Ola Buys Public Transport App Ridlr to Bring ‘New Opportunities’

Ola buys public transport ticketing app Ridlr, could focus on bus and metro services.

Ola could be eyeing the public transport sector for its services now. 

(Photo Courtesy: @OlaCabs/Twitter)

In a move that could aid Ola’s technological improvement at the backend, the ride hailing platform has acquired Ridlr, a public transport ticketing app, for an undisclosed amount.

OIa confirmed that all of Ridlr’s 64 employees will be joining its team, and founder Briraj Vaghani will continue to lead the operations. In all likelihood, Ola will integrate features of Ridlr into its ecosystem, which could definitely do with better navigation support for its fleet of drivers.

This deal come a few months after Ola managed to grab FoodPanda’s India business, something that has yet to show its impact in the market.

Unlike FoodPanda, which caters to the food delivery business, the sense of buying Ridlr has an interesting tune to it. And Ola sharing its insights about Ridlr’s value clearly puts the move into focus.

The acquisition complements Ola’s continued efforts to integrate its mobility platform with public transportation infrastructure. The integration of Ridlr will bring new opportunities for users to serve their mobility needs.     

Ola India 

The part where Ola says ‘new opportunities’ did catch our eye, especially when you consider that Ridlr has been catering to services like BEST buses in Mumbai and the Delhi Metro.

Ridlr’s proprietary IoT devices bring digital capabilities to public transportation in India. Combining Ridlr’s innovations in mass transit with Ola’s mobility products will enable true multi-modal mobility solutions for users at scale. With this acquisition, Ola will bring new technology and mobility options as it works to expand into andpartner with cities in India and abroad.

Ola India 

Does this mean Ola is now eyeing its next phase of Indian journey by expanding its horizons beyond cabs and autos? Why not. From a general point of view, there are still millions of people who still prefer (because of their budget) public transport over shared cabs or services like Ola.

Ola has hit a few bumps on its way to changing the riding dynamics of people. They’ve even tried out the electric vehicle model, which hasn’t found a positive response from the drivers for various reasons.

This is an unconquered territory for most car-hailing providers in the world, but how Ola manages to make the best of joining hands with the public services raises many questions as well. How will Ola partner with BEST or the Delhi Metro? Will Ola users get special benefits, and if so, how will that be adjusted to the current revenue model for these services?

Either way, Uber is sure to keep a close eye on how this development pans out and make its move depending on the situation.