Ride-hailing platforms in Philippines push toward 'superapp' model

Upgrade to High-Speed Internet for only ₱1499/month!

Enjoy up to 100 Mbps fiber broadband, perfect for browsing, streaming, and gaming.

Visit Suniway.ph to learn

March 13, 2026 | 9:01am

MANILA, Philippines — Newer ride-hailing platforms such as inDrive are expanding beyond passenger transport, adding services like deliveries, digital payments and AI-powered tools as they move toward becoming broader "mobility superapps."

Industry observers say the shift reflects intensifying competition in the mobility sector and changing consumer expectations.

"Our global market review found that the way forward for ride-hailing platforms is to evolve into mobility superapps," said Evgenia Matrosova, chief ride-hailing officer of inDrive, in a company analysis released this week.

Ride-hailing companies — known in the Philippines as transport network vehicle services or TNVS — are increasingly exploring adjacent services such as food delivery and airport ride bookings.

Market intelligence firm Sensor Tower earlier listed inDrive among the most downloaded mobility and travel apps globally in 2025, reflecting strong demand for ride-hailing services. At the same time, companies are bundling multiple services into a single platform to retain users.

The move allows companies to keep users inside a single ecosystem while expanding revenue streams, analysts say.

"Users want convenience more than anything, where diverse mobility solutions, proactive safety functions, and seamless digital payments can all be found in one platform," Matrosova said.

Other features

Another emerging trend is the use of artificial intelligence to improve safety and customer experience. Human-like AI voices, for example, can be used in customer support, according to InDrive's internal studies.

AI systems can also analyze traffic patterns, weather conditions and road data to predict potential risks and recommend safer routes.

Ride-hailing companies are similarly testing AI-powered customer service systems and automated support tools to help manage bookings, driver schedules and emergency responses.

The rapid growth of digital payments in the Philippines is also encouraging mobility platforms to integrate cashless payment and online banking directly into their apps. In the Philippines alone, nearly 60% of retail transactions were conducted digitally in 2024.

Grab's model

The strategy mirrors the approach of Southeast Asia's dominant ride-hailing firm, Grab, which has gradually transformed its platform into a multi-service "superapp."

Originally focused on ride-hailing, Grab expanded into food delivery through GrabFood and later added financial services such as GrabPay in the same app.

Other ride-hailing companies are now trying to replicate the model to remain competitive.