Southeast Asia’s Grab has invested in Splyt Technologies, a London-based, global mobility marketplace. The investment will see an enhanced collaboration between the two companies to give travelers a more convenient access to ride-hailing services anywhere in the world.
While the ride-hailing industry has moved towards consolidation in recent years, it remains a highly fragmented service for global travelers. International visitors often have to download local mobility apps, or rely on traditional curbside taxi-hailing. Grab and Splyt share a common vision to make it easy for anyone to get a ride when they need it, wherever they may be, through the app of their choice.
Grab and Splyt already enable international travelers to book Grab rides across 336 cities in eight Southeast Asian countries through their preferred apps. Ctrip and AliPay customers visiting Southeast Asia can already take Grab rides through their own apps, via a solution powered and enabled by Splyt.
Splyt is also working with Booking Holdings to integrate ride-booking into their OTA platforms. Booking.com consumers will be able to book Grab rides through the Booking.com app by Quarter 3 2019.
Southeast Asia receives 130 million international visitors a year, a number that is expected to hit 155 million by 2022. As Splyt continues to bring more partners onboard, working with them to integrate mobility directly into platforms, more travelers will be able to access Grab’s diverse range of safe and affordable transport options without having to download another app.
Grab and Splyt will also work together to give Grab users access to ride-hailing options everywhere in the world. Targeted for completion next year, this second phase of the partnership will integrate Splyt and Grab’s global network of mobility partners into the Grab app.
Grab users traveling beyond Southeast Asia can continue to book rides through the Grab app, and have them fulfilled by Splyt’s partners. Travellers can use their app in their native language, and even pay in their home currency. Grab also plans to add features such as in-app travel tips, restaurant reviews, and attraction recommendations, to offer an even richer travel experience to its users.
As part of Splyt’s recent $8 million Series A funding round, Grab's investment will be used to accelerate Splyt’s expansion into new markets, improve its proprietary technology, and strengthen its wide network of institutional demand and supply partners for ground-based transportation.
Mark Porter also joins Splyt’s Board of Directors. He lends his leadership in shaping Grab’s technology and strategy to Splyt’s 50-strong team.
