PickMe steers change in ‘new normal’ to pursue sustainable growth, contribute to economic revival

As COVID-19 continues to change the world we live in, impact people’s lifestyles and the economy in ways, we are still coming to terms with, businesses require clear, pragmatic and far-seeing strategies to

PickMe Digital Mobility Solutions Founder CEO Zulfer Jiffry

forge ahead and succeed in the ‘new normal’. PickMe, Sri Lanka’s homegrown technology driven mobility solutions provider is a case-in-point about effective strategies to cope, sustain and succeed in the COVID-19 era. 

Initial response 

Soon after the first case of COVID-19 occurred in Sri Lanka, PickMe’s leadership team met to devise a feasible strategy. The team decided to rally the organisation around the core theme #safetyfirst and follow protocols and measures recommended by authorities to safeguard the Company’s employees, drivers and customers. 

The Company connected Driver Partners with WHO educational videos and provided them with hand sanitiser, masks and gloves. PickMe vehicle fleet displayed safety messaging in forms of stickers and posters. The Company’s employees and Driver Partners consistently adhered to safety regulations that the government introduced.

PickMe worked closely with local police stations to obtain necessary clearance for drivers, to continue to operate and offer necessary services without interruptions. The Company also established an emergency service equipped with an around the clock call centre. 

Identifying critical needs of the community was key to forming an effective operational strategy. As such, PickMe organised ‘Tourists Drops’ to assist stranded tourists across the island. Tourists were able to contact PickMe on its emergency number 1311 to find transport close to their location. PickMe’s widespread presence and insightful use of mobility technology steered the Company to provide ready assistance to tourists in collaboration with respective authorities such as diplomatic missions. Approximately 4,000 tourists used PickMe’s services to reach the airport from locations across the island, a feat highly commended by the tourism authority. 

At the home front, PickMe partnered with critically important organisations to facilitate delivery of essential services. The linchpin to all this was the Company’s easily adaptable technology. “With the current technology PickMe has and the infrastructure in place, we knew we could provide the country with a better solution of getting goods to customers as opposed to customers going out. And with the assistance of the Government we were able to ensure that essential goods were delivered to customers on a daily basis. As a proactive measure, PickMe team met with several Government officials to propose a delivery mechanism that could operate during curfew hours. As a result of numerous discussions PickMe team had with authorities and thanks to the government’s commitment to ease people’s hardships while containing the virus, all our delivery fleet were given approval to function during curfew, and the Company was able to deliver daily essentials which included grocery, gas, bread, etc.,” commented PickMe Digital Mobility Solutions Founder CEO Zulfer Jiffry. 

‘PickMe Delivery Balakaya’ was an effective game plan which ensured that consumers received essential goods without delay. PickMe Delivery Balakaya worked hand and glove with retailers, supermarkets and various other businesses to provide quick, reliable and safe services to Sri Lankans. Litro Gas Lanka and Lanka Sathosa were the quickest to respond and partner PickMe for this service. 

PickMe’s partnership with Lanka Sathosa commenced with the Vauxhall Street SATHOSA outlet and expanded to Badulla, Jaffna, Matara and all across the nation within the course of mere two weeks. Soon after, other companies such as Unilever and Nestle partnered PickMe to deliver essential goods to people across the country. 

PickMe also partnered with Sampath Bank to deliver ‘hard-cash’ to customers, recording a hundred percent success rate, a testament to PickMe’s ‘check-&-balance’ capacity.

“We were eager to serve the community whilst also protecting the livelihood of PickMe Driver partners on which depended the wellbeing of their families. We also introduced a COVID-19 insurance scheme to further protect the interest of our Driver Partners,” revealed Zulfer Jiffry. 

Technology and a sustainable business model allowed PickMe to pivot overnight into a delivery company. Nevertheless, during the next few weeks and months, PickMe will further refine and improve their business model to cater to the current market situation and also design a sustainable business around this new economic market condition. 

“With many players in the market suspending their operations (including international players), we as a tech company were able to adapt and rise to the occasion,” added Jiffry.

Looking into the future 

As the country continues to open, people are stepping into a ‘new normal’. Even though we cannot yet fathom the full extent of the economic impact, we need to increase safe mobility within cities to revive the economy. While ‘Safety is the no#1 priority’, efficient transport solutions are required to allow people to move and go about their businesses. This is the only way to revive the economy. PickMe is well established to ensure safe mobility for people. 

“We witnessed the impact of the virus on our taxi-hailing business. But, undeterred we found a new approach to serve the community’s timely needs. Likewise, we will continue to adapt with changing tides,” commented Jiffry. 

“Especially, seeing how not only Sri Lanka but the entire world has been affected by the virus, and how the day to day life has come to a halt, I am amazed at how technology is contributing to bring people some hope and facilitate in meeting their needs and wants in these stressful times. Such trends are common across the globe. It is possible that the world is right now on the threshold of a new way of life and an economic order, steered by technology and the sheer spirit of human endurance. Technology is helping us battle the virus. Use of technology in medicine and science has given the world a chance to overcome this common enemy. Without technology, COVID-19 casualties would have been much higher,” added Jiffry. 

New normal for transport mobility 

There are three modes of transport, namely private, public and shared and the latter is set to be the future of transport. However, to operate safely in the post-pandemic world, companies need to adopt new approaches. 

PickMe on particular has been investing and using contact tracing technology to curtail the spread of COVID-19. In this regard, the Company is well-equipped to operate safely in the new world. Working with authorities, PickMe can identify those who were potentially exposed to the virus. Contact tracing has been effective in countries such as Singapore and this method will help Sri Lanka to move forward as well. 

PickMe continues stringent measures to ensure safety of both passengers and Driver Partners. All Driver Partners begin their day after a temperature check. Whilst PickMe has deployed physical checking, it is mandatory for Driver Partners to upload their temperatures to the system. No driver will be allowed to work, if their temperatures are found to exceed 100f.

The Company has implemented various other methods to minimise contact between Driver Partners and passengers. The Company installed screens in all vehicles including three-wheelers and cars with room for ventilation and payment exchange. PickMe actively promotes and practices contactless paying. 

At the moment, PickMe is becoming more and more versatile, delivering a range of transport mobility solutions from taxi hailing, food delivery, ‘Flash’ and logistics. The Company offers flexibility to its Driver Partners. 

For example a Driver Partner engaged in ‘hailing’ could opt out to ‘Flash’ or ‘PickMe Food’ if the hailing opportunities are low or he or she is not in a position to undertake hailing at a particular time. This helps to optimising each Driver Partner’s earning capacity. 

With the adoption of new strategies and resourceful use of its technological expertise, PickMe is steering forward and driving change in the ‘new normal’ to pave the way Sri Lanka to move forward and revive its economy.