In Zimbabwe, we tend to disregard clear as day “innovation” simply because of the product or service associated with it. More often it is not the intended use of a platform or product but the potential people see in it to drive their entrepreneurial ambition and innovate a new product or service influenced by it. A popular example being the now collapsed MMM Ponzi/pyramid scheme’s use of EcoCash to transact up to $3 million and now more evidently the growing on-demand underground liquor industry.
We first noticed the on-demand liquor service back in 2014 (if memory serves us right) which offered a convenient and cheaper alternative to source liquor at odd hours which has gradually developed into a growing underground industry embracing technology as its main means of operation.
The dial-a-beer crew simply uses a smartphone and access to the internet to run their operations. Utilizing services like WhatsApp (orders, marketing, and communication), GPS (to receive client locations), Maps (to find the best route to reach their clients) and Mobile Money (to receive all payments) has allowed the innovative entrepreneurs to orchestrate a fully run operation well into the night.
Leveraging Zimbabweans need for alcohol on demand, the innovators have placed themselves well enough to fill the demand for access and convenience. Most shops stop selling alcohol at 8pm, so for most, who may have the money on hand but were simply too busy to make it on time or have run out of alcohol wherever they are, this is the perfect way to get the party started or keep it going.
Also, the dial-a-drink team has come at a time when most can no longer afford expensive nights out in town resorting to house venues, braais or outings which require supplies at odd hours. The delivery team is on call with competitive pricing (sometimes cheaper than in shops) which has allowed them to gain popularity growing their customer base and retaining satisfied clients.
However, fears have been raised about the authenticity of the alcohol being sold. Some claim that the alcohol is not genuine and being “cooked” in Mozambique, but even with those fears, people seem to still be buying and enjoying it. Also, the products have a stark resemblance to those being sold in shops where you would expect “genuine” products hinting that the established shops may be playing the same game.
Either way, the on-demand liquor service has been quite a hit all over Zimbabwe. There are some legal implications to running the business though especially concerning liquor licensing, but some illegal activities to become great innovative services. Due to the legal implications were most likely never going to see these guys pitching at a start-up event or at the innovation fund but their use of technology to run a profitable business that is actually scaling up is worth noting.
We are not promoting the consumption of alcohol, as adults we should all indulge responsibly, we are simply admiring the use of a simple smartphone, some data, and entrepreneurial drive to create such an innovative service. Also, some e-commerce businesses can learn a thing or two from such ventures. They seem to have their logistics right which is something many online shopping sites have failed to do.
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2 comments
For most, dor rinomwiwa vanhu vachitandara. kuma bottle store etc. There arr times dzatinotenga doro kwa TM riri pa special tonomwa pa den, but the most common use case ku bhawa.
There is a market for ob demand beer, but is i sustainable kumanyisa business? Or is this a gimmick vachi prepeya ku launcha a similar product?
It’s quite the great idea I’d say, as a drinker who’s looked for beers at odd hours of the day. Have used a similiar service in SA. I hope they have a liqour licence, if they do, I’ll be sure to use them one day.
If they don’t have a licence, I wouldn’t use the service or praise their innovation, to quote “but some illegal activities [get] to become great innovative services”. I don’t think “innovation” is a licence to break the law, a liquor license should be the least of their excuses in getting their business up and running. Not having a liquor licence, besides opening you up to a lot of regulatory and litigious issues, gives you a false profit margin as the part of what you are declaring as profit was meant to pay for the required licence.
Will regards to fake alcohol, it does exist and some genuine establishments do sell and serve these sometimes close-to-original fakes. In some instances original bottles are refilled with a similar tasting cheap liqour. Whether Dial-a-Drink supplies fake liqour, which is unlikely, is something I wouldn’t know because I have never used their services…