Trator
Mobile app facilitating the short-term rental of agricultural equipment
Description
Trator was a mobile application that facilitated the short-term rental of agricultural equipment, bridging the gap between farmers and plant hire companies. The app allowed users to safely carry out electronic card transactions. A unique feature of Trator was its integration with a Telegram channel through which equipment owners could advertise their machinery for potential renters to view and inquire.
Technology
The Trator app supported equipment owners in listing their mechanical plant and the types of agricultural tasks to which they are suited, the rental rate, and the quantity available. Potential renters could search for and compare equipment based on job type, price or availability.
Target
The app served farmers and any individual or entities seeking to rent agricultural machinery, as well as those with equipment available for renting. As of November 2022, over 10 000 users downloaded the app from Google Play. The most significant members of Trator's ecosystem are the 300 listed Machine Tractor Parks (MTPs) – private entities that provide machinery maintenance, repair and leasing services.
Business model
While downloading and searching for machinery on Trator was free, the app could deduct a 5 percent transaction fee upon the successful completion of a rental agreement that their creators used to fund technical support, app management and upgrades, and for marketing purposes by Calypso Intelligent Solutions. The app provided users with access to 27 distinct equipment-related services.
Impact
Trator is no longer operational. The initiative's goal was to offer mechanical plant owners with a new avenue for income generation, especially during off-peak periods, while smallholder farmers could benefit from affordable access to machinery without the need for substantial upfront investments.
Partners
Agromart.uz; Aloqabank
Four Betters
Better production
