Alodokter and Halodoc Applications Increased by 600% due to Coronavirus

When Indonesia confirmed the corona case in early March, the community relied on health service applications to find answers to these questions. Health startup, Alodokter recorded visits to the main information page on the platform reaching 2 million since the coronavirus outbreak. Search for covid-19 on the Halodoc platform also increased by 600%.

Medical marketing manager Alodokter Abi Noya said the company released many articles that could be accessed through the Google Search search engine.

“Some of them are about the coronavirus, which has succeeded in occupying the main page of Google search since the first release,” he said, quoted from Kr.Asia, yesterday (11/3).

The startup that got investment from Softbank also noted that there was an increase in application downloads and user interaction through the platform. Users can indeed interact with doctors through the Alodokter application.

In addition to the article, Alodokter distributed information related to covid-19 in the form of a short video uploaded to TikTok. Content that is displayed in the form of tutorials on how to wash hands properly and ethics coughing or sneezing.

Alodokter’s short video on handwashing has been watched 3.2 million times as of March 10. “The short video tutorial at TikTok is our effort to spread health information in an easy and entertaining way,” Noya said.

Drastic Traffic Spikes Happened

Vice President of Marketing Communications Halodoc Felicia Kawilarang said, searches with the keyword coronavirus increased by 600% since the virus became epidemic.

The health sector startup noted that consumers were most looking for herbal medicines to boost immunity and vitamins. Halodoc ensures the supply of vitamins, hand sanitizers, and health masks is safe, and guarantees a lower price than the market. Halodoc claimed to have hooked 1,800 pharmacies.

In addition to products, Halodoc noted the increasing demand for consulting services. Therefore, the company increased the number of doctors who provided 24-hour services. At least 22 thousand doctors work together with Halodoc.

“We see, the highest interest is parents, who have small children,” Felicia told Katadata.co.id, some time ago (6/3). Not only in Indonesia, but transactions on health startup platforms in other countries are also increasing.

Alfonsius Timboel, Halodoc’s Chief Product Officer, explained that his party has been using AWS technology since its inception in 2016 to anticipate drastic traffic spikes. “AWS also helps us to go to the market faster.

After we evaluate the system, it takes 2-3 months to go to the market with the server on-premise, it requires server and people investment. With AWS, it can be done directly in 2 weeks, depending on the solution to be made and its features, “he said.

Health Platforms in Other Countries Even Launched New Features Because Of Coronavirus

Some of them also launched new features for users, mainly related to the Coronavirus. In China, for example, some companies use artificial intelligence (AI) and big data to measure body temperature. This technology is also used to track the movement of users through mobile phones.

Previously, Chair of the Indonesian E-Commerce Association (idEA) Ignatius Untung conveyed, startup services in the health sector will be increasingly used in the midst of the coronavirus outbreak. Therefore, the transaction will increase.

In Indonesia, there are several health startups such as Halodoc, Alodokter, Prixa, GoApotik, and others. “When there are people who have the slightest flu, then worry and panic because they think they are infected with the coronavirus, they immediately ask the doctor through the application,” Ignatius told Katadata.co.id.

Conversely, investment in startups sharing a ride (ride-hailing) to e-commerce is predicted to be affected by co-19. Because people will be more careful about buying goods through e-commerce or using public transportation.