Grab Announces Investment to Ninja Van, Strengthen GrabExpress Logistics System

Grab announced the latest investment with undisclosed amount for last mile logistics startup Ninja Van, starting from a strategic partnership. Ninja Van as the first to be announced of the company's commitment to partner with six startups during this year.

"We're so glad to have this partnership [..] Looking at the amount of Grab's users, we can offer the easiest way to enjoy our complete logistics services, and a reliable and easy delivery service supported by technology," Ninja Van's Co-Founder and CEO, Chang Wen said in the official release.

head of GrabExpress, Adelene Foo added,"The partnership with Ninja Van enables us to offer a complete range of delivery services in Southeast Asia through Grab app. It facilitates sellers, buyers, and merchants to send and receive items.

Ninja Van is to be integrated in the Grab application through GrabExpress and to be available at the second quarter of 2019. It'll gradually be available in the Southeast Asia.

The partnership expands GrabExpress' network coverage significantly outside the on-demand courier and same day services, therefore, shipping is scheduled throughout the region.

GrabExpress' coverage is also affected, it's now available in 150 cities around Singapore, Malaysia, Thailand, Philippines, and Indonesia. It's claimed between March to December 2018, GrabExpress' instant delivery and same day service grew over three times.

Ninja Van is said to be the fastest growing last mile logistics company in Southeast Asia, reaching more than 450 cities and connecting six countries. Grab, as a company, will be the vehicle to reach more users from SMEs and social seller communities.

Customers can deliver items more easily through one app and enjoy the best logistics experience on Ninja Van.

In the previous interview, NinjaExpress Indonesia's Country Head, Eric Saputra revealed that the company's overall business could grow three times. NinjaExpress couriers in Indonesia has reached 3 thousand units, 70% are two-wheelers.

The company has a special dashboard for its users. The app not only provides tracking order feature, but also has intelligence reporting to be used to help users in recaping the total delivery over the past year in order to increase business in the following year.

- Original article is in Indonesian, translated by Kristin Siagian