Blue Bird, Go-Jek collaborate to launch Go-Blue Bird

• Users can use this feature to book Blue Bird taxis
• The new feature is available in five areas in Indonesia

INDONESIAN conventional taxi service Blue Bird and on-demand ride hailing app Go-Jek launch the Go-Blue Bird feature in the Go-Jek app to boost the welfare of drivers and improve services.

“This collaboration is a long-term commitment by Go-Jek and Blue Bird to innovate and give the best services to our community as well as improve the well-being of drivers,” says Go-Jek Indonesia chief executive officer Nadiem Makarim in a press release.

Previously, users could only book Blue Bird taxis from Go-Car feature in the app but now they can use this specific new feature.

“Go-Blue Bird is part of a continuous collaboration between Blue Bird and Go-Jek. This special feature will add another option, which is Blue Bird, to users’ choice of transportation,” adds Nadiem.

For Blue Bird, this new feature contributes to escalate the quality of service as it is now more convenient for Blue Bird users to reach the service.

“Both Blue Bird and Go-Jek have the same mission, which is to make it efficient and comfortable for our users. I hope Go-Blue Bird as our new order channel will create efficiency for users to get our service and encourage our drivers to excel in doing their job,” said PT Blue Bird Tbk director Adrianto Djokosoetono.

Government support

The government fully supports this collaboration in terms of usage of technology especially in the transportation sector.

“The government plays a part as a regulator and it is our job to balance the competition in the businesses of transportation. The collaboration between Blue Bird and Go-Jek is to show that two different business models can unite and hopefully improve the level of transportation services in Indonesia,” said Indonesian Minister of Transportation Budi Karya Sumardi.

This collaboration is also a part of the process of applying the government’s revision of ride-hailing rules that was implemented on April 1.

“I hope this partnership will create a ‘healthier’ business environment in land transportation without neglecting aspects of safety and comfort. It will be great if existing conventional and online transportation providers are able to work together to avoid conflicts,” adds Sumardi.

Indonesian Maritime Coordinating Minister Luhut Panjaitan says Go-Blue Bird is a result of teamwork among transportation operators in Indonesia.

“I hope that in the future there will be no conflicts and I encourage other online transportation providers to join forces,” said Luhut.

Innovation as culture

For Go-Jek and Blue Bird, this collaboration is not only for business, but also contributes to the community.

“This can be an example of a good collaboration that benefits the community, workers in the informal sector, and boosts economic growth,” says Nadiem.

Blue Bird Group Holding president director Noni Purnomo shares her thoughts on how Blue Bird innovates and contributes to business growth and the community at Endeavor Scale Up Asia 2017 recently.

“One of the values in the company is sustainability. I remember before my grandmother passed away in 2000, she told me that my responsibility now is not to the shareholders, but to the drivers and their families, so I need to make sure that the company is sustainable in the long run.

“With that in mind, I cannot just shut down the company once we face challenges, and trust me, after 45 years in the business, the challenges are never ending, but that makes our company build the agility to be able to adjust ourselves, to continue and persevere.

“Being able to learn, understand the surroundings, and know your weaknesses and strengths, has become our source of energy. To always adjust the strategy and innovate in the company, including working together with Go-Jek, that is part of our strategy,” concludes Noni.

The Go-Blue Bird feature is now available on Go-Jek for Android and will soon be available for iOS. This feature is currently only accessible to users in Jabodetabek (Jakarta, Bogor, Depok, Tangerang, Bekasi), Surabaya, Bandung, Medan, and Semarang.

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