5 Ideas for Innovation from Tanzania
I’m fortunate to split my time between downtown San Francisco and rural villages in Tanzania. These two places could not be more different, and keeping a pulse on both worlds gives a unique perspective. One of my favorite bloggers, James Altucher, writes ten new ideas per day to keep his “idea muscle” strong. In that spirit, here are five ideas for innovation from my most recent trip.
5. The Choo
I’m always looking for ways to improve businesses, and the choo is a better way to do your business. Human beings evolved to squat when they deficate. Sitting is unnatural and you can feel the difference in your bowels if you switch back and forth. I’m not going to go into details, but think about it.
This image is unsightly, but it’s the room, not the choo itself that is so repulsive. Imagine a sleek bathroom with marble counters, heated floors and wait… something’s missing, there’s no toilet! Or is there? Press a button and 2x2 slab of marble floor retracts to reveal the choo, designed by Jimmy Choo himself. I could definitely see Silicon Valley billionaires wowing their friends with their toilet-less bathrooms and descriptions of bowel superiority.
4. #UberforBijaj
Uber is taking off big time in Tanzania. This is good for the typical reasons, like cheaper rides, flex hours, less traffic, but why it’s really good is that it’s raising safety and accountability standards in a highly dangerous sector. But it’s a shame that Uber is missing out on my second favorite form of transport: the bijaj (AKA Tuk Tuks).
There’s no need for a leather seated black sedan, TIA. I’d much rather have a vehicle that can buzz by fourlaneys (the brilliant Swahili word for traffic jams) and has more than two wheels, than a sedan with a water bottle in the backseat.
3. #onelineformultiplekiosks
No picture here, but I have a damn good point:
At Nyerere airport there were five passport control kiosks. I picked the shortest line, which wound up having a waaaay longer waiting period. When I finally neared my turn, the guy took a break and told us to join other lines. Then the same thing happened again. It was frustrating for everyone, not just me.
The multiple line problem is totally unnecessary: One line for multiple kiosks. This is often done for checking baggage. Why stop there? #onelineformultiplekiosks
2. SMS bus tickets
My least favorite place in the entire world is the Ubungo bus station in Dar Es Salaam. As soon as you enter you are swarmed by unofficial ticketing agents shouting “Arusha Arusha Arusha!” “Mbeya Mbeya Mbeya!” “Moshi Moshi Moshi!” and the names of other possible destinations for the hundreds of buses. If you were to reply, “Mbeya”, five or six pushy agents will fight over getting you to come with them to buy a ticket, hoping to poach a tip from the actual ticketing agent. They’ll lie to you about departure times, prices, safety features and sometimes nick your stuff or sell you a double booked seat.
Buying tickets online, or via SMS, is an obvious fix. It’s in the interest of the bus companies and passengers. This is a prime example of what I consider Africa’s low hanging fruit for tech to address. Opportunities abound!
1. An online marketplace for agricultural trading
Thank goodness some genius already started this: http://www.ninayo.com.
