we'll publish it as soon as possible. I intend to expand our community by making "IReach" a national, if not international, mobile app. We are going to test the mobile app for two weeks before finally launching it.
- A new use of an existing technology (e.g. application to a new problem or in a new location)
The main technology we are using in our mobile app is The Global Positioning System. Furthermore, we are using Android Studio and MIT app inventor to develop our mobile app.
- Big Data
- GIS and Geospatial Technology
- Software and Mobile Applications
- Tunisia
Because we are working in Tunisia's major cities, we anticipate that our users will number around 3 million, and our partner craftspeople will number between 3000 and 500 per city.
Khalil, a data scientist, is among us. He assisted us in organizing the large amount of data we had. There's Nour, a user interface/user experience designer. She basically conducted the research to ensure the necessity of our solution and designed the mobile app. Maram and Tasnim work on the logistical team. They gathered data and scheduled meetings with artisans. The app developer is a private company that we hired to ensure that our platform is professional and functional.
- Yes
Despite the pandemic, our solution generates a sustainable income for artisans and increases their chances of profit. Furthermore, our team leader, Nour, is an 18-year-old Tunisian girl.
- Yes
We were able to develop this project as a result of the BUILD process taught at the African Leadership Academy (ALA). In fact, our team leader, who is an ALA student, came up with this need and idea thanks to the Entrepreneurial Leadership class she is taking at her school.