Meet the Man Who Once Ironed Clothes, now Launches a Startup with Friend that Digitizes the Warranty Process

While techie Sachin Chaugule was living in Malaysia, he encountered a seemingly minor issue in 2014: a warranty dispute with a well-known electronics brand. Despite having a photocopy of the warranty card on his phone, he was required to present the original physical copy.

“It was so necessary for me to have the physical copy of the warranty that I literally had to visit India to resolve the issue,” recalled Sachin, co-founder of eWarranty Solutions, in an exclusive interview with Startup Pedia.

This experience made him think about the inefficiencies in traditional warranty systems. What started as a personal inconvenience evolved into a vision for a seamless e-warranty solution to address global consumer grievances.

The Pune-based entrepreneur discussed the issue and his e-warranty idea with his colleague, Vaikunth Raul. Both were convinced of the idea's potential. By 2016, the duo had transitioned the concept from paper sketches to a registered company on June 16.

Though registered in 2016, eWarranty Solutions began as a small team of tech enthusiasts and was officially launched in 2022.

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What is the concept of eWarranty?

Everyone who has purchased a product has likely experienced the warranty process. Traditionally, warranty management relied on paper-based processes, where consumers received physical warranty cards.

This outdated method often led to misplaced documents and poor end-user tracking for manufacturers. The Pune-based startup addresses this by offering a fully digital alternative to the warranty process.

At its core, eWarranty provides manufacturers with a portal to upload product details such as images, specifications, warranty terms, user manuals, and FAQs. Manufacturers can generate unique QR codes for their products. These codes, affixed to the product or packaging, enable consumers to activate their warranties by scanning the code, uploading the invoice, and registering basic details via an app or web interface.

Features of eWarranty:

1. Direct End-User Data: Captures and organises consumer details, helping manufacturers understand their customer base better.
2. Cost Efficiency: Digitises documents like terms and conditions or user manuals, saving companies printing and distribution costs.
3. Real-Time Sales Insights: Live dashboards and BI reports enable tracking of sales data, helping manufacturers identify trends.
4. Product Recall and Extended Warranties: Facilitates efficient management of product recalls and offers extended warranty packages.
5. Replacement Tracker: Ensures replacements under warranty, retain the original purchase date, preventing misuse.
6. Packaging QR Codes: Tracks products from manufacturing to dealers, reducing theft or discrepancies during transit.
7. Rewards Program: Incentivises electricians, plumbers, or intermediaries to promote products, driving sales without fraud.
8. Preventive Maintenance Alerts: Notify customers and service providers about upcoming maintenance schedules for products like water filters or air conditioners.

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The eWarranty is useful for:

1. Manufacturers having a warranty on their products.
2. Service providers, including the manufacturers having service units providing warranty on services.
3. Pharma companies to comply with regulator requirements.
4. Packaged food companies must comply with regulator requirements on perishable items.

Pricing Model for eWarranty Services:

The Pune-based startup charges nothing from end consumers. For service providers and manufacturers, the pricing model includes:

1. One-Time Setup Fee: Ranges from ₹5,000 for smaller companies to ₹25,000 for larger organisations.
2. Transactional Fee: Based on a SaaS model, fees range from ₹0.60 to ₹10 per transaction, with discounts for higher volumes.

Additionally, manufacturers pay only for QR codes, with prices starting at ₹0.55 per code for bulk orders.

“We save upto 70% of warranty costs for product manufacturers and service providers,” said Vaikunth, co-founder of eWarranty, during the Startup Pedia interview. 

The Pune-based entrepreneur also emphasised the environmental benefits, noting that eWarranty will ultimately help conserve trees by transitioning to a fully digital process while also reducing its carbon footprint.

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The Journey So Far:

The eWarranty co-founders have been experimenting with their ideas and refining them through feedback from over 100+ manufacturers across diverse industries.

In 2018, they launched a prototype app to gather insights, which they later incorporated into a revamped application using Flutter during the pandemic. The refined version of digital warranty software (eWarranty) officially launched on January 4, 2022.

Aiming for Unicorn Status:

The Pune-based digital warranty startup aims to onboard 1,000 clients in the near future and expand to over 5,000 clients within two to three years.

“We are targeting ₹1,000 crore in revenue within the next five years,” said Vaikunth during the Startup Pedia interview. He further added that they are sure to become a Unicorn startup soon. 

Leaving an 8-figure salary to revolutionise the warranty process: 

Sachin, the brainchild behind the Pune-based digital warranty startup eWarranty, comes from a humble background. His father was a government clerk, and his mother sold vegetables to support the family. Sachin himself worked as an ironer and tutor during his early years.

Sachin met Vaikunth in Malaysia, and their friendship eventually led to co-founding eWarranty Solutions.

This Pune-based entrepreneur left his 8-figure salary to fully dedicate himself to his digital warranty startup, aiming to revolutionise the outdated warranty process.

Sachin expressed heartfelt gratitude towards his wife, who not only managed her job but also took on the responsibility of household expenses. Her unwavering support allowed him to focus on building his eWarranty startup with peace of mind.

At the end of the Startup Pedia interview, Sachin said, “If you want to go somewhere, you need to leave from somewhere.” 

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The founder Sachin Chaugule can be reached out at 9011809191 & [email protected].