Transparent pricing: E-hailing services focus on fair fares, safety features

SHAH ALAM - E-hailing services are adopting a pricing model that relies on peer-to-peer negotiations, allowing passengers and drivers to agree on fares upfront.

This approach, aimed to ensure transparency, considered factors like demand, weather and traffic, while algorithms continually monitor trends to suggest fair prices based on distance and current conditions.

Two major e-hailing platforms, Maxim and inDrive, had implemented strategic pricing systems aimed at benefiting both drivers and passengers.

inDrive Southeast Asia and Overseas Business Development Manager Afanasiy Petrov emphasised the company’s unique real-time fare negotiation system, which fostered transparency and fairness.

“This fosters transparency and promotes fairness, a core value of our platform. While the system is fully developed, we are committed to continuous improvement, particularly in enhancing safety features and the overall user experience.

“Our pricing model is unique—based on peer-to-peer fare negotiation—where passengers and drivers agree on a fare. Price fluctuations may occur due to factors such as increased demand, weather conditions or traffic congestion,” he said when contacted recently.

While their system offered a pricing model that promotes fairness, he said the company did not provide insurance centrally.

However, drivers who drive for inDrive were required to get personal e-hailing insurance coverage to ensure that both passengers and drivers were protected during their rides.

“Our goal is to maintain a balance between fair pricing and safety while delivering a reliable, efficient service for both drivers and passengers,” he added.

Similarly, Maxim Malaysia Director Mohd Hazwan Musley highlighted the company’s dynamic pricing strategy, which adjusts fares based on factors such as weather, peak hours and traffic.

“At these times, the demand for rides increases and a coefficient may be activated, increasing the price of the trip. It motivates drivers to fulfil orders and allows all users to leave quickly.

“It is a necessary tool to keep supply and demand in balance. The whole process is fully automated and eliminates deliberate overpricing by the driver himself,” he told Sinar Daily.

Hazwan said that the system platform also offered upfront pricing so that passengers knew the fare before confirming their trip.

This, he said, would prevent any unexpected charges and enhances the user experience.

In addition to e-hailing, Maxim also provides services such as delivery, truck hire, and roadside assistance, designed with a user-friendly interface that caters to all users, including the disabled community.

“With its user-friendly interface, the app gives a top-notch user experience, and ordering a service makes it easier and more convenient for everyone.

“Our app is user-friendly to the extent that persons with disabilities (PwD) from the community can conveniently use our mobile application should they desire to book our service,” he said.

Maxim’s platform also ensures passengers were protected with ‘add-on’ e-hailing insurance coverage that provides an added layer of safety during rides.