Grab Enhances Service Dependability and Accessibility Amidst Rising Holiday Demand
Grab Philippines is preparing to outdo its previous holiday performance, reveals Country Head Ronald Roda. The leading superapp is implementing an extensive strategy to boost reliability, accessibility, and safety as demand surges in the year's closing months.
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| Grab Enhances Service Dependability and Accessibility Amidst Rising Holiday Demand |
Historical figures indicate that Grab Philippines witnesses at least a 19% surge in daily active users of its ride-hailing services each final quarter, with ride bookings increasing by up to 45% in December's second and third weeks. As for its delivery services, demand increases by 20% on major holiday dates, with a recent brand survey disclosing that 44% of Grab Philippines users depend on the app for their holiday meal deliveries.
Country Head Ronald Roda for Grab Philippines elaborates, “Our analyses and research reveal a single perception: Filipinos simply want to be present this Christmas – fully engaged with families and friends as they celebrate the most cherished holiday. Grab aims to bring our kababayans closer to their loved ones, assisting them in creating unique moments this festive season.” Grab’s Holiday Trends study underscores the desire to be together during the holiday season, pointing out that Filipinos attend an average of four gatherings to mark Christmas and New Year.
The brand highlights that being a dependable and accessible platform is a challenging task. "For some, the festive season lasts two or three months. For Grab, it's a journey that spans over 10 months when you factor in all the preparations leading up to the season. We have been preparing since January of this year — collaborating with our regulators for a more balanced demand and supply, and introducing a series of technologies to provide our consumers with a superior festive experience," Roda adds.
Intensifying Partnerships to Fulfill Demand
While peak-time demand may inevitably exceed current supply, the leading superapp remains confident that its service reliability this year will significantly improve compared to previous holidays.
Maya and Grab Join Forces to Provide Instant Credit to Filipinos
Roda expresses gratitude towards the Land Transportation Franchising and Regulatory Board (LTFRB) for its continuous cooperation and supportive efforts. With the release of new TNVS slots in August, Grab has been inducting new driver-partners – a process that takes three to five months.
Apart from the challenge of balancing demand and supply, Grab is also considering the potential impact of holiday-induced traffic congestion on the earnings and productivity of driver-partners. Platform data show that drivers will need to spend 14% more time on average for the same trip distance during most of the December holiday rush.
"While we continue to prioritize our services' accessibility, we are also closely monitoring the fairness of our fares to ensure that our driver-partners can earn sustainably and viably this festive season. By ensuring this, we hope to inspire more drivers to continue serving our passengers despite the traffic situation, helping maintain service reliability on our platform,” Roda points out. “The festive season is also vital for our driver-partners, and we are dedicated to helping them capitalize on the increased demand to achieve sufficient, if not above-average earnings, for themselves and their families.”
Grab assures users that fares will remain fair, complying with the regulatory matrix implemented by the LTFRB. To aid in maintaining the accessibility of its ride-hailing services, Grab has also broadened the coverage of its GrabUnlimited subscription service, which now includes an everyday 8% discount on GrabCar rides. Moreover, as part of its affordability commitment, Grab has introduced GrabCar Saver – a cost-effective mobility solution that is cheaper than a standard GrabCar ride.
The leading superapp has also recently introduced its Group Rides feature, which not only optimizes the utilization of its fleet through the carpooling model, but also effectively lowers fares by allowing groups of four to share their ride’s base fare.
Leveraging Technology for an Enhanced Holiday Grab Experience
In the lead-up to the holidays, Grab has also launched several new features that improve access to rides and food deliveries for Filipino consumers.
This array of new technologies includes Advance Booking, guaranteeing timely rides to the airport that can be booked up to seven days in advance—a perfect solution for holiday travelers.
In line with its affordability commitment, Grab has also introduced several new features. The GrabFood Group Order feature facilitates collective meal orders for families and friends, offering escalating discounts that can reach up to 15% as the number of participants increases. GrabFood Saver helps users save on delivery fees, while the Large Orders option allows for ordering larger quantities of food and essentials for group celebrations, complete with special deals. These features are designed to effectively manage the expected surge in delivery demand during the Christmas season. “Many of our kababayans are eager to spend the Holidays with their loved ones, and we understand their expectations of us during this season. With that in mind, we have dedicated our time, effort, and expertise to enhance their Grab experience - allowing every Filipino to be more present this yuletide season,” Roda concluded.
