Grab commits to long-term investment in Vietnam
Grab commits to long-term investment in Vietnam
Grab co-founder Tan Hooi Ling affirmed that the ride-hailing firm would continue to invest in Vietnam and contribute to the country’s innovation process.
Supporting Vietnam’s transport system
Ling told local press last week that Grab is specialised in researching and developing applications in technology-based platforms. Grab is always looking to partner with local governments to develop the most efficient transportation and mobile payments for Vietnamese customers.
With the development of a research and development (R&D) centre in Vietnam, Grab’s global R&D community will focus on solutions to optimise the efficiency of the transport sector. As a result, customers can have access to a wide range of vehicles with more convenient rides and affordable services. Meanwhile, Grab’s driver partners can utilise different services to serve customer demand and improve their own livelihoods.
Grab’s two-year pilot programme will be finished in January 2018. Regarding this matter, Ling expressed gratitude to the Vietnamese government. When the pilot project started two years ago, Vietnam was one of the first countries to adopt ride-hailing technology in such an open and transparent way. Grab is willing to share best practices based on data collected from the programme, which will facilitate innovation and new technology application in Vietnam.
To tackle traffic congestions, Grab plans to launch Grab Shuttle in the country to better utilise vehicle capacity. Grab Shuttle can increase the number of passengers to seven people in a small bus. Grab Shuttle uses algorithms to arrange suitable routes for customers who are travelling at the same direction and at the same time. Following a local debut in Singapore, the government lauded Grab Shuttle’s effectiveness as well as encouraged the widespread use of the feature.
Meanwhile, JustGrab has been launched in Hanoi and Danang city, which combines both GrabTaxi and GrabCar in a single feature. JustGrab will offer faster e-hailing services for customers, while improve the livelihoods of driver partners.
The co-founder stated that Grab not only provides quick and safe rides to customers but also offers them better access to vehicles. The ride-hailing firm continues its efforts to develop sustainably in Vietnam.
Committing to long-term investment
According to Ling, Grab has been active in Vietnam’s 4.0 industrial revolution. With its technological solutions, the ride-hailing firm helps cut down customers’ commuting time by 51 per cent, while boost the hourly income of driver partners by 55 per cent compared to the national average.
“In addition to creating thousands of new jobs in Vietnam, Grab has invested in the new R&D centre so that local engineers and high-tech workers will be engaged in Grab’s global R&D community,” she added. Grab has invested in six R&D centres in Seattle (US), Beijing (China), Bangalore (India), Jakarta (Indonesia), Singapore, and Ho Chi Minh City. These R&D centres will explore new digital solutions to support Vietnam in developing its transport infrastructure.
To move Vietnam towards 4.0 in the long-term, Grab will expand investment in the country in the near future. The ride-hailing firm commits to doing the best for Vietnam and its people.
In the first ten months of 2017, Grab has contributed nearly VND140 billion ($6.16 million) to the Vietnamese state budget, according to Ling.
In addition to ride-hailing services, Grab plans to launch its mobile wallet payment system known as Grab Pay in Vietnam next year.
“Grab has been working in collaboration with several banks in Vietnam to promote online payment services to local customers. If Grab Pay is green-lighted in early 2018, it is expected to serve essential customer demand as well as contribute to develop Vietnam’s knowledge-based smart economy,” she said.
