In a nation of $5 gas...Zoospi offers a Spatial Search Engine

So, while listening to talk show host Randi Rhodes on the radio, I have begun to hear a lot of radio ads for a new service called Zoospi, that helps consumers find tradespeople who are working near by.

I have to admit, I thought this was one mighty bizarre idea when I first heard the ads. The way it works is that contractors, plumbers, gardeners, and other home service professionals put their upcoming schedules into Zoospi, and when consumers search for a particular type of service they see a list of people who will be or are working nearby. Said consumer contacts that service person and gets a "Distance Discount" or a "Vicinity Discount" (patents pending.) Presumably the former is for the dishwasher repair person who will be in your 'hood on Thursday, while a Vicinity Discount helps pros develop highly localized service areas and increase the density of customers in those areas.

Naturally, there is also a peer ratings system so you know if the fridge gal you are about to hire is good, punctual, and fairly priced.

Having once had to wait 9 days to get my somewhat rare fridge repaired, the idea of being able to get someone local to come by in like, a couple of hours, would have been very appealing at the time. Similarly, if you needed a recurring service like gardening and could get a deal...well why not?



The company explains the concept in terms of gas savings, but I see Zoospi as another way of grabbing new customers -- that it is a yellow pages alternative that has a twist that consumers may find compelling. And that may well be a viable business concept. Yellow pages advertising -- both paper and Internet -- is an enormous media segment, and getting a chunk of enormous could make a solid business, indeed.

The other major savings, of course, is in cutting travel and down time for workers. Much better to do 8 jobs 2 miles a part than 3 jobs 25 miles apart. How much money does THAT save? I bet it's quite a sum in terms of both incremental revenue and expense reduction.

Oh, and Zoospi offers billing services. Which must take away a big hassle for a lot of small businesses.

So maybe Zoospi isn't that bizarre after all. ;-)

Thanks for reading, and don't forget to write.