Logo of Phnom Penh Post newspaper Phnom Penh Post - Grab brings ‘Mini-GC’ to more Thai secondary cities, provinces

Grab brings ‘Mini-GC’ to more Thai secondary cities, provinces

Content image - Phnom Penh Post
Grab Thailand, led by head of Bike-Hailing Operations Maythinee Anavachkul, introduced a new business model, Mini-Grab Centre or ‘Mini-GC’, offering business opportunities for Thai micro-entrepreneurs and MSMEs. SUPPLIED/THE NATION

Grab brings ‘Mini-GC’ to more Thai secondary cities, provinces

Grab has kicked off 2020 by announcing its expansion plan to more secondary cities and provinces across Thailand through a new, innovative Mini-Grab Centre business model or “Mini-GC”.

This strategic move will not only accelerate the expansion of Grab’s business operations to a total of 30 provinces within this year, but also more importantly, expand the benefits of 4.0 and the digital economy to millions of local micro-entrepreneurs, as well as Micro, Small and Medium-sized Enterprises (MSMEs).

Grab will open up business opportunities for these MSMEs to set up Mini-GCs and serve as Grab official agents to recruit, oversee and support driver, delivery and merchant-partners.

This will allow Grab to meet the hyperlocal needs of its partners more effectively, and at the same time, enhance their service quality so that they can continue to outserve Grab users nationwide.

Tarin Thaniyavarn, country head of Grab Thailand, commented: “2019 was a golden year for Grab Thailand. We experienced phenomenal growth across all business verticals, from on-demand ride-hailing to food and package delivery services”.

“We are also playing our part in driving the cashless economy through our GrabPay mobile wallet. We have constantly innovated and introduced many new services in response to today’s consumer needs including GrabCar Premium that offers classy, comfy rides at affordable prices for business users, Grab Drive Your Car – a personal car driver service, and on-demand grocery delivery services through partnership with Tops Supermarket,” he added.

“Grab is currently operating across 20 provinces, and we look forward to uplifting the livelihoods of more Thais with our expansion,” he said.

For the online food delivery industry valued at 35 billion baht ($1.12 billion), GrabFood has played a significant role in empowering MSMEs to tap on the growth opportunities of the booming digital economy.

In response to strong consumer demand, Grab Thailand spearheaded its expansion with GrabFood service to secondary cities outside Bangkok last year, reaching 14 provinces across Thailand in less than one year.

At present, one third of the total food orders via GrabFood are from users in secondary cities.

“This year, we will continue to expand our services across 30 provinces through Mini-GC. We believe that this model will allow us to scale our successful hyperlocal approach nationwide and better adapt to the different needs of our partners and users in different provinces”.

“Thailand is the first country for Grab leveraging this innovative business model to create long-term, sustainable growth while offering better opportunities for local MSMEs to own and grow their businesses,” added Tarin.

Maythinee Anavachkul, head of Bike-Hailing Operations and Mini-GC of Grab Thailand, said that owners of mini-GCs will take responsibility of recruiting and onboarding driver, delivery and merchant-partners smoothly, with Grab providing oversight and support.

Training and technological support will also be provided while a dedicated Grab team will work closely with each centre to set the bar for the highest service quality standards.”

The three key criteria for the selection of a Mini-GC owner include:

Financial stability – having a certain capital to operate their own business.

Ability to source proper location and set up the centre.

Entrepreneurial mindset – possessing strong business acumen that aligns with Grab business philosophy.

The mini-GC model has been piloted since the end of last year. This initiative has proven effective in business expansion and received positive feedback from our driver-partners. Currently, 24 Mini-GCs have been successfully set up in Bangkok and its vicinity, and Grab plans to double the number of the centres within this year.

THE NATION (THAILAND)/ANN

MOST VIEWED

  • Bareknuckle champion wants Kun Khmer fighter

    Dave Leduc, who is the current openweight Lethwei boxing champion in Myanmar, has announced that he will travel to Cambodia this year to challenge SEA Games gold medallist Prum Samnang any time that is convenient, after their planned match later this month in Slovakia was

  • Five-year-old Hanuman dances his way into hearts of Cambodia

    A young talent from a new-established settlement has emerged, captivating the online world with his mesmerising performances of the traditional Cambodian monkey dance. Roeun Kakada is a five-year-old prodigy who has taken the social media sphere by storm with his exceptional dance skills and dedication

  • Fresh Covid warnings as Thai hospital fills

    A senior health official reminds the public to remain vigilant, as neighbouring countries experience an increase in Covid-19 cases, with the latest surge appearing to be a result of the Omicron XBB.1.5 sub-variant. Or Vandine, secretary of state and spokeswoman for the Ministry of Health,

  • Honda shutters Siem Reap football club

    Japanese football legend Keisuke Honda, the owner of Siem Reap football club Soltilo Angkor FC, has been forced to shut the club down, after it failed to attract sponsorship for the upcoming season. Honda, the former manager of the Cambodia men's national football team, said

  • PM declares ASEAN Para Games open

    The 12th ASEAN Para Games officially kicked off on the evening of June 3 at Morodok Techo National Stadium in Phnom Penh, with a spectacular opening ceremony featuring fireworks and performances by some of the Kingdom’s most accomplished talents. Tens of thousands of sports fans

  • Hun Sen warns of regional tensions

    ASIA is becoming a dangerous geopolitical hotspot, with several countries announcing that they intend to send naval vessels towards Southeast Asia and on to the South China Sea, warned Prime Minister Hun Sen. “Heated geopolitical issues can easily escalate, namely to war. I am not