I've gotten a lot of questions about what FuelFetch is all about, so I'm hoping to address some of those questions as well as introduce everyone to the vision for FuelFetch.
Let's start off with the mission of FuelFetch.
The mission: Make roadside assistance fast and affordable for everyone by using mobile technology.
The mobile app industry has changed the world as we know it. Ordering pizza, shopping for clothes, hitching a ride, and even summoning a drone to take a selfie is only ever just a few taps away.
So why not bring the roadside assistance industry into the mix?
The app will allow you to sign up as a user of FuelFetch and / or someone who would like to provide services in your spare time / when it's convenient — what I'm dubbing a "FuelFetcher."
Ideally, FuelFetch users can pay one low yearly or monthly price and get services when they need. Obviously, a lot of risk analysis must go into this, and thus things like this (pricing) could change a lot the more I'm able to test FuelFetch in the Beta stage with my MVP (Minimum Viable Product).
The MVP that is about to launch is only going to offer refueling at the time of launch, but here is a full list of features I've either thought about offering or am definitely planning to offer through this service (again, everything is subject to change):
Refueling — A FuelFetcher brings you 1-3 gallons of gas if you are out of gas.
Locksmithing — A FuelFetcher unlocks your car for you when you accidentally [or purposely?] get locked out.
Jump Starting — A FuelFetcher jumps your car off when your battery is dead.
Tire Changing — A FuelFetcher changes your tire when you have a flat on the side of the road.
Towing — Partnerships through local towing companies allow a FuelFetch user to get a free (or really cheap) tow.
Ride — When all else fails, a FuelFetcher could offer to give you a ride to a nearby location (maybe a partnership with a company like Uber or Lyft?).
Auto Parts — Partnerships with auto parts companies allow FuelFetchers to bring replacement parts (spare tires, batteries, etc.) to you.
Mechanic Partnerships — Could allow for a Mechanic to come fix your car on the spot (for minor maintenance) or could allow for a discounted rate with local auto maintenance shops.
Also, anyone with a smartphone and a valid Social Security Number could sign up to be a FuelFetcher.
Ideally, when one signs up to be a FuelFetcher, we would send them a branded set of tools that allow them to complete necessary jobs (or perhaps they would purchase the tools depending on what services they were willing to perform).
I've had people ask me if FuelFetchers are volunteers or employees. The answer is neither. While it would be great if everyone in the world just always felt like volunteering and helping others out, that's not the case. And a big heck no to the employees inquiry. That would defeat the purpose. One of the major advantages this app has on any other competitor is the ability to grow very exponentially. Exponential growth is stunted when people have to sign a lot of paperwork to become an employee of a company that delegates tasks to them as work comes in — that basically would make FuelFetch just another AAA.
No, the beauty in FuelFetch is in crowdsourcing. Everyday people can be FuelFetchers. One doesn't have to make delivering gas his/her full time job. One can simply make some extra money by taking a gallon of gas to someone on their way home from work or even on their lunch break.
At this point, hopefully I've given a broad understanding of what FuelFetch is. Allow me to [hopefully] further your understanding with a scenario:
Say I've ran out of gas and am on the side of the road. I open my FuelFetch app and tap "I Need Gas!" Immediately, anyone within the vicinity who has signed up to be a FuelFetcher receives a Push Notification that says "J.C. is out of gas!"
From there, the FuelFetcher launches the FuelFetch app and sees "J.C. is out of gas. He is approximately 3.2 miles away and it would take you 2 minutes to get to the nearest gas station and 8 minutes to get from the gas station to J.C." From there, all the FuelFetcher has to do is tap "I'm on it!" As soon as the FuelFetcher accepts the job, the app will track their mileage, time, and provide the route to the nearest gas station and then to me, the user.
Once they've gotten the gas (coming soon in another post: which they won't have to pay for, I hope) and brought it to me, I'll hit "Done!," leave a review of the FuelFetcher and be on my way. The FuelFetcher immediately gets money deposited into his/her account.
I've tried to think through how to make this a sweet deal for everyone — the user and FuelFetcher alike. The true power of this app will be in mass numbers, which will only come if it's truly a great deal for everyone.
In light of this, I want to have the service be very affordable for anyone (I'd love for no one to every pay more than $10-$20/year max, even for all services), as well as very attractive financially for FuelFetchers.
I'm developing an algorithm that will determine how much a FuelFetcher is paid for a job. Pricing has definitely been the biggest thing to think through, and I'm hoping to get more insight as the Beta progresses. The algorithm is complex, but here are some of the criteria it uses to determine how much to pay for a job:
Ratio of FuelFetchers to service requests
The FuelFetcher's history / rating
I'm thinking someone who has a good track record of being a great FuelFetcher that provides service could make as much as $150-$200 just for taking gas to someone less than 10 minutes away. That seems like a pretty sweet deal to me. What do you think?
Obviously, there's a lot to think through with this app. I'm hoping to get some valuable feedback as well as see what works and what doesn't during the Beta launch here in Jackson, Mississippi.
