Tech, innovation and networking the Grab way

Southeast Asia’s leading superapp – Grab is making plans to cement its market leader position in the region by coming out with more innovative services while building its networking with the diverse communities it serves, including at Penang which represents a growing market for the company.

Since it was rebranded as Grab as of 2016, the tech company based out of Singapore, has blazed the regional trail in food / groceries deliveries’, mobility (Grab rides) and finance (fintech) services.

In post – Covid – 19 at Penang, Grab has recorded higher sales and transactions contrary to a belief that with mobility on the rise, more people dine out and more become tourists.

Now in Penang, Grab is exploring working with the relevant authorities on helping to mitigate traffic congestion, improve its quality of services and ensuring more efficiency for its riders and drivers.

Grab is also working with Tourism Malaysia to assist in the incoming “Visit Malaysia Year 2026.”

In a special (tea) tech tarik session with its two managers – Ben Chin, who oversees strategy & outlet cities and Daisy Sidhu, who is the communications lead, both were inclined to share the superapp’s determination to find ways to avoid congestion, particularly for its associates.

“We also want to be an everyday app for all users,” said Chin, who pointed out that safety and security of its riders and users are paramount with 99% of its rides having no major incidents recorded.

Since its launch in Penang, Grab provides local driver and delivery partners, businesses and entrepreneurs with a platform to earn an income through its technology – driven solutions.

In Penang, it has enabled earning opportunities for over 70,000 local rider/driver – partners in Penang, including more than 350 Persons with Disabilities (PWDs) and over 2,000 women partners.

Responding to trends, events

These partners collectively earned over RM280 million on the platform in 2023.

Micro, small, and medium enterprises (MSMEs) in Penang continue to grow, with over 5% year – on -year increase in registrations and the Grab platform also features over 25 Michelin-rated merchants, enhancing its food delivery offerings.

Sidhu said that Grab is all about responding to trending items, hence it is open to collaborating with various segments; both the public and private sectors in boosting digital connectivity.

She disclosed that Grab is now working on digital accuracy in mapping to an extent that users can order food from the superapp’s similarly registered outlets over the same block, as the one they had earlier planned to order, so the collection can be smooth and delivered efficiency.

In data shared with the tech tarik audience, which included selected media, its environmental social governance (ESG) initiatives see it help plant 280,000 new trees in the region, and 3.1 billion worth of sustainable package solutions were offered by its merchants.

Grab plans to assist the region’s tourism sector by providing more tech integration so travellers can move conveniently and order food as well as rides better.

Malaysia is also the third most popular country for events – related tourism after secondly Singapore and firstly Thailand, while in Penang, the top foreign tourists come from Indonesia.

Grab is also a market leader in the region for its type of services – 42 million users who transacted monthly, RM11 billion earned by its partners including the riders and drivers, over 500,000 MSME clients, who contribute 67% of the gross merchandise value to the superapp.

Its tech tarik session first kicked-off in Terengganu, followed by Sarawak, Johor, Penang and will expand to other states later this year.