Mrsool: a one-stop app changing the way we think about deliveries

In Arabic, Mrsool means “to send" — and the idea behind the delivery platform Mrsool is that users can get almost anything they want, sent directly to them.

“It can literally be anything," Quran said. “It could be food and beverages, it could be digital items, it could even be financial services."

The big difference with Mrsool is that the buyer enters a bidding process with the courier. For example, someone who is on their way to the airport and has forgotten their passport might be willing to pay a higher price to someone who could go and get it for them. The courier and buyer then agree on a price together based on what the buyer is willing to pay and what the courier is willing to work for. They do this through a chat facility on the app.

Only when users order food do they avoid the bidding process. Instead, an algorithm calculates a fair, fixed price for delivery. But Quran said: “Food is just a small part of the business we are doing."

Mrsool is really a kind of super app, offering a range of services and experiences all on the same platform.

One app to rule them all

So far, it has been a success. Mrsool operates in 40 cities in three countries, including Saudi Arabia and Egypt, and had seven million downloads last year.

“We are booming, Quran said. “We are offering something no one else is offering."

They still face challenges, including a changing regulatory landscape and difficulty hiring the right local talent, particularly on the technical side.

“Since the pandemic, customer expectations have accelerated, and we need to keep up with that," added Quran.

But he said expansion plans into other territories are underway, as well as plans for new services.

Location, location, location

One of the most important things to customers is that their items arrive on time. Mrsool uses HERE maps to calculate distances, along with HERE Real-Time Traffic and HERE Asset Tracking.

“It helps our drivers know which route to take," Quran said. “HERE products have had an impact on almost everything. If you take the example of food, people want it to arrive quickly and at a good price, so an efficient route is key."

As well as expansion in the region, Quran hopes to offer new services through Mrsool soon.

“The app will help you to run your business in the future," he said. “You would be able to create your own store there. We want to empower small businesses. We also want to offer people the chance to pay in installments, particularly for digital items."

Ultimately, small business owners could get advice through Mrsool as well as organize payments through the app.

“I am really proud of what we are doing," Quran said. “We are not trying to clone other service providers, and we are offering something unique."