1) There is a need for an app that aids in the process of repairing/replacing broken home appliances. Additionally, with COVID-19 being such a huge issue, virtual repairs could be very helpful.
2) Homeowners in the Palm Beach County area are unsure whether to repair or replace broken home appliances, as well as struggle to find the right person for the job. This is mostly due to the lack of knowledge and support system available to people’s appliance issues.
Who: Homeowners with broken appliances (specifically in Palm Beach County).
What: They are unsure whether to repair or replace items, as well as lack the right people to help.
Why: Lack of knowledge and support system available.
3) Testing the who:
Are there others who have this need? Or, does everyone in your current 'who' share the need?
Yes, this problem can be seen worldwide, with it being a more prominent issue in less developed countries. That being said, through the local newspaper of Palm Beach Post, I identified that this opportunity exists specifically in this area. After talking with five prototypical customers, I can conclude that this problem is present, but that it is not specific to just Palm Beach. One person I interviewed lives in Georgia, and he said that this is definitely a prevalent issue. A senior living in Boca Raton stated that with the way the world is today, they wouldn’t feel comfortable letting a stranger in her home, and that they would much prefer doing a virtual repair.
Testing the what:
Boundaries of the need- Is this a problem that consistently arises throughout the year? Is this more of an issue now, because of COVID-19, or was it always a problem?
Four of the five people I interviewed stated that they have issues with their appliances around twice a year, so this is not an ongoing problem, but rather a slight inconvenience that occurs once in a blue moon. They agree that due to the pandemic, it will be much more useful as they will be able to get the help they need virtually. A business owner who works in real estate said that he has a very thorough understanding of when things need to be replaced, as well as a full-time crew available to work, so that for him this is not a problem. That being said, he said that this app could be very useful because in his line of work, he can confirm that a large majority of people do not know much about correctly dealing with appliances or broken parts.
Testing the why:
Why does this problem exist?
#1- Due to the fear of getting COVID-19, “I would much prefer to do repairs myself than to have someone come and do it. The only problem is I do not know how to fix it, or if I have to replace it” (Senior living in Boca Raton). The other person I interviewed was also a senior living in the Palm Beach County area, and she shared a very similar response.
#2- Misinformation or lack of experience. “People just do not know enough about their appliances to make the right decisions” (Business Owner in Real Estate). A father of two that used to live in Boca Raton but now lives in Georgia shared a similar response to this.
#3- “Not knowing who to call. I just moved to south Florida, so I find myself pretty alone when it comes to these issues. Having an app that helps me find the right people to help would be amazing” (New Neighbor).
4) After conducting five different interviews, I can conclude that there is a need out there for this sort of thing. I learned that because of Covid-19 people are actually more likely to use this service, simply due to the fact that they do not want to bring strangers into their home. It also confirmed my hypothesis that this issue arises because people do not know enough about their appliances’ life spans, meaning that there is an opportunity for someone to create a support system that helps those who feel unsure. I also realized how crucial this could be to those who just moved to a new location and are in need of reliable handywork. It seems that this problem is not only happening in Palm Beach County, but in other parts of the country.
Hi Erick!
ReplyDeleteI really liked your idea about an app that helps figure out whether you need to fix your appliances or purchase new ones. I agree that people are more reluctant to allow strangers into their homes because of the current pandemic. In fact, I think that effect will last for a while even after the pandemic is over. Overall, people like to look for quick and easy solutions/answers, and your idea would give that to them. Great job finding and exploiting an opportunity!
This is an excellent idea and the pandemic could speed up the acceptance rate for this application. I know that a lot of people have started to work from home and may continue to do so after the pandemic is over. I've personally used the virtual doctor visit app and it was very efficient and easy. Unless special tools or machine testers were needed this would be a great idea. I know I've had a few appliances go out over the years and about half the time the technician would not have the correct replacement part he needed and would have to come back on another day. With this app he could diagnose the problem virtually and then come out to my house once to install it and complete the job. I'm sure the company could squeeze more visits into a week by using this app.
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