Global ride-hailing company inDrive is optimistic about its operations in the Philippines despite facing intense competition from established players and emerging new mobility apps.
Natalia Makarenko, InDrive marketing director for Asia Pacific (APAC), said in an email interview that the Philippines presents significant opportunities for the company, despite market challenges.
She highlighted the growing demand for ride-hailing services in underserved areas as a prime avenue for expansion.
Makarenko, who boasts over 14 years of experience in business, marketing and customer experience worldwide, emphasized inDrive’s commitment to offering both passengers and partner drivers freedom of choice, setting it apart from competitors.
Following its launch in Metro Manila, inDrive plans to expand its services to neighboring cities and key regions across the Philippines including Cebu, Davao and Pampanga.
Besides Metro Manila, inDrive also operates in Bacolod, Baguio, Iloilo, Butuan and Cagayan de Oro.
The company also aims to introduce other inDrive services to the Philippine market, catering to the specific needs of Filipino consumers.
For now, inDrive’s priority is to onboard more partner drivers to increase the availability of ride-hailing services and create more job opportunities for Filipinos.
“In addition to ride-hailing, we are also exploring additional mobility options to better meet the growing demand for more efficient transportation and delivery solutions,” Makarenko said.
“Furthermore, we are looking into the implementation of online wallets to enhance convenience for our users. By expanding our services and ensuring that they resonate with the unique needs of the Filipino market, we believe we can significantly increase our market presence and better serve our community,” she said.
To attract more drive partners, inDrive maintained a 0 to 10-percent commission rate depending on the city.
“By far, this is the lowest in the local market, allowing our partner drivers to keep more of their earnings. This has been instrumental in attracting new partner drivers and fostering loyalty,” Makarenko said.
“Beyond financial incentives, we recently launched our ‘Ka-gulong, Kita Tayo!’ campaign, which focuses on driver welfare. We’ve partnered with groups like Laban TNVS to give partner drivers a platform to voice their concerns and access support systems” she said.
The company aims to onboard 16,000 partner-drivers in Metro Manila by year-end, up from the current 8,000.
By allowing users to select their rides, inDrive aims to enhance the overall experience and satisfaction. “This approach will not only apply to ride-hailing but will also extend to other services we plan to introduce soon,” Makarenko said.
“Additionally, we are committed to actively listening to user feedback and continuously refining our offerings. Our goal is to create a seamless and empowering experience that meets the diverse needs of our community while reinforcing our commitment to freedom of choice,” she said.
The company, which launched operations in the Philippines in June, operates in over 700 cities across more than 46 countries.
