If I requested you to consider a couple of meals supply providers, chances are high you’d consider Seize, Beep, foodpanda, and airasia Superapp. 

Nicely, two out of 4 of these names have simply determined to crew as much as supply their providers. 

In a press launch immediately, airasia Superapp and foodpanda introduced their partnership. With this, customers of the 2 apps may be glad to listen to that you could now discover airasia experience—airasia Superapp’s ride-hailing providers—on the foodpanda app. 

Nevertheless, this at present solely appears to be a banner that leads you to the airasia Superapp, and we’re not seeing any integrations but.

In the meantime, foodpanda might be powering airasia Superapp’s meals supply providers, which implies that meals ordered on the superapp will now be delivered by foodpanda riders. 

The teamwork doesn’t finish right here, no less than not if Tony Fernandes has something to say about it. 

The CEO of Capital A shared that there are numerous extra alternatives airasia Superapp and foodpanda can discover, particularly fee options through BigPay, joint loyalty programmes with airasia rewards, and doable subscription plans.

We are able to speculate loads of the reason why this partnership has occurred. For one, it’s in all probability cost-saving for airasia handy over the meals supply providers to foodpanda, and foodpanda can now present its customers e-hailing providers, which it had by no means provided earlier than. 

On that word, we nonetheless can’t appear to search out the ride-hailing service banner on the foodpanda app on the time of writing. 

Another publications have already seen a banner on their foodpanda app although that directs them to the airasia app for experience bookings. So, maybe the banner remains to be rolling out in batches.

Specializing in dine-in

One more reason for this partnership cited within the press launch is that the airasia Superapp’s meals choices will now “transfer in the direction of a dine-in mannequin”.

Mainly, airasia Superapp’s meals part is claimed to transition across the finish of Might to now not supply meals supply however will encourage customers to go to foodpanda as an alternative. However the meals tab will stay to permit customers to make dine-in orders.

In accordance with Lowyat, airasia meals riders might be shifted to the corporate’s different providers corresponding to its ride-hailing arm or Teleport, Capital A’s logistics arm.

A final-ditch effort? 

It’s simple to take the 2 platforms’ phrase for it and see this partnership as a trigger for celebration. However is that this really the approaching collectively of two iconic family names, or a signifier of how nicely (or not) their enterprise is doing?

To me, this partnership between foodpanda and airasia appears to be their means of going up towards their greatest competitor, Seize. 

Seize affords just about every thing that foodpanda does, whereas additionally providing ride-hailing providers in addition to journey options. The airasia app does supply some issues Seize doesn’t, particularly its flights and its Shariah-compliant Ikhlas choices. 

However flights apart, Seize is arguably essentially the most inclusive superapp within the Malaysian market proper now, and maybe essentially the most dependable too. From private expertise, I discovered that airasia experience doesn’t have the identical variety of drivers out there, and foodpanda tends to have fewer meals choices, no less than in my space. 

Moreover, the entire thought of a superapp to me is that one singular entity is ready to fulfill my varied wants. Having to delegate a part of your service and ultimately take away that stated service defeats the aim of a superapp. 

This simply drives house that airasia’s ambition is now not changing into ASEAN’s superapp however only a journey superapp.

But, I perceive it is smart logistically and it’s a win-win state of affairs for each events. You may also argue that this affords “nice worth, selection, and comfort to all clients”, as Jakob Angele, CEO of foodpanda, stated within the press launch.

Whereas airasia and foodpanda’s collaboration is only a partnership, not a merger, it additionally appears like they’re simply eliminating one another as competitors whereas handing off their duties.

This finally ends up giving shoppers fewer choices, particularly in the case of meals supply providers. In any case, competitors helps preserve costs low and high quality excessive. 

On the finish of the day, I’m simply undecided who this partnership is serving. As harsh as this will likely sound, it doesn’t seem to be it’s the purchasers, however I’d wish to be confirmed unsuitable.

One of many good issues to come back out of this partnership seems to be some offers on each the meals supply and ride-hailing fronts. 

Whereas these reductions and promotions would possibly tempt some customers to obtain and use these apps, although, this stuff are solely non permanent.

How are each platforms really going to supply dependable, high quality providers that problem that of opponents corresponding to Seize? Is that even the purpose?

Solely time will inform.

• Be taught extra concerning the airasia Superapp right here.
• Be taught extra about foodpanda right here.
• Learn different articles we’ve written about Malaysian startups right here.