I started using Grab after I was held up on a bus ride in 2014. It was one of the most terrifying experiences of my life, and one I would never want to go through again. At first, I would only use Grab at night, when commuting became more dangerous. Slowly, I got used to the premium service and convenience that I would find any excuse just to book a ride. Incredibly hot? Grab. It looks like it’s about to rain? Grab. About to run late? Grab. Now I don’t even make an effort to come up with one. I simply whip out my phone and book a ride.
Yes, it’s convenient and luxurious, but it’s an expensive habit. I live all the way in the south so my fare can skyrocket, especially during peak hours. While I happily sit in the car, my credit card is crying in my wallet. Luckily, I can still enjoy the Grab experience for less, because GrabShare is now in Manila!
GrabShare is the app’s latest service that allows you to carpool with another passenger for up to 30% less than what you would pay for in a GrabCar. It’s a win-win situation for everyone: passengers can enjoy lower fares, partners can earn more by completing two bookings in one trip, and it also decreases traffic and the carbon footprint.
GrabShare was first launched in Singapore in December 2016, where it completed two million GrabShare rides in two months. Through those rides, Grab was able to make ridesharing an affordable option, and drivers earned an average increase of 10% in their monthly income.
The new service is easy: simply select the GrabShare icon, type the pick-up and drop-off points, then book. You will be matched with another passenger based on closest available drivers, travel time, overlap of routes, detours, and traffic conditions. The travel time won’t be compromised, because both passengers will be passing through similar routes, and the service will use powerful algorithms to make sure that both passengers will get to their destinations in the shortest possible time.
For drivers, they can maximize their potential earnings by completing two jobs in the time it takes to complete one. This will enable them to finish more jobs in a day while decreasing fuel consumption.
GrabShare is the perfect option for someone like me who is becoming (or already) dependent on ridesharing services while complaining how it burns a hole in his pocket. The Grab experience at a lower cost that helps everyone? Sign me up!
The service is one of a series of innovations that Grab has been cooking up for passengers. They will soon be rolling out GrabPay credits (an in-app wallet) and Rewards (passengers can receive points for every trip which they can redeem in partner establishments). Exciting times!
Grab is Southeast Asia’s leading ride-hailing platform. Grab’s core product platform includes commuting solutions for drivers and passengers with an emphasis on convenience, safety, and reliability, as well as its proprietary mobile payments platform, GrabPay. Download the Grab app from the App Store and Google Play Store. For more information, visit www.grab.com/ph/share.