Local tech start-up Zen Citi has introduced Smash’d, a data-free mobile app that allows users to collect, store and capture information at an accident scene.
Launched in 2019, the Johannesburg-based software firm develops digital experiences to improve interaction between government and citizens.
Smash’d is enabled with snap and scan features, allowing users to capture pictures of the accident scene, scan involved vehicle and driver’s licence disks and share all the necessary information via the app.
Users can also seamlessly complete the official accident report form, which they can take to the nearest police station for signature and submission, with an option to e-mail the documents.
Over a million accidents are reported in SA annually, which cost government nearly R2 billion to manage, according to Zen Citi.
“If we want governmental services to improve, we need to be the catalyst to the change we want for our future South Africa and assist our government in understanding how we want problems solved,” says Dineshan Chetty, MD of Zen Citi.
“We designed Smash’d as a solution to outdated reporting, which is time-, resource- and cost-consuming. The app provides a quick and guided experience to ensure accuracy and efficiency in reporting an accident whilst still being cost-effective for government.”
While the app functions on the phone without requiring data to operate, it does require some data for things like e-mailing the documents, and to store information, which is done through Amazon Web Services servers, notes Chetty.
Smash’d is available on the Google Play store and will soon be available on the Apple store. Other features on the app include GPS location sharing and an emergency services button.
The company says in the near future, it hopes to integrate the app into the electronic national traffic information system (eNatis). Other features in the pipeline include an insurance claim processing form, a damage estimation artificial intelligence-based tool and a salvage bidding platform to allow the driver to sell off the vehicle when it’s written off.
“With the introduction of Smash’d, the goal is to integrate into the eNatis system and move away from reporting processes requiring a lot of resources, including printing and paper costs, data capturing and data management.
“Smash’d ensures users are made aware of all necessary information required and guides them through every step in reporting their accident at the scene to avoid wasting time,” concludes Chetty.
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