Operator App Could Be Boon To Retailers And Customers Alike
By Christine Kern, contributing writer
New startup app would allow users to find what they want at the click of a button.
Uber co-founder Garret Camp is working on an app that would seemingly allow a user to send messages to order and get delivered pretty much anything he or she wants, according to Tech Crunch.
The app, now dubbed Operator, would allow specific requests or more general ones like “Get me the cheapest four-pack of white, short socks that are decent quality,” according to TechCrunch. And while the app is not limited to retail, and even holds promise for hiring individuals to run errands for the user, the premise holds exciting possibilities for retailers, who could have dedicated “Operators” to handle requests and fulfillment.
As Tech Crunch described, the Operator app works like this: When a user has a need, he or she types in the need (services, products, etc.), and sends it. From there, “a human operator will then do the research to find the best possible solution for your problem and provide you with some options. Once you’ve confirmed what you want, they’ll place any online orders and phone calls necessary to make it happen, then chat to confirm with you and provide a stylish receipt right in the thread.” Payment is then made through your chosen method stored on file, much like how Uber charges for their rides.
Operator is being driven by CEO and star angel investor Robin Chan. Tech Crunch asserted, “As CEO of Operator, Chan has an enormous opportunity to create a logistics layer between customers and the retailers and services they buy from. What Uber did creating a tech-powered logistics layer for transportation, Operator could do for lots of other businesses.”
This new app could provide a whole new level of disruption for retail, as it leverages a moment in retail and delivery driven by mobile and the burgeoning on-demand economy, and presumably would be dependent on a network of contractors similar to that of the drivers used by Uber .
Although there are no details or timelines for the start of Operator, and for now the website just includes a waitlist form, the app seems to have great potential, particular as a way for retailers to access the channel-less environment that consumers are expecting. Even their job listings seem to be teasing, as they state “We’re still in stealth mode, but we’re growing quickly…” The ad claims “Our product lies at the intersection of the most exciting movements in tech today – messaging, mobile, and on-demand services – and our company is backed by top investors and entrepreneurs from around the world.”
Basically, Operator appears to be an on-demand personal assistant of sorts, taking orders from fairly general expressions of desire via mobile message. While it is still unclear how retailers will be able to fully integrate into such a setup or how consumers would respond, it is clear that the startup has the potential to be a major disrupter for retail and beyond.