Uber for tractors only the start

Uber has revolutionised the personal transport industry, making getting from one point to another easy for those who don’t have a car available at that moment. But what about other areas where access to a vehicle is of critical importance? What if a small scale farmer has a need for a tractor, but can't afford to buy one? Well, Jehiel Oliver, the CEO of Hello Tractor, seems to have a solution.

 

What is Hello Tractor?

Hello Tractor is a smartphone app (much like Uber), which connects farmers without tractors, to those who own tractors and want to rent them out. The application was first introduced in Nigeria in 2014, and then quickly expanded into Kenya. The company is now poised for even further expansion, with testing underway in India, Pakistan and even in Bangladesh.

 

Opportunity rises

As the population in Sub-Sahara Africa rises, so too do the opportunities available to entrepreneurs. Small-scale farmers are increasing production, but as expected, farming equipment is difficult to come by (as are financing for expensive equipment). Most small-scale farmers also can’t afford to invest in equipment that they will only use when needed, and which will then stand unused for much of the time. This was when the idea for the Hello Tractor app became a reality.

 

Today’s success

After a few missteps and further development, Hello Tractor grew at an amazing rate. It managed to get 500 tractors onto the platform in the first year alone, which equated to about 75% of all tractors in Nigeria. They subsequently branched out into other countries, and currently have thousands of tractors on their app, available for rental. The company has also signed a substantial deal with John Deere, making them Hello Tractor's largest customer. The tractor manufacturer bundles the Hello Tractor technology into its sales packages to tractor owners, who can use the service to earn as much as $4 200 per month in rental fees.

 

Not just tractors

Unmanned aerial vehicles (UAVs, also known as drones) are another aspect of farming that could be radically improved through fractional ownership. Drones are certainly expensive, and require specialised knowledge to fly and maintain, and, most importantly, skilled people are needed to interpret the data they provide.

These people will look into what UAV imagery analytic services are available, and how farmers can rent drone services for their farms. This business model will focus on a practical understanding of the continual issues and opportunities regarding community acceptance, government regulation, and commercial innovation – making “Uber for drones” possibly the next big step in digital development.

Africa has unrivalled opportunity at its doorstep. Companies are getting involved, and are filling gaps where needed. Most African countries suffer from a troubled past or current political issues, which prevent those governments from dealing with issues on the ground. Companies like Hello Tractor and their CEOs are making a difference, by providing opportunities for everyday citizens. The future is unknown and the possibilities are endless.