Google Areo is an all-in-one service aggregator that can streamline your life

Google has launched Areo, a new service aggregator app that uses the vast search database and API’s from existing aggregator services and apps to provide it all in one single seamless app. This may sound complicated so let me break it down for you. Google Areo consolidates food delivery and other home services like repairs and installation, home maintenance, chores and cleaning, and fitness in one single app. The app only works in two cities, Mumbai and Bengaluru at the time of writing.

You no longer need to install different apps or switch between them to see what options are provided by any particular restaurant. This puts Google in direct competition to Zomato or Swiggy as individual restaurants, individuals providing services like local chefs, electricians, painters, plumbers, cleaners and painters can tie up with Google to reach a larger audience.

One interesting thing to note here is that Scootsy, a service aggregator has tied up with Areo to provide its services using Areo framework along with Holachef. Restaurants like Box8 and Freshmenu have already listed themselves as service providers.

The app is not limited to food delivery and extends to the options available with tie-ups with UrbanClap, and Zimmber. While testing the app I noticed that there are a number of services that are not available in my area. So the type of services will be limited to the area that you live and its still extremely early to take a call on how the availability and quality of services by service providers factor in at any particular location.  The Areo name may sound familiar to ‘Area’ and it has been stylised almost the same in the app but I think they can’t directly call an app as ‘Google Area’.

The app has a reviews section where you can submit or read the reviews given by other users that have detailed their experience with any given service provider. It also gives you the option to search through all the service providers based on the time it will take for the provider to execute the task or provide the service and you can fine tune that by selecting the app or provider of your preference, which is pretty useful. You can check your cart, order history, contact information and addresses by swiping from the left side to access the side access menu.

To get started with the app you need to download and install the app currently only available for Android users. Once the app is installed, you need to give the app permission to access your location and then Save the address by dropping the pin on the map provided in the app. Once you are done, you need to add your contact information and address in the app.

Once you have done both the things, you can go ahead and select anything from any of the categories and order the service, each item has a corresponding feature, price, delivery time and the payment modes available for that item (service provider). You can specify the date and the time slot for service providers that allow the option. You can also pay using your credit or debit cards, netbanking or cash on delivery (COD). The Areo app offers Rs 200 off your first order with Box8.