Have saleable skills? Want to be a self-employed? Or are you looking for a particular household service? You may then want to create an account with SeWahh. This one-of-its-kind Nepali platform brings service providers and seekers together for a variety of everyday household needs. This is unlike the e-commerce platforms in Nepal that have mostly focused on selling products.

SeWahh calls itself a ‘full-service digital marketplace for personalized local services’ to households and businesses across Nepal. Here you will find services ranging from home cleaning and on-site fridge repair to home salon to personal fitness training.

The portal, started a year ago by Subidha Sewa Group, has been providing recruiting, outsourcing, facility management, and personalized local services, for the past 16 years.

 What’s on offer?

Some essential indoor services include: plumbing, computer repair and maintenance, electrician, microwave repair, washing machine repair, and A/C repair. There are unique offerings like astrology and bridal make-up as well. Under home cleaning, there is deep kitchen cleaning, Nepali carpet cleaning, and whole apartment cleaning.

“SeWahh professionals use only tested and verified chemicals,” claims Ajay Raj Joshi, CEO. 

“We specialize in repairing and maintenance services. Perhaps due to our 30-day post-service guarantee and insurance, our client base is increasing,” Joshi says. “We also aim to create jobs.”

The guarantee means, if a client feels the service is below par, they will get a free 30-day service. And if items are damaged due to mishandling, there is insurance cover of up to Rs 20,000. 

With the start of the lockdown, SeWahh started different kinds of online classes and trainings as well, including academic tuitions for school and college students, art and painting classes, music lessons, and yoga and gym sessions.

Bidhata Upreti, a dental surgeon by profession, is happy with the music class she has been taking through SeWahh. “The classes are interactive and helpful,” she says on the SeWahh Facebook page. 

These classes offer one-on-one sessions, barring home tuitions where a group may have up to four students. Students from class 1-12 and A-levels can enroll for these home tuition classes. “It is for the students who need extra training besides their regular school or college classes,” adds Joshi.

SeWahh conducts interactive parent-teacher meets. These half-hour once-a-month meets help both parents and teachers know about the student’s progress and needs, claims Joshi. Moreover, there are separate evaluations for each student.

How it works

SeWahh runs a website and a Facebook page. Clients can visit the website, select the service, register, login, and purchase by choosing time and date. After confirming with the clients, SeWahh employees contact registered service professionals nearby. After completion of the job, they contact the clients again to ensure satisfactory job completion. Those with no Internet access may call and place an order. 

For online classes and training, students and trainees choose the time and courses, as well as from the available teachers or trainers. Multiple platforms are used for online classes, as per the convenience of students and teachers, with Zoom and Google Meet the most popular ones. 

 Interested professionals create an account with SeWahh and go through a selection process before being hired. “We only hire professionals with a minimum 2-3 year experience,” Joshi says. The company has a group of consultants to test the qualifications of job aspirants. This helps maintain service quality and to cut down on flaws, Joshi adds.  The professionals also get skill development training from time to time. 

Clients can pay through eSewa or bank transfer. Or they may pay the service provider directly with cash upon the completion of the task. SeWahh charges a certain amount from the professionals as per a prior agreement for using the platform.  

After encouraging response from its clients, SeWahh is planning to add home massage and saloon for males.

The lockdown has prompted many to turn to online services. But e-commerce is still nascent in Nepal, and the road ahead unclear. Many areas of Nepal are still devoid of reliable Internet. Nor is the government supporting e-commerce. “It has no plan to help us,” Joshi rues.