Grab and Samsung sign MOU to drive digital inclusion in Southeast Asia

Grab and Samsung will work on improving ride-hailing services and online payments

Grab and Samsung will work together on a wide range of initiatives to bring the benefits of technology, such as enhanced customer experience and improved income opportunities, to millions of consumers and Grab driver-partners across Southeast Asia.

Grab is the market leader in ride-hailing services in Southeast Asia, an industry that is one of the fastest growing Internet services sectors and is expected to be a $25-billion market by 2022 in this region.

As part of the wide-ranging strategic collaboration, Grab and Samsung will develop customised solutions for the ride-hailing industry, including micro-financing schemes for Grab’s over 2.3 million driver-partners, improved customer booking, and in-car experience, and new mobility solutions.

The two companies will also work together to expand into Southeast Asia’s fragmented mobile payments ecosystem and provide a mobile payments solution that will serve the needs of consumers in Southeast Asia.

Anthony Tan, Group CEO and Co-founder of Grab, said, “Southeast Asia is home to the world’s fastest growing emerging markets, yet many in the smaller towns and cities do not have easy access to the growing digital economy. Mobile technology can bridge the infrastructural divide and make economic growth more inclusive."

"Samsung is one of the world’s most innovative technology companies, and we are thrilled to partner with them to empower more people in Southeast Asia to improve their livelihoods and provide more digital services for everyone on the Grab platform,” he added.

The strategic collaboration will be rolled out in phases across all countries in Southeast Asia where Grab operates. More than 2.3 million Grab driver-partners in the region will have access to a micro-financing programme focused on giving them access to robust mobile technology, which will reduce the cost of purchasing a smart phone and also lower on-going maintenance costs with superior software and security features.

To make Grab’s services more accessible to commuters and customers in Southeast Asia, Grab will introduce more GrabKiosks and GrabBooths in busy consumer hubs, such as shopping malls, hotels, and airports. These will feature Samsung devices with the Grab app pre-installed, allowing individuals and concierge services to book a Grab ride for themselves or others, even when they do not have data connectivity.

The devices at GrabKiosks and GrabBooths will be rolled out in Vietnam and Singapore in the first quarter of 2018 and other countries in Southeast Asia later in the year.

In addition, Grab and its content partners will pilot in-car multimedia services in Singapore, installing Samsung tablets inside cars for customers to view infotainment content, if they choose to, during the ride. This will be piloted throughout Southeast Asia this year.

Grab Vietnam refutes accusations of tax evasion Country head of Grab Vietnam Jerry Lim responded to accusations of tax evasion and confirmed to VIR that Grab has fulfilled its tax obligations in ...

Uber and Grab subject to tax in Hanoi Uber and Grab, which have offices in Ho Chi Minh City and other cities and provinces, will have to pay taxes to the Hanoi People’s ...

Hanoi constricts Uber and Grab operations Hanoi will request ride-hailing application providers Uber and Grab to publicise their fares like traditional taxi brands.