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India-based on-demand service app embarks first overseas expansion in Hong Kong - Harbour Times

India-based on-demand service app embarks first overseas expansion in Hong Kong

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Services exclusive to Hong Kong include Chinese fortune-telling, China visa processing, Chinese medicine therapy and postnatal care.

(Photo provided)


OkSir, a smartphone app based in India providing on-demand services ranging from hairstyling, house cleaning and even fortune telling and professional accounting has announced its official launch last week.

Arun Kapoor, founder and chief executive officer of OkSir, said last Friday (27 October) during a launch ceremony that the app sought to tap into Hong Kong’s expanding m-commerce segment after receiving US$5 million from a local angel investor. First released in India in 2015, the initiative sought to offer an all-in-one platform for vendors and customers of an “unorganised” personal and household service industry.

The app made a soft debut in Hong Kong more than two months as its first overseas endeavour and as its regional headquarters in East Asia. More than 6,000 local vendors have already registered to the app, among them about three quarters are freelancers. Services exclusive to the Hong Kong market include Chinese fortune-telling, China visa processing, Chinese medicine therapy and postnatal care.

Like the car-hailing app Uber, a customer can set appointment time, browse nearby service providers, pick the one he or she wants and proceed to payment via PayPal after confirmation. Prices are set and standardised by vendors, and OkSir will provide a refund in the case of dissatisfaction.

Kapoor added that all local vendors have to hold a permanent Hong Kong ID card and are required to go through licence, qualification and certification checks which usually take two to three days.

According to Adam Cheung, Country Head overseeing the Hong Kong office, Singapore will be the app’s next destination, followed by Dubai and Europe in one year’s time.