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Tag: Meru Cabs

  • Quirky campaign highlights Meru's commitment towards transparency

    Meru Cabs puts up competitive front in latest brand campaign

    By A Correspondent

     

    Meru Cabs has launched a brand new marketing campaign- ‘True Rupees Per Km’. The new campaign highlights Meru’s brand proposition of providing honest and trustworthy services to the fast evolving transportation requirements of customers. Launched recently, the campaign has been rolled out in Delhi, Mumbai and Bangalore followed by a national launch across nine key markets including Hyderabad, Chennai, Kolkata, Ahmedabad, Jaipur and Pune.

     

    Lured by attractive discounts and low price points, today radio taxis have become popular and a convenient travel option amongst customers. However customers often have limited knowledge on how their fare is calculated and sometimes end up paying a higher value than the promised amount. While surge charge of 1X, 2X etc. is displayed upfront, there are many hidden costs such as ride time charge on total travel time and base fare charge which are hidden and gets calculated in the final fare. These hidden costs are often mentioned in asterisk (*) or mentioned in small fonts as “conditions apply” at the end of transactions, documents or marketing collaterals which goes unnoticed.

     

    Commenting on the launch of the brand campaign Siddhartha Pahwa, CEO, Meru Cabs said, “Our new campaign “NO hidden, NO Surge, NO Ride Time or NO Cancellation Charge” aims to educate customers on hidden costs applied by several taxi aggregators. Through this campaign, we reiterate our commitment to customers that with Meru as their trusted travel partners they pay “True rupees per km” for all transactions promising transparency and open communication.”

     

    Meru’s new brand campaign (Print, Radio, OOH) has been conceptualized, created and executed by Enormous Brands with an effective media strategy recommended by OMD India. The campaign will be further amplified through digital media with hashtag #PayTrueRupees on social media, Youtube, online banners, OOH channels.

     

    Ashish Khazanchi, Managing Partner, Enormous brands explains the idea behind True Rupees per km, “Meru prides itself in the extreme transparency with which it services its customers. Under the marketing clamour of discounts, cash backs and offers in the taxi industry, Meru wanted to make a bold move to highlight the fact that most competitors’ prices/fares seem attractive in the forefront but always have unnecessary hidden costs. The idea behind coining the phrase True rupees was to send out a clear message upfront to the customer that Meru operates transparently and honestly unlike other prominent cab aggregators”.

     

     

  • While the app has much going for it, the debate remains focused on the readiness (or lack) of the market

    Is it time for brands and services to go app-only?

    By Amit Bapna

     

    The ongoing debate on the ‘right time’ for brands to go app-only does not seem even close to getting resolved. It’s however on the minds of several companies in a market that’s reportedly adding a staggering 5 million smart phones every month. Some brands have leapt aboard the app only bandwagon: Myntra, Ola and most recently food-brand Faasos on realising 97 per cent of its customers place orders via the app.

     

    In principle, while the app has much going for it, the debate remains focused on the readiness (or lack) of the market. The journey is also a function of category and target audience. For instance furniture, household electronics etc. lend themselves better to omni-channel.

     

    Rathin Lahiri, CMO, Meru Cabs claims an app-first strategy is better than app-only for many reasons. “Ecommerce is still under-penetrated. While the mobile is a more personal shopping device, the website is just easier to browse.” Adds Sabyasachi Mitter, managing director, ibs, “Going app-only is a bad idea at this stage. The market needs more users to experience the online ecosystem.” Once a user sees the benefit of a brand he will naturally look for its app.

     

    The world’s most valuable start-up Uber is apponly and that is not by coincidence. Taking a leaf, the Indian aggregator Ola has become app-only since August 1 this year. Its call centre is no longer a booking channel but acts purely as customer care. As per Anand Subramanian, senior director – marketing communications, Ola, “The choice was between the call centre and the mobile app since the desktop was never a large contributor.” To keep the experience inclusive, the app has been kept very simple which is the secret sauce is in his view.

     

    For Myntra, fashion is a very personal experience. Prasad Kompalli, head of eCommerce platform believes that mobile can truly deliver this experience as it captures user’s lifestyle and context in manner that the desktop cannot.

     

    On the other hand, flipkart has reportedly gone cold on its app-only plans for now, and as per the company spokesperson, “We are constantly experimenting with various aspects of our service to create the best shopping experience for users on our app. Meanwhile, we continue to offer both desktop as well as mobile options.”

     

    Points out Tushar Vyas, chief strategy officer, GroupM South Asia, “There are significantly more users getting added to mobile internet than PC internet and the battle has moved to owning real estate on the consumer’s phone and becoming a destination of choice.” The app-only approach, thus, is a bold move for the future. According to Milind Pathak, COO, Madhouse, the app gives the brand far more control. Also due to the handset native presence, even when the app is closed, it will pass signals making for personalised interactions.

     

    With access to location data, relevant push notifications could be bundled, deals, for instance. Adds Rahul Pandey, CEO and co-founder of mobile advertising agency Bonzai, “An app install on consumer’s device provides a higher chance of engagement, and the ability to collect user specific data, build engagement and do re-targeting.” Apps could well be the pillar leading to the maturity of analytics based marketing as against the currently prevalent acquisition driven model.

     

    According to Joono Simon, co-founder of Bengaluru-based Brave New World, “The marketing efforts to drive traffic to the site and the app are a resource drain. The websites in the current avatar won’t last long.” Agrees and adds Vivek Bhargava, CEO, iProspect-Communicate2, “A key advantage of this approach is that brands have to advertise less once the user starts to order through the app.” However common wisdom is pointing to the fact that shifting consumers desktop to mobile will require a more engaged and evolved ecosystem.

     

    Whether and when a company decides to go app only requires a careful calibration of how its core consumers are evolving. Flipkart backing down obviously had a lot to do with buyers in big ticket categories that require a lot of comparison and browsing before purchase — electronic goods and computer components for instance — threatening to shift en masse to the competition. While marketers often dream of leading the consumer, following her will perhaps be the best way to go, this time around.

     

    Source:The Economic Times

    Copyright © 2015, Bennett, Coleman & Co. Ltd. All Rights Reserved

    Licensed to republish

     

  • Meru Cab's new campaign has been conceptualized, created and executed by Apostrophe Films Pvt. Ltd

    Meru Cabs unveils first nationwide ad campaign

    By A Correspondent

     

    Meru Cabs has launched its first nationwide thematic marketing campaign with the tagline ‘Ab Haath Na Hilao, Bas App Dabao’ highlighting how Meru continues to offer reliable travel experience now delivered via Meru Cabs App.

     

    The new ad campaign is based on the universal insight that the most common way commuter’s find a cab is by wildly flailing one’s hands which tends to be very stressful experience. The campaign brings to the fore how travelling by Meru Cabs reduces the physical and mental stress by giving commuters a comfortable ride and peace-of-mind. The new TVC will be seen across general entertainment and news channels.

     

    Meru Cab’s new campaign has been conceptualized, created and executed by Apostrophe Films Pvt. Ltd. The new ATL campaign will be supported with a radio, social media and outdoor campaign with ad creatives on 1300 Meru cabs across Mumbai, Delhi, Hyderabad, Bangalore, Chennai & Jaipur.

     

    Commenting on the launch of Meru’s first ad campaign, Rathin Lahiri CMO, Meru Cabs said, “As pioneers in the radio cabs industry, Meru was the first player to address barriers in the category to providing consumers a reliable travel experience. Realizing the everyday challenges commuters face by having to haplessly waving their hands, Meru strives to own this universal insight by highlighting the stress free and reliable journey consumers can get through the Meru cabs app.”

     

    Commenting on the creative insight of the campaign, Ashish Khanzanchi, Managing Partner, Enormous said “Since the idea was a flapping the hand, we decided to give the commercial a strict economy of movement. Almost static frames with the protagonist staring at the camera, so the effect of waving the hand would be isolated and amplified. This in turn also gives the Meru Cabs commercial a quirky and memorable execution.”

     

  • Meru is testing specialized services like Meru Select, aimed at its regular users and Meru Corporate, aimed at corporate customers

    Now Meru to offer special services to key customers

    By Preethi Chamikutty

     

    From zero to 5,600 radio taxis in under five years, with a presence in four metros to boot, has helped Meru Cabs become the largest such service in the country. With Rs300 crore in revenue, Meru has raced ahead of competitors like Easy Cabs and Mega Cabs, with the company even claiming that it is the third largest radio taxi operator in the world. The sauce of this success is no rocket science, at least on paper: a clean car, a knowledgeable driver, non-negotiable fares and a tamperproof meter.

     

    “You provide these things to the customer and he will be happy,” said Gavin D’abreo, who heads marketing & sales for Meru. This, of course, is just the beginning, and as Rajesh Puri, CEO, pointed out: “This industry is still at a nascent stage and there is a lot of upfront investment that needs to be done. Technology has been a major investment for us to improve our service offerings.”

     

    So what next for Meru, now that it has established a sound base in Mumbai, Delhi, Hyderabad and Bengaluru? Well for starters, turning profitable is the priority, with Mr Puri expecting to be in black in three out of four cities at the end of the quarter ending March. Beyond that, identifying new revenue streams by offering specialized services is the way to scale up operations.

     

    Meru, which has partnered with the airports in the cities it operates in, is now testing out a service called Meru Select in Hyderabad. This is aimed at giving its regular users a guarantee of up to 80 per cent of getting a Meru cab when they book for one. The trigger for Meru Select: only 5 per cent of its customer base gives Meru about 60 per cent of its revenues.

     

    “Because of limited inventory, customers have complained to us about the non-availability of cabs when they order for one. We work on first come, first serve basis, but our loyal customers get an additional assurance of getting a cab with Meru Select,” explained Mr D’abreo.

     

    Meru Corporate, aimed at corporate customers who want more than a service from point A to point B as being offered by Meru currently, is another service being tested. Meru Corporate is targeted at executives who have to travel from one meeting to another across the city in a day.

     

    A preloaded plastic card will be given to the eligible executive, which will be swiped by the Meru driver at the end of day’s travel. Some 21 companies have so far expressed interest in this service and Meru is in the process of giving the finishing touches. Other services being planned are transporting kids in absence of their parents as well as a service for medical emergencies.

     

    Also on cards are expansions into Chennai, Kolkata, Ahmedabad and Vizag. However, such growth won’t come easy. One reason for that are restrictions – fares, distances and licences are regulated by the government. Another hindrance in growth, according to Mr Puri, is finding drivers. And then there’s competition. Mega Cabs, the oldest brand in the radio taxi business, is present in seven cities. Then there’s Easy Cabs -present in four cities – which are available at malls, hotels and even hospitals. Niche services like For She, an exclusive ladies taxi service driven by lady chauffeurs in three cities, are also available.

     

    Yet, there are brands – like Gold Cabs and Star Taxi – that have not been able to survive the tough regulatory environment and the investments that need to be pumped into not just vehicles but the technology back end. Meru estimates the size of the radio taxi business in India at 9,500 cabs across Mumbai, Delhi, Bengaluru & Hyderabad, which is growing at 50-60 per cent per annum. Nabankur Gupta, founder, Nobby Brand Architects, a brand consultancy, reckons the radio taxi space has tremendous scope for brand building.

     

    “What exists today is commodity service with a name; a brand can be built only if customers come back to a brand for the experience they get. Security and assurance of good service will help build stronger brands in this space,” said Mr Gupta. He suggested having two levels of service offerings – one level is a limousine kind of service, which is about exclusivity and pampering; the second level is the existing sedans that can cater to the mass market. Mr Puri of Meru agrees there is a demand for super premium service in India, but the constraints are not just restricted to acquisition of vehicles. “To have differentiated cabs, there has to be a differentiated pricing system and a backend IT infrastructure to support it. Technology is the most important aspect of our business.”

     

    He adds that evidence of Meru’s tech edge is that its drives can do “six duties a day compared to 2-3 duties of others. Our backend alerts them about the next job nearest to where they are positioned,” explained Mr Puri.

     

    Mr Gupta says in countries like Singapore and Hong Kong radio taxis have made a big difference and have also replaced the public taxi fleet. “Black & yellow taxi drivers should be spoken to and, if they can be taken over, we will have a much better taxi service in our cities,” he suggested.

     

    Source:The Economic Times
    Copyright © 2012, Bennett, Coleman & Co. Ltd. All Rights Reserved