Transparency remains the name of the game at inDrive as the global ride-hailing platform held an open forum with its partner drivers to discuss how to enhance the app and create a more rewarding experience for all stakeholders.
Dozens of drivers gathered at the inDrive’s Philippine headquarters in Quezon City to suggest ways to improve its surge mechanism during rush hour, contingency plans during emergencies, in-app features, and more. inDrive’s APAC Regional Director Mark Tolley, Business Development Head Sofia Guinto, Driver Operations Head for the Philippines Vanessa Taqueban, and Country Government Relations Manager John Louie Balagot were present to listen to drivers’ open feedback and answer their queries themselves.
Tolley encouraged partner drivers to be completely honest with their insights during the session. “At inDrive, we truly value transparency and honesty. Our partner drivers’ feedback will aid inDrive to continue our positive trajectory in the Philippines while prioritizing the drivers and passengers’ welfare at all times,” Tolley added.
Better optimizing drivers’ earnings, especially during rush hour
Some drivers suggested improving inDrive’s pricing mechanism to better incentivize drivers during rush hour, weekends, and holidays. Guinto replied to this, stressing that inDrive is currently testing its surge mechanism at different hours to better optimize driver earnings.
As inDrive is working to create better rush hour incentives, it also ensures compliance with the fare regulations set by the Land Transportation Franchising and Regulatory Board, while maintaining fair and affordable prices for passengers. “So we’re finding a balance on how we can adjust the prices, that [they are] still affordable but drivers are still keeping 90% [of their earnings],” Guinto added.
With pricing tests still ongoing, inDrive has implemented other ways partner drivers can increase their earnings while on the road. The app recently teamed up with cryptocurrency exchange Coins.ph and decentralized mapping network Hivemapper to launch the country’s first blockchain-powered fleet.
This fleet uses DePIN (Decentralized Physical Infrastructure Networks) technology, which integrates blockchain with ride-hailing services. This partnership has inDrive partner drivers install Hivemapper mapping devices in their vehicles so their driving routes can improve and update existing global maps. This provides them an additional income stream as participating drivers can earn $HONEY tokens for their map contributions. These tokens will then be stored and managed via their Coins.ph wallets.
Contingency plans for drivers during emergencies
Partner drivers also suggested that the platform have more contingency plans for drivers, especially during emergencies. Their proposed contingencies include rescue and SOS plans, towing, and advanced vehicle troubleshooting. With this in mind, Guinto said that inDrive is currently reviewing more partnerships with firms to bring these proposals to fruition.
At present, inDrive has ongoing partnerships with Toyota Philippines Quezon Avenue branch and RideSecure Car Care Center to promote the safety of drivers and passengers while on the road. The former provides drivers free quarterly training on basic vehicle troubleshooting while the latter offers a comprehensive insurance package, 10%-16% cheaper than the market rate.
Why an open dialogue with inDrive partner drivers matters
inDrive partner driver Sherwin Gaspar with Mark Tolley, inDrive’s APAC Regional Director, during the #inDriveListens open forum.
inDrive partner drivers expressed enthusiasm over the app’s efforts to listen to their concerns and further improve their relationship. For instance, driver Sherwin Gaspar pointed out that this was his first open dialogue so it was meaningful having inDrive leaders be open to the sector’s suggestions for platform improvements.
Gaspar, who had recently quit his office job to become a full-time inDrive partner driver, also thanked the platform for helping him double his earnings all while having more time to spend with his family. “Ang number one na pinaka advantage ko ay masusundo ko yung mga anak ko… ‘Pag may mga events, nakakasama na rin ako. Hindi na ako kailangan magpaalaam sa opisina… Nagagawa ko na ang mga ito at kumikita pa ako.” [The number one advantage for me is that I get to pick my kids up and join more family events. I don’t need to ask permission from the office… That’s the biggest advantage and I get to do all that while earning.]
Tolley also used the forum to express his deepest gratitude for the partner drivers’ role in inDrive’s immense local growth since its relaunch in June 2024. “I’ve seen the growth here along with the work you have done with inDrive Philippines over the last six, seven months. It’s remarkable. And it’s actually just the beginning. The more we do this, the more we expand inDrive across the Philippines, you have all contributed to that so truly, thank you.”
inDrive remains committed to optimizing drivers’ earnings while maintaining affordable fares for passengers as it will roll out more developments throughout the year. For more updates on inDrive’s initiatives, visit www.inDrive.com.
