Goodbox: Making apps become cheaper for businesses

The contemporary business scenario is dotted with the usage of mobile apps. Mobile apps seem to be a lucrative way to reach out to customers, as they are very convenient to use.

Though many businesses have the capital to support their app-based adventure, but a large chuck of businesses cannot spend that much on their apps — a full-fledged app costs businesses anywhere between Rs 10 lakh and Rs 50 lakh.

Against a similar backdrop arrived Goodbox —  a technology-enabling platform for businesses. Goodbox has created the concept of mini-apps. “A mini-app is like an app, but without the headache of creating your own app. It resides within a mega app like Goodbox. This mega app has thousands of apps of multiple businesses within it,” says Mayank Bidawatka, Co-founder of Goodbox.

A mini-app costs businesses relatively less, at around Rs 999 per year. “Having a web presence alone is no longer sufficient, as online activity continues to shift to mobile. Consumers are using mobiles, and businesses want to have an online presence. The best online presence on a mobile is an app. Businesses find it difficult to create their own app because it’s expensive and difficult to create/manage. Consumers on the other hand don’t want to download multiple apps for multiple businesses,” says Bidawatka, as the reason for a growing need of apps among businesses.

The app is divided into two categories — Goodbox Partner App and Goodbox Consumer App. “The Goodbox Partner App, helps you create your own commerce-ready mini app and comes with unique features. While the Goodbox Consumer App, is like a mega app that contains thousands of mini apps of various shops and comes with many features,” claims Bidawatka.

“Today, we have multiple businesses that have created their mini apps from all over the country. We haven’t yet marketed Goodbox, to solicit businesses to create their mini apps, in other cities in the country,” he says, adding that they will do so sometime next year.

“Many smaller shops may be competing with larger online giants. They lack the technology to cater to their consumers. Goodbox gives them the ability to cater to their customer-base through their mini app within minutes. They can upload their product details, take orders, accept online payments, and give reward points to their customers, among others.

All this at a small fee of Rs 999 per year,” elaborates Bidawatka. The company founded by seven co-founders last year, with Abey Zachariah as the CEO, started with a seed capital of close to Rs 2 crore (from Angel investors). In November last year, it successfully raised $4.5 million in funding.