Hong Kong mobile ticketing app The Gulu eyes expansion out of F&B sector after providing remote queuing service for face masks

Hong Kong-based mobile ticketing app The Gulu has gained widespread exposure after providing a remote queuing system for retailers selling surgical masks that allowed users to avoid lining up for hours amid the citywide shortage resulting from the Covid-19 outbreak.

While the mobile app was first conceived to help restaurants avoid long queues during lunch hours, the company has seen a surge in inquiries from businesses outside the food and beverage sector, after it helped retailers distribute masks without the endless line of customers, The Gulu’s founder and chief executive Eric Wong Chung-hup said.

“After we helped retailers sell surgical masks, a lot more business owners began to realise that our functions were not just confined to ticketing for restaurants, but could be applied to other areas as well,” said Wong.

The app works by issuing the user an online ticket which allocates them a place in the queue. They are then able to view the real-time queuing status on the app, and will receive a push notification when their turn arrives.

When Wong first saw on the news a few months back that the elderly were queuing up overnight and even sleeping on the streets to get face masks, he decided to reach out to vendors and pharmacies selling the protective items. He offered to provide The Gulu’s remote queuing service free of charge.

“We didn’t make any money helping to sell the masks, our business is not built on that,” said Wong.

“I don’t think people should queue up overnight to buy surgical masks. Rather, we wanted to make sure that our engine could provide a meaningful function to people so they wouldn’t need to line up to avoid the crowds.”