DingGo aiming to be a smash hit nationwide
Article published by The Australian February 3rd 2020. Read the original full article here.
Sydney-based start-up DingGo is giving its online smash repairs platform a software-as-a-service makeover, aiming to leverage a matched grant of half a million dollars to expand nationwide.
The platform, now valued at $4m, is an online marketplace that connects consumers with auto repair shops.
Using their mobile device, users can upload pictures and details of their vehicle damage, compare quotes from local repairers equipped for the job at hand, and book and review their repairs.
DingGo’s initial expansion will centre on Adelaide, Perth and Tasmania, with the start-up aiming to be fully national by May. DingGo also aims to take its platform beyond Australian shores in due course. Currently, DingGo is available to the public and business fleets across Sydney, the NSW central coast, Canberra, Brisbane and in Victoria.
The expansion will also result in DingGo fully integrating its platform with listed fleet management company sgfleet, which invested in the company in 2018. The integration will mean sgfleet’s clients can access DingGo’s platform through its existing systems.
DingGo is also adapting its platform to a software-as-a-service product, with an eye to taking its technology global.
The latest moves by the start-up come on the back of it picking up a federal government Accelerating Commercialisation Grant of $250,000. DingGo is matching the government grant dollar for dollar to take the total value of the latest investment in the company to $500,000.
DingGo co-founder Josh Sanford said the smash repair industry had reached the “digitise or die stage”. He said: “Consumer demand for choice and the need for specialist repairers is driving this, traditional generalist panel beaters trying to be all things to all people and survive offline will ultimately fall behind.
“The technical complexity of cars is advancing faster than the industry can keep up, making it difficult for people to find the right repairer for the job.”
Article published by The Australian February 3rd 2020. Read the original full article here.
Sydney-based start-up DingGo is giving its online smash repairs platform a software-as-a-service makeover, aiming to leverage a matched grant of half a million dollars to expand nationwide.
The platform, now valued at $4m, is an online marketplace that connects consumers with auto repair shops.
Using their mobile device, users can upload pictures and details of their vehicle damage, compare quotes from local repairers equipped for the job at hand, and book and review their repairs.
DingGo’s initial expansion will centre on Adelaide, Perth and Tasmania, with the start-up aiming to be fully national by May. DingGo also aims to take its platform beyond Australian shores in due course. Currently, DingGo is available to the public and business fleets across Sydney, the NSW central coast, Canberra, Brisbane and in Victoria.
The expansion will also result in DingGo fully integrating its platform with listed fleet management company sgfleet, which invested in the company in 2018. The integration will mean sgfleet’s clients can access DingGo’s platform through its existing systems.
DingGo is also adapting its platform to a software-as-a-service product, with an eye to taking its technology global.
The latest moves by the start-up come on the back of it picking up a federal government Accelerating Commercialisation Grant of $250,000. DingGo is matching the government grant dollar for dollar to take the total value of the latest investment in the company to $500,000.
DingGo co-founder Josh Sanford said the smash repair industry had reached the “digitise or die stage”. He said: “Consumer demand for choice and the need for specialist repairers is driving this, traditional generalist panel beaters trying to be all things to all people and survive offline will ultimately fall behind.
“The technical complexity of cars is advancing faster than the industry can keep up, making it difficult for people to find the right repairer for the job.”