With concrete plans to implement an RFID-only policy before the year ends, the Metro Pacific Tollways Corporation has shown that it values the health and safety of both the motorists and their employees above all else.
“We intend to deliver on our commitment to public service,” said Celeste Pia Alimon, MPTC Asst. Vice President for Branding & Communication.
“The no-contact entries and exits on NLEX, SCTEX, CAVITEX, C-5 Southlink and CALAX minimize the risk of exposure to the virus.”
The leading tollway developer in the country holds good on its promise of “malasakit” for its partners and public with its new product, the now-available and easily accessible Easytrip Stick-It-Yourself RFID.
Launched by Easytrip, a subsidiary of MPTC, the Easytrip Stick-It-Yourself RFID can be conveniently purchased online from Shopee and Lazada.
With the heightened anxiety bordering on paranoia brought about by the public health crisis, MPTC has encouraged people to go cashless. “The less contact, the better,” said Alimon. “Motorists’ safety is paramount.”
In a pandemic world, reducing the practice of handling cash significantly cuts down on the spread of the virus. Today, a tool like the Easytrip Stick-It-Yourself RFID has become even more relevant. With the rise of the new normal, the value of digital payments has become very timely and comes highly recommended by the World Health Organization.
Earlier, the government’s top transport official, DOTr Secretary Arthur Tugade, called for maximized “digitization” of tollway transactions in a bid to reduce virus transmission. Alimon said that MPTC’s RFID sticker aptly contributes to meeting government’s goals.
To ensure a seamless transition into a new way of doing things, Easytrip’s R&D team spearheaded the first phase of development. Using questions such as “can we buy our RFID card and install it ourselves?” and “can we give it to someone as a gift?” as a springboard, the company was able to create a product that went beyond addressing these initial concerns.
At a time when close physical interactions are discouraged, the Easytrip Stick-It-Yourself RFID addresses the increasing consumer anxiety and the growing need for touchless transactions.
Easytrip Asst. Marketing Manager Trishia Garduno expounds on what customers have been raving about when it comes to their new product.
“In particular, they love how simple it is to install and how to use. Each purchase comes with a positioning guide, user guide, and RFID card with their initial load of P500. There are reading materials available as well in the official Easytrip Facebook and website, including a step-by-step order process, an FAQ form, and even a how-to video guide for customers.”
MPTC’s after-sales care is commendable, as it rounds up the product’s appeal quite nicely. The service team makes it a point to call customers a day or two after their orders have been shipped to check whether the items have been received.
In case customers have any questions, the team walks them through the process and addresses their concerns. What’s more, MPTC encourages them to drop by any Easytrip station for a free check-up in case of other doubts. Toll plaza personnel are also available to assist motorists should they encounter a problem while passing through the lane – of course, observing “social distancing.”
“We’ve noticed a spike in engagement and inquiries,” Garduño cheerfully recounted. “It overwhelmed us at first, but we didn’t see it as a bad thing. It was great, of course, that there’s good feedback on the product. We’ve made sure our response time was as short as possible.”
Despite the quarantine guidelines implemented across the country over the last few months, MPTC has ensured the continuous movement of goods and unhampered traffic flow on their roads. The coronavirus may have altered the way we do things but MPTC has made it clear online transactions will not, in any way, affect their quality of service.
MPTC, too, guarantees its relationship with its motorists extends beyond the Check Out Cart button. “Customer focus is one of our core values and we believe it’s important to pay close attention to what the public says,” Alimon said. As socially responsible members of the community, Metro Pacific Tollways acknowledges their role in protecting the public’s right to health and has every intent of delivering good on their part.
“As the product evolves, so does our service,” she added. “It’s not all about building roads – we are building meaningful relationships too.”
