Robert Preville, CEO and founder of KWIPPED, is an entrepreneur at heart. “I’m passionate about solving business problems with smart, tech-driven solutions,” said Preville. During the development of his last two start-ups, a major business problem, or opportunity, presented itself to him.
“Practically every business and profession, across every industry, requires some kind of equipment to produce and deliver their products and services. In fact, many businesses and professionals simply couldn’t perform their jobs without the proper equipment. But, equipment is often expensive, eventually breaks down, needs servicing and quickly becomes obsolete as technology rapidly advances. Access to the right and best equipment is critical and constant for business success, but gaining access creates questions and challenges,” Preville said.
Preville began to wonder … what if we could leverage technology to develop a B2B equipment marketplace where businesses that need equipment can rent, lease or buy from a network of suppliers that have equipment? This idea became KWIPPED. KWIPPED is a two-sided online marketplace that facilitates B2B equipment rentals, leases and purchases across a wide range of industry verticals including: biotech and pharma, engineering, aerospace, environmental test, power utility, construction, restaurant and many more.
“However, TechNation readers may be interested to know that medical equipment is among our largest, most active markets. I’d have to look at the data, but medical equipment may be our number one market today. Our medical customers include hospitals, health care organizations and private practitioners looking to rent, lease or buy medical equipment,” Preville stated.
TechNation found out more about KWIPPED through a question-and-answer session.
Q: What is the main focus of KWIPPED?
A: Well, let me use an analogy or two to explain. There are people that need rides and people with cars willing to give rides, and Uber leveraged technology to connect them and facilitate transactions between them very efficiently. There are travelers looking for lodging and people with rooms available for lodging, and Airbnb leveraged technology to connect them and facilitate transactions between them – also very efficiently. Furthermore, there are businesses that need medical equipment and medical supply businesses that have equipment, and KWIPPED is leveraging technology to connect them and facilitate transactions between them with unprecedented efficiency. So, to answer the question more directly, we are focused on delivering a very efficient way for businesses that need medical equipment to access it in the smartest possible way.
Q: Can you tell us a little about the services KWIPPED offers?
A: We’ve proactively sourced, vetted and recruited hundreds of reputable and reliable medical equipment suppliers, mostly in the U.S. and a few internationally, to join KWIPPED’s supplier network. Collectively, this network offers rentals, leases and purchases of virtually every make, model and category of medical equipment imaginable. Some of our suppliers offer rentals, others offer leases through KWIPPED’s special leasing program, and many offer rentals, leases and purchases. So, here is how the simple process works:
KWIPPED customers submit a single Request For Quote (RFQ) to rent, lease or buy a piece of medical equipment (they can also ask to compare rent-versus-lease-versus-buy quotes to help in their decision making).
The RFQ is automatically sent to those KWIPPED medical equipment suppliers that can fulfill the request, and those suppliers are invited to return quotes to the customer through KWIPPED’s user-friendly platform.
Customers are notified as supplier quotes arrive and the customers can compare multiple quotes from competing suppliers, side-by-side and easily select the equipment solution and payment method that aligns best with their needs at that time.
KWIPPED’s platform provides an end-to-end solution that accounts for every aspect of rental, lease and purchase transactions including: rental scheduling, lease applications and approvals, shipping logistics, security deposits, payment management and customer service.
Q: Do you have any specific goals that you want KWIPPED to achieve in the near future?
A: The efficiency that KWIPPED delivers is particularly attractive to organizations that have frequent equipment needs. We have a goal to become the go-to resource for purchasing and procurement directors at organizations in the medical industry, such as hospitals, emergency clinics and other health care and medical facilities. Ultimately, we want KWIPPED to be the most recognized and trusted brand in the medical equipment procurement industry.
For more information, visit www.kwipped.com.
