Car-sharing app Grab said it has activated a range of mobility solutions aimed at optimizing fleet utilization to meet surging demand with the onset of the Christmas season.
Historically, Grab said it consistently observes a notable increase in demand for its mobility services during the holidays. GrabCar demand is expected to increase by at least 20% in December 2023, with a spike of up to +45% in the second and third week.
The spike in demand may serve as a challenge for supply allocation, which Grab seeks to address through its vehicle maximization strategy.
Ronald Roda, chief operating officer of Grab Philippines, said the company leverages its data, platform, and technology to understand and foresee the challenges faced by stakeholders. This, he said, enables Grab to take proactive steps in developing solutions that directly address these concerns.
“Every Filipino should be able to partake in the long-lasting holiday festivities with the help and support of Grab’s mobility services,” said Roda.
Grab sad it has activated an array of mobility solutions that optimize the utilization of its current GrabCar fleet. This approach enhances platform reliability, tackling the demand-supply imbalance.
Among these solutions is GrabShare. Relaunched in Q1 of 2023, this carpooling service matches passengers headed in the same direction to share a singular vehicle.
If unmatched, the passenger is then instead allocated a GrabCar but with a discounted fare made possible by the GrabShare Match Guarantee offer. GrabShare is currently available in Metro Manila and Metro Cebu.
Passengers from the airport, particularly Overseas Filipino Workers coming home to celebrate the holidays in the Philippines, can also expect a reliable GrabCar booking experience via the GrabAirport feature.
In response to the shortage of safe and transparent transportation in the airports, Grab worked with airport authorities and the LTFRB in developing GrabAirport – an on-demand ride-hailing service supported by a dedicated Grab fleet for airport pick-ups and drop-offs.
In order to cater to time-constrained passengers who require prompt allocation of vehicles, Grab is introducing Multi-Taxi Type (MTT) booking.
By enabling the platform to search for vehicle allocation from a range of Grab’s mobility options such as GrabCar Four-Seater, GrabCar Six-Seater, and GrabTaxi, MTT bookings may significantly reduce allocation time by 20 to 30% as shown during the pilot runs of the feature.
The enhancement ensures a more reliable and efficient booking experience for passengers, especially those who are in a hurry.
Grab said it works closely with the Land Transportation Franchising and Regulatory Board (LTFRB) in growing the current driver pool – an integral factor in achieving equilibrium between demand and supply on the platform.
This year, following the opening of new slots by LTFRB, Grab was able to grow its fleet by 40%. In time for the Christmas rush, Grab said it continues to onboard drivers who were able to secure a slot from the most recent pool of 10,200 TNVS franchises issued by LTFRB last August. 4,000 new driver-partners have been activated from this pool thus far.
“While we grow our driver pool to the pre-pandemic number, we are taking proactive steps to ensure a well-balanced platform that delivers on its promise of safety, reliability and convenience even amid seasonal changes in the market landscape,” Roda noted.
Meanwhile, homegrown two-wheel ride-hailing company Move It, with its strategic partnership with Grab, is also well-positioned to help address the demand of holiday commuters.
Move It said its fleet of professional rider-partners is capable of offering above-par MC taxi services to commuters as it maintains a 99.999% road safety record.
The Move It app also touts a wide roster of safety features such as Share Your Ride, 24/7 Help Centre, Emergency Response, and Voice Over IP (VOIP) calling.
Another strategic approach to meeting demand is ensuring riders are productive on the road. With its Back-to-Back Booking feature, the Move It Driver App allows rider-partners to accept a new booking even as they accomplish an ongoing one. This technology maximizes the online hours of riders, who currently can accomplish up to four rides per hour.
Move It is continuously growing its fleet in Metro Manila, Metro Cebu, and Cagayan de Oro while adhering to the slots allocated for each player.
Move It said it also constantly engages with its rider-partners in various knowledge-sharing and capacity-building programs on road safety and passenger handling, such as webinars and content on the Move It Academy.
