The rise in popularity of artisan marketplace platforms has made it easier to hire artisans for quick home fixes and large-scale jobs. But with so many platforms to choose from, knowing where you’ll get the best handyman can be a challenge. 

In this article, we explore Laborhack and GIDN, two prominent online artisan platforms that make working with artisans easy. We will look at their similarities and differences, and provide all the relevant information you need to make a decision. 

Let’s get started. 

What is GIDN?

GIDN, an acronym for Get It Done Now, is an online platform that connects you with Handymen near you through its mobile app. 

It has a simple-to-use interface that leverages the company’s global resources and advanced technology to reduce every search to 3 seconds. So you can find an artisan in 3 seconds or less on GIDN. 

In addition, being a mobile app means that you can request services on the go and find someone suited to your needs. 

One unique feature of GIDN is that you can get both individual and company artisans. For example, you can choose to work with a cleaning company instead of a cleaner. 

Artisans on GIDN are verified to ensure the safety of clients. There’s a wide variety of services to choose from in the app and it operates in Lagos and Abuja.

How does GIDN work?

As a service professional;

• Sign up on GIDN as a service provider
• Once registered, proceed to add your services and business details
• Click submit
• You’ll be required to make a yearly payment of ₦3,000 to join GIDN

As a client

• After signing up, select the “Field of Work” indicating the type of service professional you need. 
• You’ll be presented with a list of professionals in your selected location
• Select an artisan and click the “bell button” to confirm availability. There’s also an option to call
• You’ll receive a quote for the amount to pay. Make payment on the platform and schedule a date with the professional. 

Benefits of GIDN for clients

• Streamlined search for service professionals
• Easily find artisans in 3 seconds or less
• For clients on the premium plan, artisans are vetted and have undergone criminal and address background checks.
• Access to over 500 service professionals. 

Benefits of GIDN for Artisans

• Increased visibility for your business/service
• Opportunity to earn higher. 

What is LaborHack? 

LaborHack connects businesses and homeowners with skilled and certified workers. Unlike other platforms, LaborHack ensures that artisans on its platform are empowered, highly skilled, and certified to offer high-quality services. 

One of the ways they do this is by setting up thorough assessment processes to gauge their skill levels, certify them, and connect them to the right projects. 

Additionally, they offer soft skill training to these artisans which enables them to effectively communicate with clients. There are a variety of service providers on the platform including; welders, masons, painters, carpenters, solar technicians, AC technicians, plumbers, and more. 

Hiring an artisan is easy. All you have to do is share your request; then you’ll receive a quote and get matched with the best artisan around you. 

How does LaborHack Work? 

You can use LaborHack as both a business and a homeowner. To use LaborHack as a business;

• Signup on LaborHack
• Submit a request explaining the services you need
• Get matched with vetted artisans on LaborHack
• Enjoy clean and high-quality service. 

For homeowners;

• Submit a request explaining the services you need. (There are a few questions asked to help you explain your request clearly).
• Arrange an inspection to enable LaborHack to properly assess the services you require. 
• Receive a quote for the work to be done.
• After payment, your task will be done within the agreed timeline

Benefits of LaborHack for Businesses

• With over 4,500 artisans, you have a variety of artisans for your project.
• You receive premium service as LaborHack provides only skilled and vetted artisans. 
• Flexibility and scalability on each project.
• Priority support in case of disputes with artisans.
• Insurance on the job

Benefits of LaborHack for Homeowners [Individuals]

• No hidden costs or charges, what you see is what you get. 
• Easily find a skilled artisan in your location. 
• With over 4,500 artisans, you can find the perfect artisan for your needs. 

Benefits of LaborHack for Artisans

• Local and international certification opportunities
• Educational loans for Canada study plans
• Health Insurance for you on the job.
• Local and international job opportunities
• Soft skills training
• Tool Financing
• Opportunity to earn higher and relate with a diverse clientele.
• Timely payments for a job done.

LaborHack vs GIDN: Compared

When searching for artisans online, two platforms mostly used are LaborHack and GIDN. While LaborHack allows you to make service requests and matches you to the best artisans in your area, GIDN makes it easy for you to search and find artisans on its platform to get the job done. 

Essentially, LaborHack gets the job done for you, all you need to do is make a request. While GIDN, on the other hand, allows you to search for artisans yourself, set up a meeting, and get the job done. 

LaborHack has a rigorous process for vetting artisans on its platform to ensure you only work with skilled and globally certified workers while GIDN only offers vetted artisans to clients on the premium plan. 

Also read: How to Hire Artisans Online in Nigeria,4 steps that work

Let’s compare these platforms to help you make a better decision. 

1. Hiring an artisan

Hiring an artisan on LaborHack is easy. For individuals, all you have to do is make a service request with a clear description of what you need to be fixed. LaborHack requires that you set an inspection date and time, and indicate the urgency of the task to enable the experts to assess the scope of work to be done. 

LaborHack uses this information to match you with the best artisan around you and provides a quote for the job to be done. 

On GIDN, hiring an artisan is different. Firstly, you have to log in to the app and select the “Field of Work” for the type of artisan you need. Afterward, you select an artisan from the long list presented to you and proceed to either call or “buzz” the professional. 

2. Services rendered

While LaborHack and GIDN are great places to find handymen for quick fixes at home, they’re not yet one-stop shops for everything artisan and service professionals. 

On LaborHack, there are over 4500 artisans on their platform which makes them have more supply to match the demand of skilled artisans. 

Additionally, there are 15 different artisan categories which are; Electrical, Plumbing, HVAC, Furniture Making, POP, Painting, Tiling, DSTV, Cleaning, Fumigation, Solar Technicians, Aluminium Workers, Welders, Carpentry, and Masons. 

LaborHack also offers various packages for businesses and organizations; 

• LaborHack for Construction
• LaborHack for Maintenance
• LaborHack for Facility Managers
• LaborHack for Installations. 

These enable them to support a wide range of businesses, including; Construction Businesses

Facility Management Companies, Offices, SMEs, and Others.

Artisans are not left out as they receive various offerings from LaborHack including; 

• Locally and globally accepted certifications
• Educational loan support for those who want to move abroad and get into a school program.
• Local and international jobs to empower skilled workers to advance their careers. 

On GIDN, there are 20 different service professional categories including; House Decoration/Interior Decoration, Home Moving Services, Fumigation, and Pest Control

Cable TV Installation, Internet Tech Service, Building Services, and more.

There are also bundle services for individuals in the cleaning + laundry section. However, there are no special packages for businesses and organizations. Additionally, artisans don’t get any extra benefits for being on GIDN. 

3. Pricing

The pricing structures for both platforms are different. On LaborHack, prices are set after an inspection is done on the property.

On GIDN, prices depend on your agreement with the professional. After the job is completed, click the email button on your dashboard in between the call and buzz buttons. This will trigger an email with a payment link for you to make payments. 

Payments are made through GIDN, as they charge a 10% commission from artisans for every job done. 

Additionally, GIDN has various pricing structures. There’s a premium plan for clients which costs ₦900 per month while Artisans pay ₦3000 annually.

Lastly, it has a bundle pricing plan for the cleaning and laundry services. Here, prices start at ₦21,250 for 1 bedroom (clean + wash + fold). For more information about the bundle packages, check here. 

3. Quality of service

When it comes to the quality of service you get, LaborHack has a thorough process in place that ensures artisans are empowered to offer high-quality services. Artisans on LaborHack are vetted and certified by local and international education bodies, ensuring you only work with artisans proficient in their skills.

GIDN on the other hand, has a selective approach for offering quality service. They carry out background checks on the professionals included on its platform. Companies are verified with the Corporate Affairs Commission while all individuals are verified independently with their Banking Verification Number or Voter Identification Number. 

In addition, professionals who provide services to clients on the premium plan undergo a criminal record and address verification check. 

While this ensures the safety of clients, it’s not clear how the skills of professionals are assessed. 

4. Finding jobs as an artisan

The process of getting jobs as an artisan is easier on LaborHack compared to GIDN. 

When you register as an artisan on LaborHack, your skill set enables you to be matched with service requests online. So you don’t need to manually apply for jobs or wait for clients to find you. 

On GIDN, it’s different. Firstly you will need to create a profile highlighting your skills and location. Next, you will undergo a screening process before being matched to employers. 

You’ll also need to pay ₦3000 annually to be on the platform. Fortunately, you’re not applying for jobs. Instead, GIDN shows your services to clients in need of them. Think of it like a directory where people search for various services. 

In comparison, LaborHack wins this as they have an organized process in place, empowering artisans to provide high-quality service and matching these artisans to clients in need of them. 

5. Reliability

LaborHack recruits artisans both offline and online and offers them locally and internationally-recognized certification allowing them to work from anywhere in the world. 

When requesting a service, LaborHack requires that you indicate the urgency of the task and an inspection date & time that works for you. This ensures that they fully understand the context of the work you need to be done and deliver on time. 

They also provide insurance coverage for all certified artisans and clients so you can be more relaxed about the work to be done. LaborHack Guarantee also ensures that unsatisfactory jobs are redone at no extra cost. 

GIDN has a slightly different approach. Professionals on the platform undergo a screening process that depends on their business type. And if you’re unsatisfied with a job, GIDN offers priority support to ensure things are sorted. 

LaborHack vs GIDN: Pros and Cons

Do you go for LaborHack or GIDN when looking for the best artisans to hire? A deep dive into their pros and cons will help you decide. 

Pros

LaborHack

• All artisans are skilled, vetted, and certified
• Artisans can work both locally and internationally. 
• Find available artisans in your area on time. 
• Insurance for both artisans and clients.
• LaborHack Guarantee ensures that if you’re unsatisfied with a job, it’ll be completed to your satisfaction at no extra cost. 
• You can set up inspection dates to properly assess the scope of work.
• Has an online marketplace where you can find all types of quality materials for your projects.

GIDN

• Easily find any artisan or service provider in your location in 3 seconds or less.
• Easily include your services as an artisan and boost your online visibility.
• There’s a bundle package for cleaning + laundry services, thereby saving you more time and money.

Cons

LaborHack

• Does not showcase the details of artisans on the platform
• Most services require a 24-hour notice.
• Limited to Lagos alone

GIDN

• Clients struggle with finding the right artisans or service providers for work. 
• No quality assurance check.
• No insurance on the job for artisans and clients.
• Little to no earning opportunities for artisans.

LaborHack vs GIDN: Which One Is It?

LaborHack has a suite of solutions that enable them to provide top-notch services to clients. Artisans on its platform are locally and globally certified, giving them the freedom to work anywhere in the world. 

Additionally, they have various packages for businesses, enabling them to support a wide range of businesses, including; Construction businesses, Facility management companies, Offices, SMEs, and others.

GIDN on the other hand makes it easy to find handymen around you. However, the type of artisans you work with depends on your subscription plan. 

Clients on the free plan get access to screened artisans, as all artisans on the platform are screened. But you have to be on the premium plan to work with artisans who have undergone criminal and address background searches. 

In all, your choice of platform depends on your mode of work, budget, and plans. But if you want to enjoy high-quality service from artisans, LaborHack is a better option. Sign up and see just how easy it can be to work with artisans in Nigeria.