PickMe


Q: How would you describe PickMe’s brand journey so far?
A: The official brand of Digital Mobility Solutions Lanka, PickMe is a rapidly growing digital mobility software service provider. Launched in 2015, it is one of Sri Lanka’s most successful start-ups in recent times.
Technology is a great enabler in making ideas and concepts that were previously thought to be impossible possible, which pushed our brand to come to life.
After months of researching and studying the various solutions and business models that were emerging globally in the tech space, attending multiple conferences to draw inspiration and exploring the impact of technology in the mobility space, we understood that the state of public transport in Sri Lanka was obsolete and required imperative disrupting.
PickMe has been growing and venturing out to new arms, improving efficiency and revolutionising the mobility sector in Sri Lanka, benefiting all stakeholders from drivers and merchants, to customers and passengers.
We’re the market leader in ride hailing and have since evolved into various projects from food delivery to grocery, parcel delivery and much more.
The PickMe application offers ride hailing, rentals, trucks, food and marketplace delivery, PickMe Flash for parcel delivery and Scan N’Go, the QR scanning technology that enables card payments by connecting the user’s app with the driver-partner app.
We envision an intelligent upgrade of the mobility sector, consequently inspiring Sri Lanka towards matching global standards in effective problem solving via technology. We’re committed to innovating and finding solutions that push boundaries in the mobility space using state-of-the-art advanced technology.

Q: Your assessment of the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on the brand is…?
A: While the pandemic caused a great deal of disruption to our daily lives, it also presented opportunities – especially for digital-based businesses. For PickMe it was a time to strengthen and grow our software delivery.
We found ourselves trying to fathom human thought processes under lockdown conditions; and by applying digital solutions, we ideated the most relevant applications to fit this environment.
Hundreds of our software developers worked from their homes during the lockdowns to create unique service products like PickMe Market and PickMe Flash that added value to people’s day-to-day lives.
As a testament to our efforts, PickMe was recognised along with global players – viz. FedEx and Holubuva – at the World Agility Forum 2021.

Q: What are the challenges PickMe faces in the prevailing corporate environment?
A: Digital companies that encroach on other countries’ local economies through porous cyber borders and exploit their resources without compensating the host nation is the biggest challenge.

This creates an unfair environment for local operators in the respective nations, terrestrial by nature, with registered offices in their country of origin, even though they operate on a similar digital platform.

These companies are bound by the taxation and business laws of their countries.
This was exposed in a 2019 Central Bank report and recently, the World Bank’s Chief Economist for East Asia and Pacific spoke of the need for proper regulation for local digital companies to thrive.
I believe it is time for the authorities to interfere; because if nothing is done, it is to the detriment of Sri Lankan businesses.
While we’re fighting for dollars for our survival, these international companies syphon profits made at the expense of the country with ease.

Q: How important is the role of marketing in creating brand value?
A: Understanding consumers’ needs, their pain points and the customer journey, while paying close attention to user experience and adapting localisation to your strategies, will benefit the marketing effort to reach optimum brand value for your business.
The world is moving at such a rapid speed that if you don’t adapt, you’ll fall behind; if you adapt, you’re on leverage.
Humbled by the fact that we were able to use our technology to help the country and its people in the face of the COVID-19 pandemic, we’re committed to innovating and finding dynamic solutions that push boundaries in the mobility space – i.e. by using big data and world-class technology, and having a dynamic team and strong partner network.
Our vision is to upgrade the efficiency, reliability and safety of the country’s mobility services, by introducing technology, standards, order and convenience to the system.

Telephone 7433433 Email social@pickme.lk Website www.pickme.lk