When Store
Finder PH’s map website went
live on March 19 to help locate nearby establishments that are open during the
COVID-19 community quarantine, families with no internet connection seem left
behind.
However with Artificial Intelligence (AI) technology,
the volunteer-initiated website is able to make its key content available on
Facebook Messenger through a chatbot. A chatbot is a computer robot that
replies to messages like a human being.
Currently, Facebook
Messenger can be used even without a mobile data plan as part of the basic
service of Smart, Globe, and affiliate providers, making the store
finding-chatbot accessible to more than 44 million phone internet users in the
Philippines at no extra cost.
Store Finder PH named its chatbot “Crowdy”
to signify the project’s crowd-sourcing nature of collecting information. To
use the chatbot, the user should open the project’s Facebook messenger.
After tapping “Get
Started”, the user may pick the establishment category and type a location that
the chatbot will scan through. A list of search results including grocery shops,
restaurants, pharmacies, banks, ATM centers, remittance centers, logistic hubs,
and other essential stores is then
displayed within seconds.
Although the map
feature is disabled when on free mobile data, crucial information including
business hours are still delivered in text format.
“Our main contribution as millenials to the Enhanced
Community Quarantine measure of the government is making tech solutions and
life-saving information reach the doorsteps of every Filipino,” said Trinmar Boado, an award-winning Information and Communication
Technology (ICT) advocate and leader of the volunteer project.
He added the
chatbot is getting a high volume of query for remittance centers, explaining
this must be from parents of stranded students and other individuals sending
out financial help.
On Store
Finder PH’s website version at www.storefinder.ph,
users can see the map of their neighborhood and the exact location of open
establishments. They can also chat with other active users within the vicinity
to seek any assistance during emergencies.
To start using the Store
Finder PH chatbot, open m.me/StoreFinder.PH or fb.com/StoreFinder.PH
now.
# # #
ABOUT STORE
FINDER PH
Store Finder PH is a volunteer-initiated project by Good Vibes Digital Philippines, a group organized by Clash of Codes 2019
winner, Trinmar Boado, to help families locate nearby essential establishments
that are open during the Enhance Community Quarantine (ECQ) period. To support
this community initiative, email us at chrisaligo@gmail.com or call 0977-340-5736
(Globe) now.
Official Hashtags: #OpenPaSila
#Covid19PH #StoreFinderPH