Local search service, Getit has launched GetItHotDeals.in, a discount coupon servic
e plus a mechanism for consumers to access the deal details by calling GETIT on 4444-4444 from any city (manual/call-center operation).
You know why is this cool? Because a startup (dealradio) built a similar feature at Pluggd.in hackathon that automatically identifies one’s location (using the Android app) and one can call +91 80 30860788 to get the deal from nearest restaurants (fully automated service).
Earlier, we talked about the business model of deal aggregation (read: Business Model for Deal Aggregators? Should Not Be Aggregation of Deals) and one differentiation that deal aggregators/new deal sites can bring to this over saturated marketplace is : location.
LBS hasn’t yet taken off beyond the regular find-direction service, but deals could turn out into a BIG play for LBS services that can offer deals based on one’s current location (i.e. not a dumb call-center based system). Getit’s current implementation (including the mobile apps) is far from being perfect, but that’s what I’d expect deal aggregators like Offergrid to crack.
What do you think could be the differentiating point for deal coupon services? Getit being a local search company has the right infrastructure/sales force to crack this model, but the company lacks the technology skill (and maybe, mindset) to improve on the existing model.
The opportunity for a startup to crack this is NOW, i.e. when there are ‘enough’ deal sites and consolidation hasn’t yet started.
