What if you could give your address as RTNH6754? Called Zipper, it is the world's first app that simplifies your address, by letting you shorten it into an eight digit alphanumeric code. Now gone
are the days when you have to explain your address over the phone, simply share your Zippr code and Zippr guides them to your location!
Developed by Aditya Vuchi, the app aims to bring in relief to people from explaining their address over the phone again and again. "I was in the US for seven years, where finding addresses has never been the
problem. When I visited India, I realised that for a 6am pickup, cab drivers would start calling me from 3am for directions. That is when I decided to work on something that would simplify the whole address-explaining procedure for me," says Vuchi.
Simply put, Zippr provides short codes to help people find locations till the last point. Like the URL shortening service Bitly, Zippr converts an address into a code that latently contains a map. Once the code is generated, it can be shared with anyone. When clicked, the code opens up a Google map giving the exact location.
"Unlike Google Maps which is not so good with last mile connection, our aim is to make it completely hassle free for the person looking for a particular address. Also, people who do not have Zippr can still
use the code as it will open up a browser and give them direction."
Users can create a whole lot of Zippr codes — permanent ones for regular destinations and temporary codes for impromptu meetings.
Launched in December 2013, there are 16,000 people using Zippr. For Vuchi, the code is useful for both consumers and businesses -- restaurants delivering food, ecommerce players delivering goods etc.
"I realised that delivery boys usually get stuck at the last mile and hence waste precious time. This code will make things easy for them."
However, Vuchi does not expect every person to start using Zippr. "A housewife or an elderly person need not use Zipper to find a location, I do not even expect them to. They can just have a code, and people
will find their locations easily. If they do not have a smartphone, there are Zippr cards available which also has a unique number. They just have to tell their code," says Vuchi.
He is in talks with many industry players. "Anything new takes time to get accepted. I am confident that a few months down the line the acceptability will increase."
