With the new normal being the talk of the town, businesses all around the world are trying to adapt several safety measures while providing their products and services to consumers. The pandemic has made everyone wary of their surroundings and we find most people avoiding crowds and waiting in lines and lobbies, visiting businesses that requires waiting with a group of people or being in a crowded room is a no for most.
FlexyQ is a cloud based virtual queueing and appointment system that has been developed to help businesses adapt to the new normal. It is the solution to avoiding crowds and long lines. In conversation with Founder Carlos, we learn more about FlexyQ and the changes it can help bring to businesses in the post pandemic world.
What is the startup/product about? Give us a brief description of it.
FlexyQ is a cloud based contact free virtual queueing and appointment booking system. Our software aims to help businesses avoid crowded waiting areas by letting their customers join a virtual queue via their business virtual queue page on our platform and their customers get an SMS inviting them in to be served when the business is ready for them.
We also offer appointment booking capabilities which allows businesses share their availability, have their customers book available appointment slots and check in when onsite. When the business is ready for the customer appointment, they invite the customer in via SMS. No more crowded waiting areas.
How many co-founders are there? Please introduce them and their backgrounds.
Just one (myself). I have a strong background in Technology Consultanting with a focus on transforming businesses using cutting edge technology to reduce cost and increase revenue.
How big is the entire team currently?
3 people big (1 developer and 1 marketing)
How did you come up with the idea? What motivated you to do this?
The change in the post pandemic world really drove the birth of FlexyQ. How do we use technology to help businesses with the “new normal”? I was looking for a simple way for businesses to manage customer visiting their location. Sitting in waiting rooms or lobbies will be a thing of the past. How do you queue outside a building during the heat of the summer or cold of winter? I thought towards the future and FlexyQ was conceived.
What is your target market? Why do you think your product will appeal to?
Our target market are small and medium businesses that have customers visit their onsite location (through appointments or walk in). For example, a medical/dental clinic, physiotherapist or acupuncture services, hair dressing salon, shops, car dealership, real estate offices etc.
The target market really covers any business that wants to manage the flow of their customers visiting them onsite
What are the marketing plans apart from the product hunt/beta list launch? How are you planning to acquire new users?
Our marketing strategy includes leveraging social media (adverts and organic reach), google advertising and blogs.
Do you have a separate dedicated team to take care of marketing (digital marketing/traditional marketing)? Which digital platforms are you focusing more on?
We have a dedicated team who are supporting our digital marketing growth and strategy. Our focus right now is Facebook and Instagram. We are also looking at the traditional marketing route, but typically that requires more capital.
What according to you is the biggest challenge that you faced? Is it product development or marketing or scaling or … ?
Thinking of a concept and actualizing it with technology is not generally easy but it can be done. The real challenge is developing the right marketing strategy to get the right message to the right audience in the right manner. That is the biggest challenge I currently face.
Who are your competitors/alternatives? What sets you apart from them?
We don’t really have competitors doing the same thing in the market right now. What you have are other businesses offering “parts” of what we offer i.e appointment booking capabilities, but no one is offering the complete mix of solution we offer. This is what makes us unique. We are simple and easy to use (adoption) and we serve a really useful purpose. We solve a pain many businesses are facing right now.
What are the future plans with the product/startup? Any new features you are planning on?
Adapting to the market and enhancing is key for us. I don’t want to let the cat out of the bag, but we are looking to enhance part of our appointment booking capabilities and extend to integrating with digital signage.
Know a great start-up story or want to share your own? Write to us at interact@insidermediacorp.com and we will get back to you. For more updates follow Venture Mirror on Facebook.