Mobile app promises to give time back
For a fee, developers of a mobile application promise to give you time to do other things.
In introducing Honestbee to Cebu reporters and bloggers, Honestbee Philippines head Crystal Gonzales said those who will appreciate the app are those who are so busy that even grocery shopping is a hassle. And with the way Honestbee has grown in Cebu, it’s clear how busy many Cebuanos have become.
It promises the user the convenience of picking grocery and food items found in the app, including fresh meat and produce.
Aside from their retail partners, Honestbee offers services to shop at Taboan and Carbon public markets.
Gonzales noted that the Cebu market has grown faster than Manila. While they currently only serve the cities of Cebu and Mandaue, they hope to serve the entire province by March. In the coming weeks, they promised to serve Talisay City, Minglanilla and the island of Mactan.
She noted that traveling, parking, selecting items and then queuing to pay for purchases all take up time that could be spent doing something else. “We want to give you back that time,” she said.
She explained that the app is designed to make everything convenient for a shopper, even allowing for the purchase of items from different stores in a single transaction. A user can also choose a convenient time for delivery and pay in cash or through credit card.
Those who shop via Honestbee pay a P99 concierge fee and P49 delivery fee. But to get more Cebuanos to use it, Gonzales said they are waiving the delivery fees for about three months.
Aside from attracting consumers, Honestbee hopes to attract micro and small enterprises to widen their market reach through their app.
They are also offering job opportunities for those seeking flexible work hours. Many of their shoppers are working mothers and retirees. Gonzales said shoppers are trained to pick grocery items for customers “as though they are picking it for themselves.” This includes taking note of expiration dates and picking substitutes if the item requested is unavailable. /