Over time, Uber enjoyed being integrated into the Google Maps app as it allowed customers to book a ride from within the Maps app. However, that soon changed as more ride-hailing companies like Ola, Hailo, MyTaxi and others were also added to the application. And today, we have two new apps, Grab and Go-Jek, making their way onto Google Maps.
Grab customers can now book a taxi, private car or a motorbike taxi from within the Google Maps app in all six South Asian countries that it operates in. This option will also be available for Go-Jek riders in Indonesia. Riders will be given estimated journey time, pickup times and the approximate fare for the trip. This service will be available for GrabCar, GrabTaxi, GrabBike and Go-Jek users.
Riders will have the option to compare their journey with other transportation methods that are available. Riders can compare the fare price and the estimated time that it will take them to reach a certain destination. The feature will also be available in Google Search Engine in the future.
Grab wrote in its official blog post: “Today we’re announced that we’re taking the ubiquity of Grab in Southeast Asia up a notch by integrating the Grab service into Google Maps. Our multiple transport services provides people a wider choice of travel at different price points. In addition, GrabCar offers fixed fares so you’ll have the assurance of a guaranteed fare that will not change regardless of route or traffic.”
Google Maps app will also notify users whenever there is surge pricing. While other services like Uber will offer surge pricing to its users, Grab has no such policies. GrabCar offers fixed fares for its riders, which means they won’t be charged extra fare due to high traffic congestion or high demand. Grab is also offering free $10 ride to its customers. The code for the free ride is “IDMAP.”
After completing the evaluation, riders who choose Grab or Go-Jek will be re-directed to the respective apps where all the necessary information will be pre-filled. Riders can then book the ride with a single tap only. Grab’s integration in Google Maps will be rolled out to both iOS and Android users later this month.
For now, Uber will still be given priority over other ride companies as the fares and estimated time of the San Francisco based company will be displayed at top. But things might change between Uber and Google after it was recently reported that the former is looking to build its own mapping system and has invested $500 million in order to end its dependency on Google Maps, which according to the company is not accurate in emerging markets.
Go-Jek, which is famous for its on-demand bike services in Indonesia, recently closed its $550 million funding round last week. The integration with Google Maps and having the required funds might help the company expand in other South Asian countries. TechCrunch reported that Go-Jek is currently valued at around $1.3 billion.
This latest news comes at a time when ride-hailing companies in Asia are running to grab more market share in the region. Uber recently lost China to Didi Chuxing, while Ola is giving it a hard time in India, which appears to be Uber’s next target after losing ground in China.