Grab Was Rejected By Taxi Operators, But It Has Since Beaten Uber In South Asia And Is The Market Leader In That Region.

“Today’s youth is tomorrow’s future,” is perhaps one of the most well-known statements, which can be seen practically anywhere. The younger generation is expected to create a better tomorrow by solving today’s issues, whether they have social or economic roots.

The rise of Grab is the story of a Malaysian start-up that enhanced the city’s social climate while also making cab booking more affordable and practical. The taxi sector in Malaysia had a bad reputation since customers were occasionally overcharged, women’s safety was an issue, and drivers’ financial situations were not ideal.

Anthony and Hooi Ling noted the crisis in their city and then began a business plan to create a ride-sharing service. In the on-demand industry, it has become a market leader thanks to ground-breaking innovations and the data revolution.

Grab has been a fierce competitor for Uber in South Asia from its beginnings. Due to a greater understanding of the customer’s needs, it swiftly gained popularity, overtaking Uber in South Asian markets.

Grab began operations as a ride-hailing service but has since expanded into several other sectors, solidifying its position as an on-demand “super app”. It has developed into a platform that offers numerous on-demand services all under one roof while operating in numerous locations throughout numerous nations.

Grab has even eclipsed Uber as the most widely used ride-hailing app in Southeast Asia, reaching the designation of a “Decacorn” — a company with a value of over $10 billion.

ANTHONY TAN AND HOOI LING TAN FOUNDED GRAB

Anthony Tan and Hooi Ling Tan met while both were students at Harvard Business School. Despite coming from a rich family, Anthony longed to own his own business. However, his family intended for him to work for the family business when he returned from Harvard as predicted.

After returning, Anthony began working as the head of marketing at Tan Chong Motors, his family’s business. Having seen Asia’s transportation companies decline, he had the idea to launch his start-up similar to those that were successful in the United States.

When he discovered that his friends and family were grumbling about it, he knew he had to act. He called Hooi Ling Tan, a Harvard classmate who drafted a business proposal.

Anthony Tan and Tan Hooi Ling, two other Harvard graduates, introduced the “My Teksi” app to Malaysia in 2012 to make taxi journeys safer there.

THE INITIAL HURDLES OF GRAB

Both Anthony and Hooi Ling initially encountered several rejections when they ventured out into the world and began contacting taxi firms. Nobody was very excited about the concept. One of the major problems Anthony and Tan had to deal with at the outset of their Grabtaxi endeavor was teaching the drivers how to use technology.

There was a lot to deal with while traveling in tight taxis in the sun, assisting unskilled drivers to grasp the technology and overcoming their reluctance to use it. The drivers weren’t wealthy enough to purchase smartphones, and they had no idea how to use the internet or GPS.

As a result, they had to pay for the phone and educate them on how to use it. In addition, there were additional business setbacks such as legacy problems, licensing, permission, and government approval concerns. They found it difficult to persuade even the proprietors of taxi fleets.

After repeated denials, one taxi firm with thirty taxis agreed to give it a try. Even more, Harvard Business School gave them $25,000 to launch their company and mobile app.

In 2012, the company finally got its start in a small, rented storage unit in Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia. They started as My Teksi but it later became GrabTaxi.

GRAB STARTED DOING BETTER

After some time, Malaysians enthusiastically adopted GrabTaxi, giving the creators inspiration to accomplish more.

In August 2013, GrabTaxi opened up operations in the Philippines. In the same year, it also launched in Singapore and Thailand. With the introduction of 100 BYD e6 electric taxis in 2014, Grab and HDT Holdings created the largest fleet of e-taxis in Southeast Asia.

In 2014, GrabTaxi maintained its growth and expansion into new countries, initially starting in Ho Chi Minh City, Vietnam, in February and Jakarta, Indonesia, in June.

To address the absence of public transportation during rush hours, the firm introduced GrabCar as an alternate mode of transportation in May 2014 through a certified partner. GrabCar uses personal automobiles rather than taxis. GrabTaxi introduced its first GrabBike service in Ho Chi Minh City in November 2014 as a test run.

By 2015, GrabBike’s motorbike service rides had become widely available in Indonesia and Vietnam. For both its drivers and passengers, GrabBike also offers medical insurance. In the Philippines, the business introduced GrabCar+ in February 2015 as a service that offers a fleet of more expensive vehicles. Grab debuted its GrabExpress courier service in November 2015.