TranSMS
tranSMS Activity Report 2013
tranSMS
-Reduction of Transprtation-handicap around the world
Introduction
We tranSMS, are trying to improve the transportation efficiency, and finally life of people in East Timor. We started our activity from the See-D contest 2012, business contest for product design of developping countries. Our team consist of various member such as writer, engineer, acountant, marketer, and university student.
We enjoy our activity to “change the world” in our leisure-time. In See-D contest 2012, we got best award. Also we accomplish in the crowd-funding, READYFOR?, and 107 people surported us. Then, we are challenging our project for improvement of transportation by using our smartphone app in East Timor.
Left figures show tranSMS members, and our partners in East Timor.
Information about East Timor
Official name : Democratic Republic of Timor-Leste
National language : Portuguese, Tetum
Population : 1,172390 (2013)
Capital : Dili
Area : Total 14,874km2
GDP : Total $10,952 billion
BOP : 770,000 people
Currency : USD
Religion : Christian (99%)
[Geographical information]
East Timor is located 5,000km south of Japan, and there is no difference in time from Japan. East Timor contains half-east part of Timor-island, Atauro island, Jaco-island, Oecussi, where is enclave. Australia is located directly below of the East Timor. 60% of national land are mountain area, and they are 3,000 meters in height.
[History]
People arrived at East Timor around from 2,000-3,000 years B.C. In the 16th century, East Timor was colonized by Portugal. At World War Ⅱ, East Timor was on occupational administration of Japan. At 1975, East Timor claimed independence, however was occupied by Indonesia. After long struggle, finally they obrained the independence at 2002. About 30% of people were killed during this 30years conflict. Although there were some mess after independence, at 2012, peacekeeping operations of United Nations left from East Timor.
[Industry]
Major industry of EastaTimor is agriculture, such as rice, corn, coconut. However, they are really small, and don’t have good transportatio-system. Therefore, it is the fact that many products (e.g. egg, rice, chicken) are imported from Indonesia. Only coffee and palm-oil are exproted as a commercial crop from East Timor. Now, main financial resource of East Timor comes from natural gas, and oil, derived from underwater oilfield in Timor sea, but production peak was already passed, and production will run out at 2025. So, growing of major industry is important in East Timor.
[Culture]
People in East Timor respect the nature, while their lives are suported by nature. They believe the sacred power, “Lulik”. Especially, crocodile is thought as religous animal. In the East Timorese myth, aging crocodile transformed into the island of Timor. Most people in East Timor are Catolic, and also believe traditional concept.
“Tais” is one of famous traditional handweave in East Timor. They have specific design, depending on family, region. Techniques is transmitted from generation to generation in one family, as a womens jobs. Some European industries buy the highest quality “Tais” regardless of expense.
System of tranSMS
[Problem “Transportation handicap”]
In East Timor, transportation system is still imature, so means of transport is restricted. People, live in country side, have to charter the track , which cost $350/day, for the transportation of their product to Capital, Dili. Their average house hold income are less than $50, therefore it is really difficult to transport their products to Dili, if they have farm animal, coffee, and much rice for selling. This situation is interfering the development of local industries of East Timor.
[Solution “Return way”]
During the field trip in East Timor, we faound that trucks comes to country side villeage for the transportaion of products to each kiosk from capital, Dili. However, on the “return way” , they did not transport anything. Here, we came up with the idea to utilize this “return way” to reduce transportation cost. To do that we need to construct network between transportation company and farmers, and kiosk owners. If they correct and manage the information about delivery and pick up, they can transport local products to Dili, on the "return way” cheaply.
[SMS x Smartphone app “tranSMS"]
We developed the smartphone app “tranSMS”. This app can manage the customer data, and send SMS to many people simultaneously. We provide this app and smartphone with transportation company. By this app, track drivers can send message, contains “Do you have anything to transport” to the people in country side, with only three touch in app. In this app, we can register the phone number of farmers, and kiosk owner. We can divide them village by village, and send message separately by driving roots.
East Timor still do not have enough internet connections, but about 40% household can use mobilephone, which only cost $5 at cheapest. We can send SMS through the telephone connection, but not E-mail. Farmers can transport their products by responsing the SMS from transportation company, and driver. This system dramatically decrease the cost for the transportation, compared with charting the track by themselves. Additionally, it increases the income of the transportation company without big task.
First Trial in East Timor
Some members of tranSMS visited East Timor at 25, April to 2, May in 2013, and introduced our system “tranSMS" into Manufahi district with corporation of our partners, Mr. Mougino, who is representatives from NGO, FutureDIack, and Mr. Joaquim, who is bussiness manager of some kiosks, and coffee farm. We explained about the system of tranSMS to them druing field trip.
Mr. Mougino is also running the farm, where about 100 people are working. Actually, he already perfomed the efficient transportation by transport their products on return way to Dili. However, he used phone call to contact with people one by one. If he use our app “tranSMS”, efficiency of the work will be improved, and he can make more networks. It will leads to the increase of farmers access to market, and facilitate the local economy.
Future of tranSMS
Briefing session for the system of tranSMS was held by Mr. Mougino in Same, Aileu, Suai district, after our field trip, as shown in right pictures.
Gradually, our system was introduced in East Timor, and they are improving their transportation system by themselves.
From Oct, 2012, some tranSMS members wil stay at East Timor for long time, and challenge to acceralate our activity in East Timor. We are looking forward to your cooporation, and your support. .
tranSMS
-Reduction of transportation handicap around the world
[tranSMS Member]
Yoshiaki Seto (Representative)
Yasuhisa Kamikawa
Tomoko Kadota-Ito
Yoshinori Goto
Kensaku Kobayashi
Yuki Miura
Yoshiyuki Miyamoto
Mr. Joaquim correct and buy the livestocks from local farmer, and then they transport, and sell them in Dili. There are four member in his company, but they meet and contact with farmer directly, so if he use our app “tranSMS”, they do not need to meet and contact directly to farmers. Also farmers can get the chance to sell their livestocks to them by just receiving the SMS. Our system increase the chance to earn the money for both of them. After introduction of our system to them, we are getting the feedback from them, and we will improve our system. Then, we can spread this system to other district, and finally we want to contribute the all area of East Timor by improvement of transporation system.
During this field trip, we met with parliamentary officials, Mr. Adreed, Professor in National Timor university, Dr. Marfin, and introduced our system. They got big interest in our system. We also contacted with people in NGO and Japanese Embassy to construct the good relationship between East Timor and Japan.
