Technology has taken the world by storm. It is changing the way we live our lives, perform chores and even how we perceive society as a whole. With the advent of technology, day to day activities that seemed like a big deal can now be executed simply with the push of a button. One such activity is car booking. Arranging a car is always a hassle, whether it is a personal car, where you have to set your schedule according to other members of your family, or rummaging through online directories to find a cab service contact number, the process is frustrating at best. But thanks to the ever evolving technology, tech based cab booking platforms have begun surfacing in Pakistan. One such venture is Careem.
What is Careem?
Careem is an app based booking service of chauffeur driven cars. With global operation spread across 16 cities in the Gulf and Middle East region, Careem is now making its way into the Pakistani market, starting with Lahore. Their launch is set for May 6, and Careem has employed innovative strategies to attract the fruitful, and entertainment craving Lahori market. The launch day is advertised as a “Free Day”, with customers being offered free rides, up to a certain number of kilometers, when they sign up with promo code, CAREEMLHR.
Unlike most other options available in Pakistan, Careem is a complete tech based solution to ground transportation problems. With a web and mobile app, customers can sign up for an account on the android app, bit.ly/gocareemandroid, the iPhone app bit.ly/gocareemiOS, or log on t o careem.com, and book their car with a push of a button; Careem promises that ride confirmation will be received by customers within 8 seconds of making the booking.
The team at Careem also claims that their service is reliable, always on time, and uses only verified and well-trained drivers. Customers can also book their rides for NOW or LATER and add both pickup and drop-off locations to see an approximate fare estimate before ordering the ride. Payment options are diverse, ranging from Credit and Cash for customers to invoices for corporate clients, so that anyone can benefit from the service. The last step is to hit the super lively, CHALO! button, after which the ride arrives accordingly.
The Careem team claims that although the service is priced at a premium, it provides complete value for money, and will offer exciting surprises for their first few customers.
What the Future Holds for Careem?
Introducing an online cab booking platform in a market like Pakistan is definitely going to be challenging for Careem given security concerns and the newness of such ideas. However, Careem is entering the market with its international goodwill, accumulated in some of the most conservative societies in the world; the team has high expectations from the Pakistani market, and has plans of quickly moving to other cities, starting with Karachi, where they are already running their pilot. Although promising, the success of the venture will greatly depend on the quality of the service and its reliability and whether or not, Careem is able to make a name for itself in the local market.
