#19: Spotlighting Gamp.
…your device’s HMO 🏥
In our fast-paced digital age, smartphones and other gadgets have become our constant companions, keeping us connected, entertained, and productive. However, the increasing reliance on these devices also exposes us to risks such as damage, loss, and theft.
Enter Gamp, a game-changing subscription-based product that is frontrunning device protection and repair services in Nigeria, with ambitions to extend its reach across Africa. In this article, we explore the captivating story of Gamp, its passionate founding team, and the array of services it offers. This is a very exciting product feature, so let’s get to it!
Product Spotlight
Profile
Name: Gamp
Website: https://www.getgamp.com/
Countries Served: Nigeria
Product Space: Insurance Tech [Insurtech]
Product Released: 2021
Business Type: B2B & B2C
Founder: Boluwatife Omotayo, Temitope Ige-Isang, Toluwani Famokunwa
In their own words:
Gamp is a subscription-based product offering device protection via insurance and repair services for Nigerians. Gamp is on a mission to provide a way for Nigerians to protect their devices through a range of comprehensive insurance and repair services.
Gamp serves both businesses and customers, with their B2B arm providing device protection plans and repair support for devices used by businesses—from computers to tablets and smartphones. With Gamp's Device Protection Plan, whenever the covered device breaks down, it will be repaired or replaced for free.
According to their CEO:
“The median age of Nigerians is 18. As the demand for smartphones and computers is growing quickly, the need for reliable and affordable device protection and support is also on the rise.”
How does Gamp work?
Gamp for Individuals: There are four plan tiers customers can pick from:
Lite Plan: NGN 1500 for 6 months of coverage
Basic Plan: NGN 3000 for 6 months of coverage
Premium Plan: NGN 9000 for 6 months of coverage
Custom: starting from NGN 20,000 for 6 months of coverage
Each plan offers different levels of repair coverage, damage protection, and phone support.
Gamp also offers standalone repair services for smartphones and computers. Customers can easily request for a free repair estimate from their platform. Their extensive network of repair providers enables them to offer a holistic repair service where they pick up, fix, and deliver your device. Alternatively, you can also walk into their experience centre to drop off your device.
Gamp for Businesses: With Gamp for Business, business owners can easily manage their employees' devices, add protection to them, and request on-site repairs, device trade-ins, 24/7 tech support and annual maintenance services.
Vibe Check:
Have you ever experienced the sinking feeling when your beloved device suddenly malfunctions or suffers an unexpected accident? I vividly recall a friend of mine who recently became the proud owner of a brand-new Macbook. Excitement filled the air as she unpacked the sleek device, but soon after, our conversation shifted to the importance of safeguarding such a valuable investment.
With devices breaking down when we least expect it and repair costs reaching astonishing heights, the need for a comprehensive protection solution becomes undeniable. This is especially true in African countries like Nigeria where the ever-increasing exchange rate can cause repair costs to reach 40-70% of the device’s original cost.
Gamp’s development in Nigeria came at about the right time as Nigeria has had the highest growth in mobile phone penetration in Africa. Nigeria, with its high smartphone penetration and burgeoning freelance market, presents a fertile ground for Gamp's transformative services.
With over 90 million devices sold in the country each year, and the number of mobile phone subscriptions surpassing 200 million in 2020, the need for reliable gadget protection is continuously growing.
What truly impressed me about Gamp is its payment structure and affordability. Their base individual plan costs NGN 1,500 every six months, and with that, customers get coverage of up to NGN 10,000 and screen damage repair. The plans are quite realistic for the Nigerian market making it accessible to more individuals who value the security of their devices.
However, I found the wording of the pricing to be very unclear. I had to move further along the process to better understand how their pricing works and what is covered under each tier. I think the pricing and packaging could be stated in simpler terms to make it more accessible and understandable.
Another thing that impressed me was how their protection plans are available for both brand-new and used devices. This enables them to capture the market of users who buy and use refurbished devices, which is significantly large. According to International Data Corporation (IDC), shipments of used smartphones to Nigeria, including officially refurbished and used smartphones, reached 282.6 million units in 2022, which is a significant increase from the 253.4 million units shipped in 2021.
Interestingly, I noticed that their protection cover is limited to claims for gadget damages and things like gadget theft are left out. I think they’re some possible reasons for this. It's likely because theft claims are tricky to handle. Especially in places like Nigeria, where the system isn't always on your side.
For a theft claim to be valid, most Western countries require a police report. But getting that in Nigeria can feel like climbing a mountain. The police might see it as an opportunity to get something out of you, rather than help you out. So, getting your report becomes this drawn-out drama you never asked for.
On the flip side, some crafty folks might spin tales about their 'stolen' devices, even conjuring up false police reports to get a new gadget from Gamp. This is essentially fraud and that's bad news for the company in the long run. Regardless, I think Gamp might benefit from expanding its coverage to include gadget theft as a competitive move in the market.
On a more feasible front, Gamp might benefit a lot from introducing protection plans for more expensive gadgets, such as professional cameras, and maybe smart gadgets. It doesn’t seem too far-fetched. It might also be interesting to see them offer some sort of a family insurance plan. That would definitely be beneficial to families with iPad babies, whose devices are more susceptible to damage.
In any event, the existence of this product is certainly a huge advantage for businesses, tech personnel, freelancers, families and every individual with a technology device. Gamp is definitely a much-needed product in the ecosystem and I’m excited to see how they continue to evolve!
What do you think about Gamp?
On an unrelated note:
Here are three of my favourite reads this week:
Bowing out:
That’s all folks! I hope you enjoyed this week's newsletter.
If you like what you read, make sure to spread the word and share it with your friends. And if you haven't already, hit the subscribe button so, you don't miss out on any of the fun.
And speaking of fun, if you have a product that you want to share with the world, I'd love to feature it in my newsletter. Just shoot me a message on Twitter [@LongLiveDumi] or drop me an email at dumss@vizible.africa. I'm always open to hearing about new and exciting products.
Now, if you have any questions or just want to chat, don't hesitate to reach out. I'm always happy to hear from you, and I'm looking forward to meeting more people from this wonderful community.
And lastly, if there's anything I can do to make the newsletter even better, please let me know. I'm always looking for ways to improve and make your experience even more enjoyable. So, don't be shy, send us your feedback and let's make this newsletter the best it can be.
I hope the rest of your week goes great! See you in the next issue!
Yours in Product Discovery,
Dumss.
 | A guest post by
|