Triton, car washing becomes ecological and responsible

In major African capitals, car wash centers often mean long wait times for customers and excessive water consumption. To address this problem, in Benin, Triton offers a mobile and eco-responsible car wash service.

Triton, eco-friendly car wash mobile scooter

The Triton is a mobile washing scooter that moves towards the customer to make his car clean. Based in Cotonou, the start-up is changing the habits of motorists by coming towards them to wash their cars.

Triton’s promise to its customers: save them time and ensure their safety. Time, because they no longer need to move to a washing center and wait their turn to have their cars washed. With the Triton service, customers can get on with their business while cleaning their vehicle. In terms of safety, customers no longer have to leave their car keys to anyone.

Environmentally and socially responsible washing service

The start-up Triton is part of an eco-responsible dynamic at all levels.

First, Triton’s wash department uses less than 30 liters of water for a car. A huge water saving compared to 75 or even 100 liters of water used in conventional washing centers.

By traveling to customers, scooters generate energy, which is stored to then operate the water pump and vacuum used during cleaning.

In addition, the company uses biodegradable soap made from residues of agricultural products. Organic soap is made locally by women, who have become true entrepreneurs. After training them in the techniques of making their soap, they went into sales. Thanks to this new activity, they manage to take care of their families.

Triton’s strength lies in his teams. Young employees: more than 70% are under 28 years of age and none are 35 years of age. The team is made up of 25 people: mainly washers who go to customers to make their cars clean, but also salesmen, logisticians and psychologist/sociologist to supervise washers who are poorly educated. Moreover, the start-up invests continuously in the training and personal development of its washers: improvement of their knowledge, their professional consciousness and their commercial development potential.

In addition to an environmentally friendly approach, this young company is responding to the problem of unemployment with the creation in 1 year of 25 direct jobs and 5 indirect jobs.

Africa-wide development projects

At the initiative of this start-up, Jean Philippe Houssou, an engineer with a very inspiring background and a determination to the test. This young man from Benin was educated in the United States, between New York and Boston, and worked there in finance and in strategy consulting. At the same time, he started to become an agribusiness entrepreneur in his home country. From his various failures, Jean-Philippe says he learned the realities on the ground in Benin and West Africa. Based on his experiences, he decided to return in 2016 and has been working since then to find solutions to problems related to his environment.

Currently, Triton has more than 400 customers who use this service at least once a month in Cotonou. The Triton app was launched in early 2017 to allow customers to make appointments at times that are most convenient for them. The start-up is working to bring new offerings to market and wants to expand to other countries very soon.

At the moment, the company is looking for partners, mentors and obviously funding to support its development.

Finally on a positive note, Jean Philippe’s advice to all entrepreneurs: ” be strong mentally. It’s all about… “ 

More information about Triton: http://www.triton-group.net/

To be rediscovered on DJOUMAN’s blog: Access to drinking water in Africa

Photo credit: Triton group