On a snowy night in Boston in 2008, IBM engineer Leah Busque and her husband were rushing out to dinner when they realized they were out of dog food. They didn’t want to miss their reservation but needed to feed their hungry yellow labrador retriever, Kobe. If only they could find someone trustworthy to do the chore for them.
That’s when Busque came up with an idea that would eventually turn into TaskRabbit, an on-demand service that connects clients with “Taskers” – people who have the time and willingness to run an errand in exchange for an agreed-upon fee. Customers book services directly through the company’s mobile app.
TaskRabbit, which launched a redesigned app in March, is just one of many rising companies whose services are designed for smartphone users. Today, these businesses are setting themselves apart through a commitment to fulfilling everyday needs fast. Whether it’s on-demand dry cleaning, gourmet food delivery or sending flowers to a paramour, if the need exists, there’s probably an app for it.
The app that’ll walk your dog
If you’ve ever considered having a dog, you might have been dissuaded by the logistics of looking after a pet. Wag co-founder Josh Viner learned that from experience.
Before he started Wag, Viner had a packed schedule in Los Angeles working as an advisor to several tech companies while pursuing his own projects. “Everyone from my brother to my parents told me to not get a dog, and I quickly realized that there was no easy solution for dog owners,” he says. “You can outsource most things these days, but not pet care.”
Well, now you can – a little. Viner is determined to make the daily walk a breeze for dog owners around the US. In his app, customers can see ratings and reviews of nearby Wag walkers-for-hire. During the task, GPS integration shows the dog being walked in real-time. Afterward, walkers fill out a digital report card with the number of miles logged, a map of the route and a brief write-up that proud pet-parents can share on Facebook and Instagram.
The app is currently available in eight cities including New York, San Francisco and Chicago, with plans to add more areas this year.
Gourmet meals designed for the delivery trip
City slickers are spoiled with great restaurants, but getting delivered meals that are designed to be consumed on-premises is a challenge. Caleb Merkl has a solution. He’s the CEO and co-founder of Maple, launched April 2015 in New York.
Think of Maple as a delivery-only gourmet restaurant. With the app, customers can view each day’s lunch and dinner menus and place an order, or even preorder before its service begins at 11am every weekday. Photos of a recent daily menu showed spiced shrimp over a parmesan grit cake; provençal chicken with brussels sprouts and a walnut salad; and a spinach bowl that included farro, broccoli florets and toasted pine nuts.
Since Maple launched, about 1,000 different meals have been developed under a board of advisors assembled by its chief culinary officer, David Chang, who most food lovers will recognize as the founder of the Momofuku restaurant group.
The app only serves parts of Manhattan, but the idea could quickly catch on in other parts of the country. According to Merkl, demand for Maple has been driven mostly by word of mouth. “While we’re excited to take our next big step, we’re only going to do so once we’re in a place to scale without sacrificing the quality of our service and product,” he says.
An extra pair of hands
If TaskRabbit’s recent advertising takeover in New York City’s Grand Central Terminal – its new slogan is: “We do chores. You live life” – is any indication, investors are placing big bets on everyday folks leaving do-it-yourself (DIY) aspirations behind for help that can be conjured with a simple tap.
TaskRabbit’s redesigned app is built for speed: it’s the first real-time services platform for everyday work. Previously, the app’s services were completed on the same day of a request. Now, Taskers and clients are matched within five minutes, with a focus on chores being done in less than 90 minutes. The app also provides an estimated arrival time so clients can plan their day accordingly.
While popular services on TaskRabbit range from housecleaning to home repairs, Taskers have been hired to do almost every imaginable assignment. In the US, a Tasker was even paid to scuba dive to the bottom of a lake to retrieve a set of car keys, company spokeswoman Lisa Chan says.
As for the night eight years ago that inspired TaskRabbit, Busque and her husband ended up keeping their dinner reservation. On the way home, they picked up food for Kobe, who was fine after eating his meal a little later than usual. But folks with full schedules would probably agree that some tasks are worth getting done on time, if only for the peace of mind.
Here are five more ways to make your life a lot easier
BloomThat. Make someone’s day with this flower delivery app. Each bouquet is designed according to what’s fresh and in season. Called the “Uber for flowers”, BloomThat offers next-day delivery nationwide and delivery to select locations within 90 minutes.
Rent The Runway. Eyeing that designer dress but not ready to commit? Rent The Runway lets customers wear special occasion pieces without the long-term investment.
Hotel Tonight. Get a room at last-minute prices in more than 1,900 cities across North America, Latin America and Europe. The app offers reservations at top-rated hotels up to seven days from when you book.
Shyp. Save yourself that dreaded trip to the post office. Shyp couriers will pick up, package and send your stuff – all at a competitive price. It’s perfect for sending a gift or even cleaning out your home.
Magic. Whether it’s on-demand helicopters or out-of-stock items, no task is too big or small for this mobile concierge service. Send a text message to Magic’s short code and get anything you want – from the routine to the extraordinary – as long as it’s legal. Charges vary depending on the task.
This content is paid for by Cadillac