Revamping an Old Concept: Crowdsipping

Often, the saying holds true that everything new is just something old in a new guise. And new business ideas are precisely that—old concepts, amplified by the power of the internet and modern technology. Have you ever heard of the term "crowdshipping"? Chances are you may not have, but you've likely participated in it without realizing, either by requesting or providing the service to others—for free most of the time. But entrepreneurial minds have found ways to turn this age-old practice into a profitable venture.

The Curious Concept of Crowdshipping – A Business Opportunity

In essence, crowdshipping, a blend of 'crowd' and 'shipping,' refers to the act of sending packages through other individuals. This would sound familiar if you have ever come across social media posts like: "Hey friends, anyone heading to the city? Can you take a package for my friend?" In the territories of the former Soviet Union, this role was typically played by train conductors. However, unlike the traditional image, they charged for their delivery services and often operated outside official instructions.

In the past, people also relied on friends and relatives traveling in the right direction to deliver various items. Though platforms like VKontakte and Facebook simplified this process, the flexibility and reliability remained a concern. This led developer Ramy Assaf and his team to create the mobile app Friendshippr.

Friendshippr – A Mobile App for Crowdshipping: How It Works

Friendshippr, an iOS app linked to Facebook for authentication, facilitates forming groups of like-minded individuals. It serves frequent travelers or those dealing with overseas shipments, enabling them to receive goods from restricted locations without physically going there or using conventional shipping services.

The process is straightforward:

1. Find a courier willing to transport items between countries through Friendshippr after logging in via Facebook.
2. Specify the route and view potential helpers.
3. If a direct route isn't available, relay the item with "transfers," involving multiple individuals passing it along.
4. Though there's no official payment for shipping, senders can choose to thank helpers with a coffee or another gesture.

The service's free nature is currently attributed to the primary focus on user base expansion, backed by a substantial investment of nearly $700,000 from an investor in the UAE. However, a likely future transition to a subscription model is on the horizon.

Ramy Assaf believes his service can expedite deliveries in regions where conventional courier firms struggle, aiming to revolutionize global shipping methods. The development team is working on an Android version and incorporating gamification elements into the service mechanics.

Understandably, concerns exist about the security of shipments—ensuring items aren't tampered with or stolen. These issues are likely under the scrutiny of the development team. Friendshippr exemplifies transforming a niche yet sought-after service into a valuable application, capitalizing on an age-old practice that few realized could be the basis for a useful tool.