Kandua Launches South Africa’s First AI-Powered Home Services Companion

Kandua, a wholly owned subsidiary of Santam, has launched Jess, an AI-powered home companion designed to simplify home maintenance while improving trust, transparency and safety in South Africa’s home services sector.

Described as the country’s first AI home companion, Jess guides homeowners through the entire repair and maintenance journey using a conversational interface. Through its “Ask Jess” feature, users can describe a home problem and receive assistance in identifying the issue. If professional help is needed, the platform’s “Book a Job” function connects users with trusted, vetted service providers.

According to Vinolan Pillay, CEO of Kandua, the platform combines artificial intelligence, data and cloud technologies to create a personalised experience that replaces fragmented booking processes.

“We saw an opportunity to rethink how homeowners engage with home services,” Pillay said. “Jess creates a personalised, context-aware experience that delivers better outcomes for homeowners while unlocking new value for service providers.”

Beyond diagnosing problems, Jess provides users with cost estimates, highlights potential complications and supports them throughout the booking process, helping reduce abandoned requests and enabling more informed decisions.

The platform also introduces a rigorous vetting process for service providers. Before joining the marketplace, contractors must undergo identity verification, criminal background checks, certification validation and business registration checks.

In addition, Kandua has replaced the traditional pay-per-lead model with one-to-one job matching, ensuring service providers are only connected to work they are qualified to complete. The company says this reduces wasted time and costs for both homeowners and contractors.

The launch follows Santam’s acquisition of Kandua in 2024 as part of the insurer’s strategy to accelerate digital innovation and strengthen support for small businesses and skilled service providers.

Pillay said Jess is ultimately designed to create a more trusted and efficient home services marketplace while helping homeowners protect, maintain and improve their properties through AI-driven assistance.

//Staff writer