Domestic work gets app boost

By the Editorial Team · Tuesday, October 20, 2026

Indian start-ups like Snabbit and Urban Company are using technology to digitize and organise the informal domestic work sector, allowing workers to receive bookings, manage schedules, and undergo background checks via mobile platforms. While these services offer greater flexibility and higher incomes for workers, concerns remain about job security, safety, and the lack of traditional employment benefits.

A growing number of Indian start-ups are leveraging technology to bring greater organisation and flexibility to the country’s informal domestic work sector, which traditionally relies on word-of-mouth arrangements and lacks formal regulation. These platforms, including Snabbit, Pronto, and Urban Company, operate similarly to ride-hailing apps by enabling workers to receive bookings via mobile devices, track their performance through ratings, and manage schedules with greater ease.

Snabbit, which operates in 10 cities such as Bengaluru, Delhi, and Mumbai, has registered approximately 20,000 workers who complete around 60,000 jobs daily. At its training centre in Bengaluru, domestic workers prepare by practicing tasks like vegetable chopping under timed conditions. Heena Bibi, a 34-year-old worker, said she earns about 45,000 rupees (roughly RM1,935) per month through the platform, which is three times higher than typical earnings from traditional arrangements involving multiple customers.

The platforms provide background verification, police checks, and soft skills training, including customer interaction and presentation. Performance ratings affect job opportunities, with users receiving follow-ups for scores below four out of five. According to Bhoomika Saigal, Snabbit’s director of training and quality, this system helps maintain service standards and addresses potential issues proactively.

While digital platforms are praised for providing flexible hours, enabling workers to balance jobs with family responsibilities, and expanding options for customers, some remain cautious. Renu Devi, a 38-year-old domestic helper from Uttar Pradesh, expressed concerns about personal safety when visiting unfamiliar homes, preferring the traditional model that relies on established trust.

Labour advocates are also skeptical about the long-term benefits of app-based domestic work. Sanjay Gaba, president of the All India Gig and Platform Workers Union, criticised the system for its lack of job security and absence of employee benefits such as pensions, contending that it perpetuates exploitation rather than resolving it.

Aayush Agarwal, founder and CEO of Snabbit, defended the approach, citing flexible schedules as the key attraction for many workers, especially women balancing household and childcare duties. Snabbit and other platforms aim to replicate the convenience and accessibility witnessed in ride-hailing services, making domestic help an on-demand service available even during weekends and festivals.

Customers like 63-year-old homemaker Atiya Khusro also appreciate the flexibility of app-based bookings, contrasting it with fixed schedules of traditional helpers that require extensive adjustments to daily routines. The model’s expanding presence in India’s gig economy reflects a broader shift toward digital intermediaries across various service sectors, from cleaning and repairs to salon appointments.

As these platforms grow, they continue to grapple with balancing worker welfare, safety, and job security while meeting rising demand for more streamlined and flexible domestic services.

This article was reported by synthesizing coverage from multiple independent news outlets to present a balanced, unbiased account. Read about our editorial standards. Spotted an error? Let us know.