Practo, Asia’s largest online healthcare platform, is set to launch a wellness unit for bookings at spas and salons. Medical app Lybrate sees most users on its platform engaged in discussions on wellness than on other health topics. Unlike with doctor appointments, people need (beauty and wellness) services on a monthly basis.
Booking appointments with doctors is mostly a one-off activity, and yet to be monetised by health-tech firms, which make money primarily from selling appointment management software to doctors. In the wellness space, these firms are able to negotiate a commission for bringing in customers to salons and spas, making for a steady revenue stream and putting them in competition with home service companies. The value that technology firms such as Ziffi and Bookmyspa offer salons and spas is a chance to lower costs, as these establishments otherwise spends a significant chunk of their revenue on promotions.