Competitive Promotions among Taxi Services
Image Source: https://www.illust-box.jp/sozai/51370/
It has been about more than a year that services which you can call a taxi via mobile phones emerged in Myanmar.
The first one was Oway Ride. Next, Hello Cabs.
During their time, the business was not very much in demand, lesser-known.
And, those who knew didn’t pay much attention.
Their activities failed to attract people, they didn’t make enough effort.
Four months ago, large foreign companies entered into the market.
When the American Company ‘Uber’ with market coverage in most of the world, and ‘Grab’ making success in most Southeast Asian countries got involved, they got through the public with momentum.
And people do try using.
“How would this service be like?”
“Will it be that easy as advertised and safe enough like they say?”,
And some things like that.
And it is true that they got a bit excited because famous foreign companies offer services. In this way, the business becomes popular.
Taxi drivers also become interested as well.
At the start, because taxi drivers were having hard times and so they come into cooperation with the idea whether they would be okay in one way or another.
And it is good for all since it is not quite difficult and complicated to work together.
The company needs the vehicles and the drivers.
And it’s another stream of income for the drivers.
And yet this is only the beginning, more orders will come later.
Because the four companies came into competition, it becomes crucial to be people’s favorite. Since people will choose only the better and more worthwhile one, a company has to be well ahead of the others in every point. So they compete in offering promotions, add plans that are easier for the users, and sometimes do promotions together with partner agencies. We will describe the promotion plans and special services by each company below.
Oway Ride
Image Source: https://www.facebook.com/pg/owayride/photos/?tab=album&album_id=1394640357299547
First, we are going to describe the promotion and special services by Oway Ride.
A top-up service, Oway Pay was introduced in earlier June so that there would not be inconvenient for low valued currency notes.
This service is prepaid top up for taking a taxi like our top-up for mobile phones.
But to top-up, you have to get to the Oway Ride counters in shopping centers.
Oway Ride counters are still a few in numbers, not anywhere.
Bonus plans are often offered to Oway Ride top-ups.
Usually, topping-ups on Saturday and Sunday are given extra 20% bonus.
The bonus plans are announced on their official Facebook page.
Another plan is a promo code. The name of the first promo code was “pyatlat23” (moment being broke – 23). You will type this code in the space “promo code” in the application. This pyatlat23 promo code was allowed to use within 10 days from 19 to 29 June. During that period, a total discount of 1,500 ks for three taxi rides (500 ks per ride) was given. After pyatlat23, a promo code “julymoe” was designated to use between 7 and 21 July. This one also offered 500 ks per ride for three times.
Shop.com.mm also gave 5,000ks discount for shoppers who took taxi rides to mobile phones special sales events at Helden Centre (Yangon) and Myanmar Centre (Mandalay) from July 3 to 9.
Plus lucky draw prize for a winner a day.
Hello Cabs
Image Source: http://www.hellocabs.com.mm/
We have to say there are weak points in Hello Cabs’ promotion plans.
As far as we know, the only plan was for a month from June 16 to July 16.
And that plan was for sole rental for at least 3 hours a time. And at least three time a week.
The price was 6,000ks per hour.
That’s the only promotion plan they had.
But unlike other taxi rental companies, Hello Cabs is providing a unique service. That is, they are running for long distances. And services include ferry service (trucks picking up to school or company) for students and company staffs.
Grab
Image Source: https://play.google.com/store/apps/details?id=com.grabtaxi.passenger&hl=en
Grab also have promo code plan like Oway Ride do. First one was “GRAB2TEDXYGN” promo code offered on May 21. Those who took a round trip taxi ride to Royal Garden Hotel were given 2,500ks discount per way. This plan didn’t go well because it was convenient only for those who were to go to places near the assigned destination.
In the “GRAB1st” promo code plan from June 1 to 15, 1,500ks per ride was discounted starting from the second ride to fourth ride of the day. Unlike others, it might be people’s favorite that they reduce the price of taxi rides to ceremonies and events during the time of celebrations. Grab usually do have plans like this though. Currently, in collaboration with Wave Money, it has created payment plans and for the drivers, to be able to claim their daily income.
Uber
Image Source: https://play.google.com/store/apps/details?id=com.ubercab&hl=en
Uber does have and usually offers, promo code plans.
But, there is no special payment system.
What is hot these days is a promo code plan named “JULYYANGON”.
This plan is aimed for those who have never used Uber before.
4,000ks will be discounted for their very first time of using Uber.
There’s not many things to say about Uber.
It is offers, promo code plans quite often like others.
To become the people’s choice, what matter most is to get to the customer on their call. To do it best, they need to have a strong connection with individual taxi drivers to have their taxis available anywhere. Only if so, on need, they will be able to provide their services to everywhere in time. Price does matter, but to get to the customer is more important.
And it is impossible to lower the taxi fares beyond the limit because cars come with the need of petrol. With the only fact that taxi fares are cheap, customers will not wait for long and will just take the taxis nearby. Therefore, it is more important to have enough number of taxis and safe service.
