Sharif Khaleel

Building the app is one challenge. Getting people to trust a different way of working is another. That’s something I’m learning while building OdiGo ( odigo.mv/get ). An app bringing together island transfers, fishing trips, and private boat hires in the Maldives. One of the hardest parts has been getting operators on board. The benefits can seem obvious from the development side: another way for customers to find an operator, easier access to trip information, and less back-and-forth when arranging a booking. But explaining a feature isn’t the same as showing someone why it matters to their business. Many operators have built their livelihoods through phone calls, messages, agents, and personal relationships. Those methods are familiar. Moving part of that business into an app asks them to put confidence in something they haven’t yet seen work for them. I’m learning that hesitation doesn’t necessarily mean a lack of interest. It can mean we haven’t answered their questions clearly enough or made the value tangible enough. Will this bring me customers? Will it create more work? How much control will I have? Who will help when something goes wrong? Those are fair questions. For OdiGo to succeed, operators need to see a practical benefit for themselves: reaching customers, spending less time coordinating bookings, and having tools that fit the way they work. Their participation has to be worthwhile for them. The platform grows when the people using it gain something useful. That means our job goes beyond building technology. We need to listen, demonstrate, support, and earn trust over time. I still believe there’s a real opportunity to make travel across our islands easier and to help local operators benefit from that change. If you’ve helped a business adopt digital tools, what made the biggest difference in building confidence? odigo.mv/get #OdiGo #Maldives #DigitalAdoption #TravelTech #BuildInPublic