Tuesday Nov 05, 2024
FT
Tuesday Nov 05, 2024
Friday, 1 February 2019 00:00 - - {{hitsCtrl.values.hits}}
The Lotus Room at the Shangri-La (Colombo) was abuzz with eager anticipation on Wednesday as cricketing legends Mahela Jayawardena and Kumar Sangakkara announced their partnership with VirTrans Capital, the latest player in the island’s e-transport hailing game.
VirTrans Capital is the brainchild of CL Synergy Ltd., an innovative logistics and freight forwarding company in the industry operating for over 15 years.
“Being in the cargo and logistics industry we understand transport, and for a long time experienced first-hand the inefficiencies in the industry such as lack of transparency, unproductive communication, unproductive reverse haulage and lack of real time visibility. After extensive research and feasibility studies, we decided to develop a software solution to automate existing processes, this is how SYTRANS came about,” said CL Synergy Managing Director Roshan Silva.
SYTRANS is an innovative software platform that facilitates transactions between customers and trucking companies. The platform will help to achieve greater productivity, safer working conditions, transparency and flexibility which has not been seen in the industry over the years, this technological breakthrough will go beyond the boundaries of Sri Lanka to other overseas markets as a proud tech-innovation of Sri Lanka.
Speaking to the press, SYTRANS Chief Operating Officer Samantha Bombuwalage stated: “Customers are frustrated with the outdated process involved in fulfilling their transport needs. On the other side, low productivity and lack of hires is affecting the trucking industry as well. Idling of trucks has become a serious problem for the trucking companies in Sri Lanka and around the world. Therefore, step into the future and explore the untapped opportunities with SYTRANS.”
During the development of SYTRANS, CL Synergy also realised that, although there was an abundance of local and international taxi apps in Sri Lanka, a clear gap still existed in the market for sustainable passenger transport solutions.
Enter YOUCAB, the latest addition to the island’s e-taxi hailing mobile application market. Customers will be able to book a taxi, ranging from three-wheelers to luxury sedans and vans using the YOUCAB mobile app or by calling the 24/7 hotline. As an intermediary online platform, YOUCAB will connect passengers in search of affordable and reliable transportation, with service partners registered across multiple vehicle categories, providing travel solutions on a real time basis.
Government statistics of 2017 states that more than 51.9% of the local population use public transport daily. Although a decade ago a large number of that attributed to commuters on buses and trains, a clear paradigm shift has been indicated in the last five years to three-wheelers and taxi cabs. Especially since the laws making taxi meters compulsory was introduced many people switched to first calling taxi company hotlines and now simply opening up an app.
“YOUCAB is not just another taxi app, we are committed to adding value to the industry and empowering individual service providers, who are literally, the wheels that the taxi industry rides on. None of this would be possible if not for the pioneering local and international taxi services who paved the way for companies like YOUCAB to enter the market. We are grateful, and aspire to add value and build on the solid foundation that they have laid for the industry,” said YOUCAB Chief Operating Officer Thushan Jayaratne.
Partnering VirTrans are Sri Lankan cricketing legends Mahela Jayawardena and Kumar Sangakkara.
“Having Mahela and Kumar on board as partners will help take our brand values and commitment to the market. These two gentlemen have proved time and time again the importance of courtesy, respect, hard work and most importantly friendship, both on and off the field. These are attributes that we hope to establish among our staff, service providers and partners,” said VirTrans Capital Chief Executive Officer Nirthaj Seelanatha.
Jayawardena and Sangakkara are well known for seizing the opportunity both when they were playing the game and later on, when they ventured into their own businesses.
Mahela said: “We are excited to be a part of VirTrans because we believe that it has the potential to be a true game-changer in the industry. There are many values that YOUCAB and SYTRANS is committed to upholding, which both Kumar and I believe are crucial in running a business such as this.”
Also commenting at the event, Kumar said: “Personally, I think that YOUCAB is an amazing opportunity for us to continue taking our message of passion, commitment, dedication, respect and dignity to the masses. Being a Sri Lankan brand, we believe that YOUCAB will inspire service providers in the taxi industry to embrace the inherent Sri Lankan spirit of service and add value to the industry.”
Both YOUCAB and SYTRANS have acknowledged the importance of enrolling high-quality service providers and transport partners to ensure a supreme level of service to the end customer. Both operations will commence recruiting and registering vehicle owners and service partners during the month of February. For more information, you can contact them on 0115 634 634 or [email protected]
