Imagine having the perfect reminder and task management system tailored just for you. While it’s relatively easy to find a tool that suits your work team, convincing friends or family to join you on the same app is another story. Enter Karo, an iOS app that aims to bridge the gap by making task management seamless, even if the other person isn’t using the app. Aptly named Karo, which translates to “do it” in Hindi, this app is designed to streamline task delegation among your contacts.
Karo is the brainchild of Mustafa Yusuf, an India-based developer who previously created another task management app called Tasks. More complex and robust, Tasks didn’t quite offer the same ease of use when it came to assigning tasks to people directly from your address book. Frustrated by this limitation, Yusuf embarked on creating Karo.
“No app allowed me to easily delegate and track tasks for people in my contacts, like my accountant, sister, plumber, or electrician,” Yusuf says. “I wanted a tool to send them tasks, have them receive these on whichever app they already use—like WhatsApp or Messages—and get notified when they act on it. Instead of me constantly reminding them, I’d prefer the app to send automatic reminders.”
Before Karo, Yusuf found himself using WhatsApp or other chat apps to nudge people to complete tasks manually. This not only became cumbersome but also made it easy to lose track of tasks.
Karo offers a user-friendly interface resembling a chat conversation, making task input straightforward. Utilizing natural language processing, it effortlessly recognizes inputs like “tomorrow” or “10 am” to create time-specific tasks. You can also assign tasks to specific people by tagging them, or use dedicated buttons to add dates, times, and contacts.
An added benefit is the ability to attach images, videos, PDFs, or voice notes to tasks. Plus, Karo incorporates AI capabilities, enabling users to break down large tasks into smaller, manageable ones or even help plan a trip by listing necessary to-dos.
When you assign a task to someone, they receive notifications either through the Karo app, WhatsApp chat, or text message, depending on their app usage. Reminders are sent when tasks are due, as well as two and four days post-deadline for scheduled tasks. For non-scheduled tasks, reminders come at intervals of two, four, and six days.
The main screen of Karo organizes tasks by contact, creating a conversation-like interface where you can see past and pending tasks. An activity tab lets you stay updated on all tasks you’re involved in.
Despite dedicated solutions existing for teams and organizations, many businesses, especially in India, rely on WhatsApp groups to manage tasks. Karo’s seamless integration with WhatsApp and its group-creating feature make it an attractive option for such users. Some firms have already adopted Karo; for example, a dry fruit distributor in Mumbai uses the app for task assignment related to packaging and delivery, with team members checking off tasks through WhatsApp.
Karo is available for free, with premium features like group task management, themes, and attachment options behind a paywall. The premium version costs $4.99 per month, $39.99 annually, or $99.99 for lifetime access, with introductory offers currently available.
Plans for an Android version are in the works, but the app’s ability to send reminders to contacts even if they don’t use Karo is already a game-changer.
Give Karo a try and experience hassle-free task management that keeps everyone in the loop, regardless of the platform they prefer.
