Grab Philippines is preparing to outperform last year’s holiday performance, according to Country Head Ronald Roda.
As demand surges in the last two months of the year, the premier superapp is building a comprehensive approach to improve dependability, accessibility, and safety.
According to historical data, Grab Philippines enjoys at least a 19% rise in daily transacting customers for its ride-hailing services during the fourth quarter of the year, with the number of ride bookings increasing by up to 45% in the second and third weeks of December. Demand for its delivery business increases by 20% on major holiday days, according to a recent Grab Philippines poll, with 44% of users relying on the app for festive meal deliveries.
Grab Philippines Country Head Ronald Roda shares, “Our data and studies all lead to a singular insight: Filipinos just wish to be present this Christmas – fully engaged with families and friends as they celebrate the most beloved holiday. Grab aims to bring our kababayans much closer to their loved ones, and help them create special moments this holiday season.” The yearning to be together every holiday is underpinned in Grab’s Holiday Trends study, indicating that Filipinos attend an average of four gatherings in celebration of Christmas and New Year.
The brand highlights that providing a dependable and accessible platform is not a simple endeavor.
“For some, the holiday season lasts two to three months. When all the preparations for the season are taken into account, Grab’s voyage lasts more than ten months. We have been planning since January of this year, working with our regulators to achieve a more balanced demand and supply, and deploying a variety of technologies to give our customers a better holiday experience,” Roda says.
Strengthening partnerships to meet demand
While demand at peak hours will certainly exceed existing supply, the major superapp remains confident that its service reliability will be significantly enhanced this year compared to prior holidays.
Roda expresses gratitude to the Land Transportation Franchising and Regulatory Board (LTFRB) for its ongoing transparency and support. With the introduction of new TNVS slots in August, Grab has been onboarding new driver partners, which can take up to three to five months.
Besides the difficulty of demand and supply imbalances, Grab is also concerned about the possible impact of holiday-induced traffic congestion on the profits and productivity of its drivers. According to the platform’s historical data, drivers will spend an average of 14% more time for the same trip distance during the December holiday rush.
Grab assures users that fares will remain reasonable, consistent with the LTFRB’s regulatory matrix. To help preserve the accessibility of its ride-hailing services, Grab has increased the coverage of its GrabUnlimited subscription service, which now includes an 8% discount on all GrabCar rides.
Furthermore, as part of its affordability promise, Grab has created GrabCar Saver, a less expensive mobility alternative than a conventional GrabCar ride.
The leading superapp has also recently debuted its Group Rides function, which not only maximizes fleet utilization via the carpooling model, but also efficiently reduces rates by allowing groups of four to share their ride’s base fare.
Harnessing Technology for an Elevated Holiday Grab Experience
In preparation for the holidays, Grab has added a number of new features that increase Filipino consumers’ access to rides and food deliveries.
This new technology lineup includes Advance Booking, which guarantees on-time rides to the airport and can be scheduled up to seven days in advance—an ideal solution for vacation travelers.
Grab has also added a number of new features that reflect its dedication to affordability. The GrabFood Group Order feature allows families and friends to place collective meal orders, with progressive discounts of up to 15% as the number of participants increases.
GrabFood Saver saves users money on delivery fees, while the Large Orders option allows them to order greater amounts of food and supplies for group gatherings, complete with exclusive prices. These features are intended to successfully manage the predicted increase in delivery demand throughout the Christmas season.