How Online Apps Bridge a Gap Between Citizens and Unorganized Sector

More than 60% of the world’s population contributes to the informal sector of economic activities. Though highly crucial for developing economies, the unorganized sector stands to contribute a lot to advanced economies as well. Measuring this sector is arduous, but lack of resources, exploitation, and inequality is common in all unorganized segments.

Presenting opportunities to bridge the gap has been the lookout for various startups that endeavor to benefit the deprived section of the community. The US informal economy is pegged at 7.3%, representing $1650 Billion at GDP PPP levels.

Here’s a roundabout of prominent apps providing income opportunities to unorganized sectors.

UBER

Founded by Travis Kalanick, Uber is a godsent for the informal sector comprising individual contractors who drive for a living. With more than 23 million rides completed daily, it processed $26.61 Billion worth of bookings in 2020. Uber employs over 1 million drivers in the USA. With a proper “earn-as-you-work model” payment system, there is no limit on how much an individual driver can make. Also, with grievance redressal systems in place for both parties, it is unsurprising that it completes around 1.44 Billion trips per quarter.

TASKRABBIT

With more than 15K reviews, TaskRabbit has opened doors for handymen like plumbers, movers, assemblers, and more to get regular gigs as freelance laborers. Available across all metro cities, TaskRabbit is most popular in LA and New York. Acquired by IKEA in 2017, what sets it apart is its vetted talent pool of workers ready for work at a moment’s notice. It has opened up a plethora of jobs for people who otherwise didn’t have a centralized system, offering them gigs and paying them on time.

ROVER

With over a million downloads and a 4.7 rating, this app connects dog owners with people willing to take them for a walk, a.k.a. sitters. One can monitor their pets via GPS and even message the sitters on the go. With a regular clientele, a sitter can make upwards of $1000 as 80% of the payment made by owners is sent to the sitters. You can even go for a vacation without worry now, as sitters can watch your pet at home under your online surveillance.

WONOLO

The best place to find work for daily shifts, gig workers can set their schedule and get paid daily with Wonolo. Moreover, it can even turn into a permanent position for many. The galore of jobs is unending, from merchandising, washing, cleaning, and house sitting. With processing via Paypal and Stripe, it boasts a 4.4 rating on the Play Store.

HOPSKIPDRIVE

A perfect platform to have your kids moved from one place to another, HopSkipDrive has over 100k downloads and a steady 4.6 rating. HopSkipDrive was found to be 72% more successful against all Global TNC. With quality background-checked drivers trained on the most important measure: safety, you can rest assured that your children are in the right hands.

Founded by Joanna McFarland, this is based in San Diego. Their Zero Discrimination policies protect all drivers, and their proprietary Safe Ride Support System allows unparalleled ride visibility. With proper tracking measures and safety in place, it is a win-win for everyone.

TURO

Turo is the world’s largest marketplace for people to rent their cars via a peer-to-peer platform. Any car, truck, or vehicle can be at your fingertips. Known as the Airbnb of cars, it opens the potential for extra bucks for people with vehicles who wouldn't be using them for a certain earmarked period. Almost any car can be put on the platform, and it is a great way of monetizing idle time for many across the States.

iGAMING

iGaming is another great option for the fringe sections of the communities in various ways. These are real money games that allow players to enjoy thrilling games while earning a few bucks!

You can also win in-game bonuses, virtual coins, tokens, and other rewards. The market is brimming with many real-money iGaming apps that gaming lovers can easily download on their mobile devices. If the idea excites you, you can find the best apps here to make some cash anytime and anywhere. These mobile-optimized apps work seamlessly on your phone’s browser. Hence, it eliminates the need for investing in costly hardware or software to make money. Further, the apps accept various traditional and digital payment methods to redeem your cash prizes.

Tapping Into The Unorganized Sector Boosts The Economy

Apart from the apps mentioned above, many other notable apps like Upwork, Lyft, and Lugg give opportunities to the informal economy or the unorganized sector.

Undoubtedly, these startups are working hard to represent the informal economy better. Tapping into 5% of the labor force opens up a market worth billions, contributing to more than 3% of the US GDP. Moreover, with new opportunities, the government must also work with companies to ensure that gig workers are not oppressed or sexually abused. Enforcing virtual contracts via these apps and startups and the possibility of having the grievances addressed can go a long way in making the best use of the informal sector.

(Devdiscourse's journalists were not involved in the production of this article. The facts and opinions appearing in the article do not reflect the views of Devdiscourse and Devdiscourse does not claim any responsibility for the same.)