With WhatsApp-based learning, This startup aims to upskill 1 million blue-collar workers by 2026

In India, a significant challenge facing the blue-collar workforce is the lack of access to effective skill development, particularly in soft skills and communication. Many blue-collar workers, like cab drivers, factory workers, and service industry employees, often find themselves at a disadvantage due to inadequate training in these essential areas. 

This skill gap can lead to difficulties in customer interactions, inefficiencies in work performance, and a barrier to career advancement. The problem is compounded by the fact that traditional training methods are often not tailored to the unique needs and circumstances of blue-collar workers, who may have limited time and resources for education. 

Furthermore, the rapid growth of industries like logistics, delivery services, and manufacturing has increased the demand for skilled blue-collar workers. However, the existing training infrastructure is not equipped to meet this demand, especially in a diverse country like India, where language barriers and varying educational backgrounds present additional challenges. 

This situation creates a pressing need for innovative, accessible, and scalable training solutions that can effectively bridge the skill gap for millions of workers, enabling them to improve their job prospects and contribute more effectively to their industries.

Nikhil Subba's experience as a BlueSmart cab driver in Delhi highlights a common issue among blue-collar workers in India: the struggle with effective communication, especially in customer-facing roles. 

Balancing the demands of his job with the need for better interaction skills, Subba found it challenging to communicate effectively with customers while focusing on driving. This difficulty in communication not only affected his job performance but also his ratings and customer satisfaction. 

To address this issue, BluSmart introduced Subba to Chaabi, a learning platform specifically designed for blue-collar workers. 

How Chaabi is upskilling the blue-collar workforce

Chaabi is a B2B SaaS platform that combines AI-powered content in 20 native languages with the accessibility of WhatsApp. The startup uses WhatsApp, a widely used messaging platform in India, to deliver training content. 

"India's 500 million plus blue-collar workforce is poised for transformation. With WhatsApp, India's most widely used app, as the primary platform we ensure efficient delivery of job-specific training tailored to blue-collar workers. This approach helps in enhancing productivity and employability among this vital segment of our workforce," said Puneet Dhiman

By leveraging a familiar platform like WhatsApp, Chaabi aims to provide a practical and impactful solution for skill improvement among blue-collar workers, focusing on areas crucial for their professional growth and adaptability in the workforce.

Who is the founder?

Chaabi was founded by Puneet Dhiman, who graduated with a B.Tech from Anand Engineering College (SGI) and completed his MBA at Panjab University, Chandigarh.

He began his professional journey as a Software Engineer at Technorite Consultants, later advancing to the role of Senior Manager at Fashion and You India. Subsequently, he led the Product and Marketing division at Shiprocket and served as the Deputy General Manager of Marketing at Jabong. 

His career further progressed when he took on the role of Senior Strategic Account Manager at Google. Following his tenure at Google, he joined Bella Vita Organic as the Director of Marketing and Operations. Before establishing Chaabi, he founded Culturebay in June 2013, an e-commerce platform dedicated to showcasing India's handmade artisanal products.

"I started my first company, CultureBy.com, which focused on Indian handmade products. This is my second venture, almost after eight years of experience. I believe that working in startups allows you to grow faster, learn faster, and drive real change," Puneet said.

Dhiman was motivated to create Chaabi in response to the challenges faced by India's blue-collar workforce, especially during the pandemic and the subsequent migrant workers crisis. 

What are Chaabi's offerings?

Chaabi supports more than 20 native Indian languages, including Tamil, Telugu, Marathi, Bengali, and Kannada. This wide range of language support allows workers from diverse linguistic backgrounds to access training in their native languages, making the learning process more inclusive and effective. 

One of the unique features of Chaabi is its custom model, where workers can record their voice, which is then used to deliver training content in various vernacular languages. This personalised approach enhances the learning experience by making it more relatable and engaging for the workers. 

To increase the effectiveness of the training and ensure higher completion rates, Chaabi employs a gamified approach, which makes learning more interactive and enjoyable, motivating workers to complete modules more quickly and efficiently. Chaabi's practical application extends to streamlining company processes. 

For example, it can take a company's standard operating procedures (SOPs) or HR and training materials and convert them into training modules in the language preferred by the workers. 

The startup believes that this process ensures that the training is not only linguistically accessible but also directly relevant to the workers' specific roles and tasks. 

It also offers real-time analytics, allowing companies to monitor metrics like the number of users enrolled, the percentage of training completed, and the progress of individual users. 

What challenges did Chaabi face?

As a bootstrapped company, Chaabi faced challenges like the speed of development and controlling costs.

However, the startup prioritised building features and functionalities that were absolutely necessary for their clients, ensuring that their product remained lean and efficient. Chaabi now aims to upskill 1 million individuals by 2026.

Chaabi's business model

The platform operates on a monthly subscription model, with pricing based on various factors, such as the company's size, the workflow's complexity, and the number of active users each month. 

The startup has made a transformative impact on industries like retail electronics (Croma), food delivery (Swiggy), travelling services (EEE Taxi), and delivery services (Zippee), improving customer service, reducing complaints, and enhancing overall customer experiences.

What is Chaabi focusing on?

Chaabi is a platform that aims to significantly enhance the skills of India's vast blue-collar workforce, which numbers around 450 million, according to the World Economic Forum. 

The initiative is particularly important as it targets a segment of the workforce that often lacks access to quality training and skill development opportunities. The platform's approach to training is two-pronged. Firstly, it focuses on delivering government-mandated regulatory and compliance training. 

This includes essential areas such as the code of conduct, Prevention of Sexual Harassment (POSH), employee health and safety, fire safety, and sustainability. For instance, Chaabi recently completed a project with Blinkit, an instant delivery service, to provide comprehensive compliance training. 

This type of training is crucial as it ensures that workers are not only skilled but also aware of their rights and responsibilities, contributing to a safer and more ethical work environment. 

Secondly, Chaabi emphasises the importance of soft skills such as punctuality and understanding office protocols. These skills, often overlooked, are fundamental to professional success and workplace efficiency. By starting with these basic but impactful skills, Chaabi aims to bridge the skill gap in a practical and accessible manner. 

The approach is especially beneficial for workers who may not have had formal education or training opportunities. Founder Puneet Dhiman believes that the right combination of technology and content is key to effectively addressing the skill gap. 

Currently, Chaabi is focusing on sectors like logistics and delivery, which have a significant demand for skilled workers. The platform is also planning to expand into the manufacturing sector.

Furthermore, It is engaging with various government departments to identify the most effective models and areas of focus for its training programs.

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