Uber is global, slick and hip. But our desi Ola is still the leader on home turf. This is rapidly changing as Uber noses ahead with a more focused strategy
Are you going to pick me up or should I uber it?” That or “Say Ola to your driver,” are part of everyday conversation today as taxi aggregator services become more deeply entrenched into our bustling cities. So disruptive has this model been that people now think twice about buying a car, a fact admitted to by Mahindra Group chairman Anand Mahindra recently when he said that Uber and Ola are the biggest potential threats to the traditional car industry. “We are changing consumer behaviour and dissuading them from buying their second car,” says Amit Jain, president of Uber’s India operations.
And Uber may well talk. It has marched into city after city across the world, brazenly stared down its many problems and refused to blink first in the face of trouble.
Cut-throat Competition
But make no mistake. The taxi aggregation business isn’t easy and has sparked off a cut-throat rivalry between the two dominant players in a market which has grown from $5 billion in 2009-10 to $9 billion in 2015-16, as estimated by Rajiv K. Vij, founder of Carzonrent, a Delhi based car rental service.
Ola came first, in December 2010 and Uber followed three years later in October 2013. But the two are so neck and neck in competition today, you wouldn’t remember who started it.
It wasn’t long before phone-based pre-booking cab services like Tab Cab, Mega Cab, Spot Taxis and the traditional flag-down black-and-yellow cabs too faced severe pressure from the app-based models — across the world, often resulting in strikes, agitations and riots, as the livelihood of regular cab drivers are threatened.
この記事は Businessworld の May 30, 2016 版に掲載されています。
7 日間の Magzter GOLD 無料トライアルを開始して、何千もの厳選されたプレミアム ストーリー、9,000 以上の雑誌や新聞にアクセスしてください。
すでに購読者です ? サインイン
この記事は Businessworld の May 30, 2016 版に掲載されています。
7 日間の Magzter GOLD 無料トライアルを開始して、何千もの厳選されたプレミアム ストーリー、9,000 以上の雑誌や新聞にアクセスしてください。
すでに購読者です? サインイン
Is Leadership Without Hierarchies Possible?
LEADERSHIP IN THE current era is more challenging than ever before.
The Rise and Evolution of Coffee Culture in India
AS A BANGALORE native, South Indian filter ‘Kaapi’ has always been a significant part of our tradition.
The Daily Ground Goes Desi
Success in Tier-2 and Tier-3 cities hinges on several key factors, with one of the most important being the ability to offer high-quality products at an accessible price point
Cracking The Indian Code
TARUN JAIN, CEO of Tim Hortons India believes in creating an experience at cafes by blending global quality, local flavours and affordability
Making Coffee the New Chai in India
Affordable, great-tasting coffee made fast-abCoffee is reshaping how India drinks coffee
Scripting A New Era Of Coffee In India
From a bootstrapped startup to international expansion, NOTHING BEFORE COFFEE is brewing its way to the top by challenging the giants of the coffee industry with innovation, personalisation, and sustainability
"Driven By A Younger Demographic, Coffee Culture Is On The Upswing"
SUNIL D'SOUZA, Managing Director and CEO of Tata Consumer Products, discusses the company's strategic growth in India's booming coffee market, focusing on premiumisation, innovation, and expanding consumer experiences both at home and in cafés, in this exclusive conversation with BW Businessworld's Tarannum Manjul
Fresh Brew, Big Ambitions
From startups to stores, Beanly's Samayesh Khanna and Rahul Jain elevate India's coffee culture by making freshly brewed coffee a daily delight
"On Track To Become India's Top Café Chain"
In an exclusive interview, RAJAT AGRAWAL, CEO of Barista Coffee, shared insights on the company's current market position, expansion strategies, and its response to growing competition
"Ensuring A Seamless Coffee Experience Outside The Cafe Is The Next Big Thing To Watch Out For"
In an exclusive conversation with BW Businessworld's Resham Suhail, Third Wave Coffee CEO RAJAT LUTHRA and its Co-founder AYUSH BATHWAL delve on how they are navigating the competitive landscape, going beyond retail and tapping changing consumer preferences