Brands: Grab

Inside the exclusive programme for startups by Grab Malaysia, GXBank leaders & Endeavor Malaysia

[This is a sponsored article with Grab.]

“This is not the typical tech or startup networking event that we usually go to,” Dennis Lee, CEO and co-founder of CloudJoi, told us when we met him at one of Scale Up by Endeavor’s (Scale Up) sessions.

To Dennis, people typically attend business events to connect with industry peers or to source for funding. 

But he found that the exclusive nature of Scale Up makes it a more curated experience for founders who are focused on seeking guidance, like himself. He joined the recent Cohort 5.

To better understand how Scale Up works, we also spoke to Endeavor and its recent programme partners, Grab Malaysia and GXBank.

Scaling up emerging startups

Initially from New York City, Endeavor is an organisation that supports a global community of entrepreneurs. Its core mission is to build thriving entrepreneurial ecosystems in emerging and underserved markets around the world.

One way Endeavor achieves this is through its Scale Up programme. A four-month programme, Scale Up is designed to boost the trajectory of early-stage and high-potential entrepreneurs.  

It offers curated mentorship, fosters an entrepreneur-to-entrepreneur community, and equips founders with the resources to develop and execute long-term growth strategies.

“At Endeavor, what we do is basically help the growth stage startups, [but] we realised that there are a lot of startups that don’t fit that criteria quite yet, they’re just at the cusp, so that’s what this [Scale Up] programme is created for,” Ammar Afzar, a representative from Endeavor, explained.

“We want to take these people who have the potential [and] help push them, nudge them over the line.”

So far, Endeavor has successfully guided five cohorts for its Scale Up programme. The most recent one just ended in October.

Grab Malaysia Managing Director Adelene Foo and her colleague, Fadrizul Hasani, CTO of GXBank, joined as mentors for Cohort 5 of Scale Up. 

Since Grab’s inception in 2012, both Adelene and Fadrizul have played different roles in the organisation to achieve Grab’s aim of creating a positive impact in Malaysia. Some ways they’ve been doing this are by helping startups sharpen leadership skills, expand business strategies, and leverage tech and data for growth. 

As for why Grab Malaysia and GXBank came on as partners this round?

“Working with Endeavor gives us the meaningful opportunity to give back, sharing our knowledge and experiences to assist our country’s burgeoning start-ups in realising their full potential.”

“With physical presence regionally and global R&D centres, we bring a wealth of experience in identifying and addressing hyperlocal needs whilst navigating various regulatory, socio-economic and technological terrains,” said Adelene.

For her, one of the key lessons she learnt while being a part of Grab is learning to let go and trust others. As the company size grew, she found that creating the right structures that work for Grab’s team made letting go easier.

“The idea is you still empower your team to be the best version of themselves, [then] the team can scale. [They’ll] have the right autonomy and trust to also build and develop their teams downwards,” Adelene shared.

Fadrizul, who is also the first software engineer at Grab (onboarded back in 2011), highlighted a key lesson he learned from his mentor: passion cannot be taught. 

“You can’t instil in someone a genuine love for what they do, and that kind of enthusiasm and belief in a cause makes a tremendous difference.” He shared how experiences with unaligned team members taught him the importance of early detection and mission alignment. 

“Being a mentor aligns deeply with my own passion and vision to reignite the technology start-up scene in Malaysia. My goal is to contribute to a vibrant ecosystem where innovation thrives and start-ups are energised to make a significant impact,” he added. 

How is this startup programme really different?

Having learnt from previous cohorts, Endeavor Malaysia organised this year’s programme to be a more intimate learning experience with industry leaders. 

Take its demo day, for instance. Instead of the usual pitch presentations in front of a crowd, Scale Up changed it to one-on-one or one-to-four mentorship sessions. This format allowed participants to gain tailored feedback and have more in-depth discussions with seasoned mentors.

While the programme doesn’t promise funding, it delivered something arguably more valuable—key insights and real-world lessons on scaling a business. 

Over 70 mentors, including some of Malaysia’s most accomplished entrepreneurs like Eric Cheng of Carsome and Loi Tuan Ee of Farm Fresh, have shared their expertise with participants through Scale Up. 

Endeavor also takes the extra step to assign entrepreneurs with a dedicated Endeavor Account Manager. 

These account managers curate a list of suitable mentors according to a mix of factors, like industry, company size, challenges, and scaling approaches. The team ensures compatibility by conducting conflict of interest checks, with the aim of setting up productive matches.

Tailored guidance for ambitious startups

Thanks to Scale Up’s mentor matching feature, CloudJoi found itself paired with this year’s new mentors—Adelene Foo from Grab and Fadrizul Hasani from GXBank.

As a ticketing platform for performing arts, culture, and live entertainment shows, CloudJoi learnt a number of relevant insights from its tech giant mentors.

One lesson that particularly struck a chord with Dennis was Grab’s focus on word-of-mouth marketing. 

Adelene shared how every new feature or product at Grab is designed with the goal of sparking customer referrals, which helps reduce marketing costs while growing the brand organically.

This strategy resonated with Dennis as CloudJoi also relies on referrals. “We’re trying to repackage it and we’re trying to see where it fits us. Refer a friend or pay it forward, buy one more ticket for the underprivileged, all these kinds of things,” he explained.  

Fadrizul, too, brought a wealth of guidance to the table and mentored CloudJoi with a hands-on approach.

“I think he sees us as the younger version of himself, like he knows the struggle, so he always reminds us to not go overhead when we try something.”

Empowering local entrepreneurs and businesses

While we weren’t part of the cohort, Adelene and Fadrizul still divulged some core takeaways for founders in an interview with us. They were:

1. Never be afraid to ask for help.
2. Focus on people and strengthen the passion in your team.
3. Don’t focus on blame, instead look at how to solve the problem.
4. Find ways to raise the bar.

Looking at it from a wider lens, the importance of mentorship and collaboration is undeniable. By connecting with key industry players like Adelene and Fadrizul, startups like CloudJoi are gaining more than just business advice.

More of a hands-on approach from mentors who are invested in the growth of these startups might be just what Malaysia’s entrepreneurial ecosystem needs to advance further.

That’s why for entrepreneurs looking to turn their ideas into a thriving business, Scale Up could be the catalyst you need to accelerate your journey.

• Learn more about Endeavor Malaysia here.
• Learn more about Grab here, and GXBank here.
• Read about other Malaysian startups here.

Also Read: Meet 5 M’sian founders who made it & are now helping to grow the next gen of startups

Featured Image Credit: ChunChieh Keong

Are the fees fair? Grab’s timestamp feature expose truth behind its delivery fee discrepancies

A few months ago, a user of Grab’s monthly subscription plan, GrabUnlimited, shared that he was charged a higher delivery fee as opposed to regular users of the app. 

Grab’s response to this, however, was that these discrepancies are actually not a result of unfair charging practices. In reality, these price fluctuations are based on factors such as the time a user clicks into the Food tile on the Grab app.

Please be assured that we do not price discriminate amongst users. Prices are always shown based on real-time market conditions, which are logged at the start of the order. There are times when the market conditions can change drastically within a short frame of time, which can result in two users seeing different fees for the same order.

– GrabFood Singapore

Grab now logs the time you start your food orders

In order to address such concerns and improve transparency, Grab has rolled out a new product update that comes with a timestamp feature, which aims to provide more clarity to users as to when their delivery fee is calculated.

As users tap into the Food tile to browse their food options, the timestamp logs the start time of their order placement. This timestamp becomes crucial in determining the fees that users will be charged for their delivery. 

Upon tapping the Food tile, the app holds the fee for a period of time. This ensures users have ample time to browse and place their orders at the initial fee shown to them, preventing constant fluctuations to ensure a better overall user experience. 

At the crux of it, even minute differences can lead to different delivery fees. As such, if two users enter the Food tile at slightly different start times, their delivery fees may also differ accordingly.

That said, users who enter the Food tile at the exact same time can expect to be charged the same fee. 

Comparing fees: GrabUnlimited vs non-GrabUnlimited

With the rollout of this new timestamp feature, the Vulcan Post team decided to conduct a test to compare delivery fee outcomes between GrabUnlimited and non-GrabUnlimited subscribers. 

We ordered food from the same restaurant using two devices – one with GrabUnlimited and the other without – to check if there were any pricing differences between them. This test was repeated 10 minutes later to explore the impact of timing on delivery fees. 

To provide a comprehensive overview of GrabFood’s delivery pricing, this experiment covered three timings on a weekday during breakfast, lunch and dinner hours. Each test also used Grab’s Saver option for the lowest delivery fee, and it’s worth noting that GrabUnlimited users receive up to S$3 off delivery fees as part of their S$5.99 monthly plan. 

Breakfast

Lunch

Dinner

The final verdict

Based on these test results, it’s clear to see that differences in delivery fees are unrelated to one’s subscription status as a GrabUnlimited subscriber. 

Throughout various timings of the test, there were no price discrepancies found between the two devices, provided that we clicked into Grab’s Food tile simultaneously. Notably, disparities in pricing emerged only after a 10-minute interval, which proves that the key driver of the fee differences is based on the time at which a user enters the Food tile. 

With Grab’s new timestamp feature, users can now better understand when their delivery fees are calculated.

This article was written in collaboration with Grab Singapore.

Featured Image Credit: GrabFood / Screenshots from Theng Wei Gan via Facebook

Also Read: Time is money: Which ride-hailing app in S’pore will win the test in terms of price and speed?

Here’s how I maximise my GrabRewards with the Grab X Maybank Credit Card

[This is a sponsored article with Grab Malaysia.]

As someone who doesn’t own a personal vehicle, I rely heavily on Grab and their services to travel around, order food, or make deliveries.

That said, I try to get the most value out of the cash that I spend.

Luckily, Grab also compensates users with GrabRewards depending on how much they spend while using their services, which can be used to redeem various discounts and products.

Additionally, Grab X Maybank Credit Card users such as myself, have the opportunity to earn significantly more points. Here’s how I take advantage of my credit card to earn up to 5x  GrabRewards.

Making sure I set GrabPay as my default payment method

I must first ensure that my primary payment method is set to the GrabPay Wallet. Furthermore, I let my Grab X Maybank Credit Card automatically top up my eWallet whenever its balance goes below a certain amount.

This is because I earn 5x of GrabRewards for every Ringgit topped up by using the Grab X Maybank Credit Card.

It’s in contrast to earning no GrabRewards for using other top-up methods, such as other cards, FPX, and linked bank accounts.

Best of all, there is no hard limit on how many points I can earn in a single transaction.

Paying for Grab services with the Grab X Maybank Credit Card

Using the Grab X Maybank Credit Card, I can gain 5x of GrabRewards for every Ringgit spent on Grab services.

For instance, if I spend RM20 on either GrabFood, Grab Ride, GrabExpress, or GrabMart with the credit card, I’d get 100 GrabRewards.

If I didn’t have the Grab X Maybank Credit Card, I’d only gain up to 1.5x of GrabRewards for every Ringgit spent via GrabPay Wallet or PayLater by Grab. This means that I would earn less for the same RM20 spent.

I personally use the card to pay my utility bills, student loans, and more. Keep in mind that there are some transactions that will not earn you GrabRewards, such as payments via JomPay and FPX, and more.

I always ask merchants if I can pay with GrabPay Wallet 

Other than using the credit card to top up and pay for Grab services, another effective way I found to accumulate GrabRewards fast is to pay using GrabPay QR for meals at restaurants or while I’m grocery shopping.

I make it a point to always check with the merchants in-store or online on whether I can pay using GrabPay.

If not, I can still top up my GrabPay Wallet and earn 5x GrabRewards, then pay using the merchant’s DuitNow QR code. 

If there isn’t any, then I still have the credit card up my sleeve, and will opt to pay using the Grab X Maybank Credit Card so that I can at least earn a few GrabRewards.

Now that I’ve earned all these GrabRewards, there’s not much point in simply hoarding them, though. 

So, here’s what I use the accumulated GrabRewards for

After accumulating as many GrabRewards as possible, I often use them to get discounts on Grab Rides, GrabFood orders, and when paying for meals at restaurants using GrabPay.

In addition to that, I use the points as an entry fee to take part in Grab’s lucky draws, where you could win prizes like smartphones, in-store vouchers, and more.

There’s also the option to redeem high-ticket products like a bladeless standing fan or even a rice cooker in the Grand Edition section. With the with Grab X Maybank Credit Card, I’m able to accumulate points that can help me redeem the Grand Edition prize.

Here’s how you can get a Grab X Maybank Credit Card too

To be eligible for the credit card with no annual fees (for life), you need to be between the ages of 21 to 65 years old, and earn a minimum annual income of RM24,000. You should also be an existing Grab and Maybank2u user before or after applying for the credit card, and have gone through the usual eKYC process when registering for a card.

Once approved, existing Maybank2u users will first gain access to a digital card, and the physical card will be delivered to you within 10 working days. Those who appreciate the option of paying from their phones can link the credit card by adding it as a payment method on the app.

You can have a look at this FAQ if you need a more detailed explanation of how to do it.

Sign up now for extra benefits valid until Dec 31, 2022

New Grab X Maybank Credit Card holders will be eligible for the welcome bonuses such as 1,000 GrabRewards and six months of Grab Platinum tier membership, and RM50 worth of Grab vouchers.

The offer applies when you spend RM300 within the first 45 days from your credit card’s approval date. Also, you can get RM200 cashback for spending RM500 within the first 45 days from the credit card’s approval date.

If you rely heavily on Grab and the services they provide, getting the Grab X Maybank Credit Card is a wise choice to get the most value from the money you have spent.

• Find out more information about the Grab X Maybank Credit Card promo here.
• Read other articles we’ve written about Grab here.

Also Read: TikTok takes online shopping interactivity to new heights for M’sian merchants this 11.11

Featured Image Credit: Vulcan Post

A cut above the rest: How the Lim siblings grew SK Jewellery into one of S’pore’s leading jewellers

SK Jewellery has grown to become a household name in Singapore since its inception 31 years ago. 

Formerly known as Soo Kee Jewellery, the jewellery stalwart’s origins can be traced back to a humble sundry goods shop at Joo Chiat called Soo Kee, that was previously run by Lim Poon Soo.

He had grand ambitions to helm his own goldsmith shop because he believed that the jewellery line was the best line to be in, since its inventory never loses value. Sadly, he never got to achieve his dream as he passed away at the young age of 50.

However, his passing became the catalyst for the founding of SK Jewellery, as his three children — Mary, Peter and Daniel Lim — sought to fulfil their father’s dream in his stead.

Over the past three decades, SK Jewellery has greatly evolved — from offering yellow gold jewellery in the 1990s, to creating lab-grown diamonds and unique collections with well-known designers and brands, such as Walt Disney, in recent years. 

“Our core belief is that a good piece of jewellery should not only enhance one’s appearance, but also bring joy as they’re often offered as a precious gift to celebrate an important moment in life,” said Daniel, co-founder of SK Jewellery. 

“We differentiate ourselves from our competitors by ensuring that all of our jewellery pieces are uniquely designed and meaningfully crafted. We only use the best materials available, and employ only best-in-class production techniques. For example, our gold comes from pure gold bars found in established refineries, rather than recycled gold. We don’t scrimp on quality to save cost.”

Pivoting to e-commerce during COVID-19

The COVID-19 pandemic greatly affected many businesses, and SK Jewellery was no exception. Like most other retail brands, the lockdowns forced SK Jewellery to temporarily shut its physical stores and pivot to digital channels instead.

Additionally, with consumer demand for cashless payment methods on the rise, the company decided to integrate digital payment options into their checkout process.

“Customers were expressing their interest in purchasing using GrabPay, which allowed them to accumulate GrabRewards points for the redemption of other rewards,” explained Daniel. 

He added that when “Buy Now, Pay Later” emerged as a new payment trend in 2020, SK Jewellery saw an opportunity to capture more market share and decided to offer PayLater by Grab as an online checkout option. This provided their customers with greater choice and flexibility by allowing them to pay at the end of the month or via four interest-free instalments.

The total number of customers availing of PayLater instalments rose by 67 per cent from January to April this year, with almost 40 per cent of customers who have opted to use Grab’s buy now, pay later service being men.

SK Jewellery’s partnership with the homegrown superapp does not end there. It also incorporated GrabExpress as a delivery option, with insurance automatically included for items to be delivered and handled by a well-trained delivery fleet. 

“We recognise that, ultimately, our customers’ needs are ever evolving,” said Daniel. “Grab helped us remain agile and provide our customers with a smoother and more seamless shopping experience, from checkout right through to delivery.”

SK Jewellery also introduced several innovative online-to-offline initiatives, such as video consultations to enable store staff to reach out to customers, as well as hosted regular livestream events to introduce new jewellery collections. 

“The pandemic has taught us that we operate in a rapidly changing business environment. Therefore, it’s important to be nimble and have the courage to embrace change, as this allows you to remain relevant to your customers.”

Looking to the future

Since social distancing measures and travel restrictions were relaxed earlier this year, SK Jewellery has seen its sales bounce back to pre-pandemic levels. Restrictions over the last two years also meant that customers now had more disposable income to spend on luxury goods, noted Daniel.

“Coupled with our focus on our new collection of lab-grown diamonds, Star Carat Diamonds, and Disney products, customers had a reason to shop and spend with us. In particular, lab-grown diamonds enabled customers to purchase a much bigger carat weight with the same amount of money.”

Moving forward, SK Jewellery plans to continue improving its product offerings and enhance its communication channels with customers. In line with this goal, it is seeking to continue working with partners like Grab to reach a wider audience, both within and beyond Singapore.

“Being authentic and trustworthy have helped us create a brand that is recognised for its high quality products. We also believe in being innovative, identifying opportunities to better serve our customers.”

“We will continue to stay true to our company’s mission, which is to add sparkles to the lives of those around us, and it is through our partnership with companies like Grab that we are able to do so more effectively and retain our competitive edge,” summed up Daniel.

This article was written in collaboration with Grab.

Featured Image Credit: SK Jewellery

Also Read: YouTuber to serial entrepreneur: Debbie Soon on starting her own jewellery brand at only 25

Calling all social sellers: Grab has a challenge to give away RM35,000 worth of prizes

[This is a sponsored article with Grab Malaysia.]

With Raya around the corner, if you’re a seller creating festive gifts such as kuih Raya or baju Raya, you’re likely now handling tens to potentially hundreds of orders per day.

While handling deliveries yourself was a viable option before this, festive seasons can take a massive toll on your time and operations if you don’t outsource help.

These lead to mistakes being made, and in a worst case scenario, those products that you were rushing to get out before Raya may fail to arrive at customers’ doorsteps in the end.

Outsourcing your deliveries to a third-party service provider like Grab via GrabExpress can ensure that the likelihood of this happening is lessened.

But first of all, what is GrabExpress?

To elaborate, GrabExpress is an on-demand delivery service by Grab that helps individuals and businesses deliver their products to customers by taking advantage of Grab’s extensive e-hailing fleet.

For example, if a business needs to send a set of Raya cookies but is too busy to do so, they can outsource the delivery efforts to GrabExpress via the Grab superapp, which can be downloaded from the Google Play Store or the Apple App Store.

For businesses and individuals who make deliveries very often, Grab offers the GrabExpress Super Sender subscription plan to cut delivery costs by more than RM150 a month.

You can subscribe to either the GrabExpress Super Sender Lite or the Plus plan at RM1 and RM3 a month, respectively.

The Super Sender Lite gives you a 3% discount on 100 GrabExpress deliveries a month which could net you at least RM36 in total discounts or more. The Super Sender Plus, on the other hand, will give you a 5% discount on up to 200 GrabExpress deliveries, which provides you with a minimum of RM150 in savings.

Example: If a seller has 200 deliveries a month that costs from RM15 onwards per delivery, with the 5% discount for each delivery, they can save a minimum of RM150. Find out more about how GrabExpress Super Sender works here.

You could be one of 51 winners to win a share of the RM35,000 prize pool

Other than offering discounts on deliveries, there is also the GrabExpress Super Sender Challenge which will take place until May 1, 2022. 

You could stand a chance to win your share of the RM35,000 prize pool which comprises of Senheng vouchers worth RM600 each for 48 winners and three slots to attend the Facebook Marketing Masterclass on May 12 and May 13, 2022, worth RM2,400 each.

The masterclass is a two-day live webinar hosted by Digital Marketing Consultancy. It will teach you various skills, including creating powerful posts to engage with your fans, setting marketing objectives, ad placements, identifying your target market, and how to promote to them.

To participate in the GrabExpress Super Sender Challenge, you need to sign up for the Super Sender Lite or Super Sender Plus subscription plan and complete ten deliveries in a week using the Super Sender voucher.

Once you complete the weekly challenge, you will receive a Grab app notification with a link to submit a winners shortlist form. You have to come up with the most creative answer for why you should win the RM600 Senheng voucher.

As a grand prize, the top three participants that completed the most deliveries throughout the contest duration will win slots to attend the Facebook Marketing Masterclass mentioned above. 

Grab has a more detailed explanation about the GrabExpress Super Sender subscription and the contest mechanics on their website.

-//-

With that being said, if you’re already a seller that uses GrabExpress often, this challenge is a good opportunity to win some prizes with little extra effort.

Even after the Raya festivities are over, you can still take advantage of the GrabExpress Super Sender subscription plans to cut down on costs when sending your items through a reliable delivery partner.

On top of that, you could also use the GrabRewards points you earned to get additional discounts which help drive down delivery costs too.

• Find out more information about GrabExpress here.
• Find out more about the Facebook Marketing Masterclass here.
• Download the Grab superapp from the Google Play Store or the Apple App Store.

Also Read: Affiliate marketing differs from influencer marketing, but how, and who is it fit for?

Featured Image Credit: Vecteezy

7 real tips shared by M’sian e-commerce sellers on how to reduce monthly operational costs

[This is a sponsored article with Grab.]

Many entrepreneurs would tell you that managing monthly expenditures and cost wisely is one of the main factors of their survivability throughout the pandemic. 

Regardless of the pandemic, balancing monthly overheads while maintaining a healthy revenue will always be key to a business being self sustainable. These costs could include manpower, utilities, marketing, and more. And as a business grows and scales, so too do these costs.

We interviewed a few local businesses like BITTER/SWEET, The Asli Co., Sugirl, and Tracey to get some practical advice on how they reduce their own monthly operating costs to maximise profits.

1. Differentiate between “what you need” and “what you want”

Carmen, the co-founder of Sugirl Desserts, a brand for modern, healthy desserts inspired by local recipes, had some painful lessons in this vein to share, learnt from their previous business decisions.

For example, they wanted to create different types of packaging for the same product, which became an unnecessary cost down the road. “Do not invest a substantial amount of money in packaging before the product is proven to be accepted by the market,” she warned. 

Spending on renovations for their retail store to create a retractable awning for outdoor dining was another unnecessary expense, because they soon realised that no Malaysian was willing to dine outdoors in our eternal summer.

2. Expand only when it’s beneficial to your business

Renting an office is one of the largest factors when it comes to monthly operational costs. While having a dedicated space makes it easier to collaborate and there are fewer distractions, a small team might not be able to fully utilise the entire facility.

BITTER/SWEET, a business that produces artisanal cakes and cupcakes, operates in a home studio to reduce rent and leasing costs. In addition to that, they don’t have to pay for additional water, electricity, and internet bills, further decreasing their overall expenditure.

While this strategy means that they don’t have a storefront or brick and mortar store for now, it also equals to not footing any unnecessary costs until they are absolutely ready for (or want) expansion.

3. It’s ok to be “kiamsiap” for the right things

Being stingy is usually seen as a negative trait, but when it comes to business, it pays to be penny-pinching in the right ways. 

Carmen told us that rental is a cost that they are unable to reduce at this moment, but when it comes to utilities like electricity, they are purposely “kiamsiap” about it. 

During rainy seasons and when it already feels cold, there would be no need to leave the air-conditioning running the whole day, especially if there are no customers. That’s when they will choose to turn it off and save every cent.

4. Plan and strategise carefully to reduce wastage

In the first few months of operations, Carmen shared that food wastage was a huge problem.

“If a food operator doesn’t know how to estimate their sales and simply purchases ingredients, there will be a lot of wastage and that easily eats into profits,” she admitted.

Everything is planned strategically to reduce costs and wastes, such as proper food storage, portion control, and restocking amount. Every dessert at Sugirl Desserts is based on a clear recipe and standard operating procedure so that the portion is fixed. No estimation is required because even 10ml of water is specified. 

There is also a schedule that determines what to buy and how much to buy, which the team at Sugirl Desserts follows diligently. 

5. Outsourcing is your friend

U-Mae Tan, founder and baker of BITTER/SWEET said that by utilising third-party services to send her cakes to customers, she is able to focus more on production and growing the business instead of going through the hassle of looking for a parking when delivering products to their customers.

She utilises delivery services to collect stocks and ingredients from suppliers, which saves her more time and she can focus more on her business orders.

The Asli Co. depends on third-party delivery services as well to send raw materials to Orang Asli mothers who will then turn them into various products including eye pillows, foldable tote bags, and cute pet bandana collars.

By outsourcing this aspect of the business from the start, The Asli Co. founder Jason Wee shared that he’s saved about 336 hours on the road and a lot of money on petrol.

Relying on on-demand delivery service providers, such as GrabExpress, is therefore a common strategy for convenience and speed, but a factor to consider in this is cost. 

Thus GrabExpress currently offers a subscription plan called Super Sender that provides businesses with discount vouchers that can help them to save more than RM150 a month on deliveries.

It costs RM3 per month for the Super Sender Plus, which gives a discount of 5% on 200 deliveries a month, while the Super Sender Lite provides a 3% discount on 100 deliveries.

Example: If a seller has 200 deliveries a month that costs from RM15 onwards per delivery, with the 5% discount for each delivery they can save a minimum of RM150. Find out about how GrabExpress Super Sender works here.

Aside from the delivery aspect, to save even more time to focus on business development, Jason began outsourcing talents for bookkeeping, accounting, and social media marketing too.

Carmen too shared that by outsourcing content creators and designers, you have the flexibility to pick and choose the right freelancer for your company.

6. Choose your service providers wisely

Choosing the right delivery service is a tricky decision. Not only do you have to take into consideration whether you are within range of the delivery service’s coverage area, but after-sale services are equally as important.

Without after-sales services, issues that crop up after deliveries cannot be easily resolved. This could then be seen as bad customer service, even though these issues may have been caused by external factors.

U-Mae herself has benefitted from the live chat feature that’s available on Grab as they are able to address her issues immediately.

And while you may think that part of saving operational costs means opting for a cheaper delivery service, it could end up costing you a lot more in the long run if it is unreliable.

An instance of this happening was when Tracey, a local handbag designer and distributor, received high numbers of returns because their bags were constantly damaged during delivery.

By picking the right service provider, the number of damaged goods are vastly reduced. 

“Choosing an affordable delivery service provider is important, but getting them to hand the items to the customers well and taking care of them throughout the journey is even more important,” the founder noted.

Johnson understands that the era of instant gratification is here whereby people expect to get their online purchases as soon as possible. Now on-demand delivery services, it is possible to have products delivered in a day. 

“Before GrabExpress, our customers had to wait for 2-5 days to get their bag. It takes a while, and their satisfactory level might be affected.”

7. Cultivate close relationships with your suppliers and vendors

Having a good relationship with suppliers and vendors gives businesses the opportunity to create win-win situations. By spacing out the payments to your suppliers, monthly costs can be further controlled.

Carmen has made it a point to always discuss with her vendors on payment terms that can benefit both parties and ensure a healthy cash flow.

-//-

With all that money saved up, it is a wise choice to reinvest those savings. For instance, BITTER/SWEET reinvested their savings towards further developing the business.

Tracey, on the other hand, used the extra cash saved up to purchase useful supplies that will be beneficial to the company. Investing even a small amount could be beneficial in the long run.

Since all businesses operate differently, you need to take a closer look at your operating cost and determine what can be optimised and reduced.

If you own a business and are looking to outsource your deliveries, GrabExpress Super Sender is an alternative method to possibly lower your monthly operational cost and save time.

Here’s how you can subscribe in 3 steps and then use your vouchers on your deliveries:

• Find out more about GrabExpress Super Sender here.

Also Read: What a savvy home cook would want to know about this fridge tech called Prime Fresh

Featured Image Credit: Sugirl, BITTER/SWEET, The Asli Co., Tracey

Is the gig economy all that bad? How S’pore-based platforms have stepped up to support gig workers

The gig economy has seen massive growth over the past few years, and this has drawn the attention of supporters and critics alike.

During the National Day Rally 2021, Prime Minister Lee Hsien Loong brought up the disadvantages that lower-wage workers, including gig workers, faced in terms of protection.

Yet, the demand for flexibility from the workforce has continued to fuel the growth of the gig economy, and it appears that this model is here to stay.

What really led to its development? Why are gig workers doing what they do, and what have companies been doing to alleviate the purported disadvantages that gig economies face? Perhaps, then, it is time to examine this topic in deeper detail.

For a start, the gig economy is defined as a system where people work as part-time, temporary, or independent contractors.

Instead of receiving a fixed monthly income, a gig worker earns based on one-time projects or “gigs” that they complete. This makes for a flexible work environment, in which individuals can choose how much time they want to dedicate, and how many jobs they want to take up. 

In turn, gig work platforms have also begun putting in place initiatives and benefits in order to look after their workers and keep them engaged on the platforms – which we will discuss further later on.

The gig economy’s massive growth in Singapore

According to the Ministry of Manpower (MOM), the number of freelancers in Singapore was around 10 per cent of all employed residents. Globally, a 2019 World Bank estimate suggests that the gig economy workforce has grown consistently, at around 30 per cent annually.

The Covid-19 pandemic has also contributed significantly to this growth. The MOM reported that there were around 228,200 freelancers in Singapore in 2020, as opposed to only 211,000 in 2019.

The number of gig workers has increased and include traditional self-employed professions such as real estate agents, sports coaches and taxi drivers, as well as platform-work based occupations such as private-hire vehicle drivers and delivery-riders.

Key contributors to the growth include companies like Grab, Gojek, and Deliveroo. Individuals sign up for gig work because the gig economy provides them with unique opportunities that full-time work does not.

Why are more people signing up for gig work?

The gig economy provides various opportunities for those who are not able to commit to full-time work, and this impact should not be understated. 

This industry is an inclusive one that fulfils a niche for those who do not fit into models of traditional employment, and allows for all individuals to secure some form of income, in spite of other circumstances.

An independent study by Blackbox Research on gig workers showed that 99 per cent of them expressed job satisfaction, and CEO of Blackbox David Black further noted that “riders value the ability to make their own economic choice to enter and stay in the gig economy”. Almost all in the survey agreed that flexibility was a factor in their choice to do gig work.

A Grab spokesperson interviewed by Vulcan Post revealed that “on gig workers’ end, our platform workers appreciate flexibility in their work arrangements, which they are not able to enjoy in most conventional employer-employee arrangements. They are free to switch between platforms, set their own work patterns and hours, multi-home, and take on other work outside of Grab.”

Similarly, the 2021 MOM Labour Force Report notes that flexibility was a top reason why workers engaged in gig work. Another survey done by Grab also stated that 84 per cent of their long-term riders and drivers chose to work in the gig economy because of its flexibility. One particular Grab rider cited childcare needs and family commitments as the primary reason for switching from a full-time job to gig work. 

This is not a situation unique to Grab. Julian Tan, founder and CEO of FastCo – the parent company of FastGig, a jobs platform that links gig workers to employers – noted that “a large proportion of these workers choose to take up gig work for the flexibility it gives them.”

He added that companies are also increasingly becoming more open to providing new gig opportunities because of the unpredictability of their business demands.

Besides flexibility, the gig economy also provides a backup plan for many other individuals: workers who are retrenched, those without sufficient educational qualifications, or those who are simply in-between jobs.

The gig economy itself acts as a form of insurance, for those who fall through the cracks of a more traditional work model and are not suited for full-time work.

Refining the gig economy model with benefits for workers

Indeed, while the gig model does serve the needs of the workforce, how can we better refine it to offer workers even better benefits and protection?

Yeo Wan Ling, a spokesperson for the National Trades Union Congress (NTUC) told Vulcan Post that “food delivery riders are a particularly vulnerable group as they are unable to claim for work injuries under the Work Injury Compensation Act (WICA) despite being susceptible to skids and falls in wet weather.”

“Medical coverage provided by platform operates is currently inadequate and uneven, leaving little to no income support for riders if they are on medical leave,” she added.

According to a report by the World Health Organisation and the International Labour Organisation, growth in the gig economy has contributed to an increase in worker deaths for those who work over 55 hours a week. The report blames low pay, social isolation, overwork, and exhaustion among other factors.

We must, however, take note that these are general, worldwide circumstances, and are not necessarily applicable to Singapore. In fact, many Singapore-based companies have been very proactive in protecting their gig workers, and all three food delivery platforms offer personal accident insurance.

FastCo, for one, offers a variety of gig work from verified businesses, and takes on the role of processing timesheets and payroll on behalf of its clients to ensure that its “giggers” get paid weekly and on time.

It also works together with its clients to ensure that the gig workers are covered by suitable insurance while they’re on-the-clock.

Similarly, Grab offers a suite of protections for their gig workers, including insurance for accidents, critical illness, and prolonged medical leave. This means that drivers and riders who get into accidents, or have the misfortune of falling ill, will be eligible for payouts from Grab. 

During the height of the pandemic, Grab also introduced Covid-19 income support, which provided drivers and riders a lump sum payment of up to S$500 for those placed on quarantine orders or hospitalised, or up to S$1,000 for those diagnosed with the virus. 

Other benefits for Grab’s drivers and riders include discounts on fuel, vehicle rental, mobile plans, and even car servicing – which all help to significantly reduce their operating costs.

Given that some workers engage in gig work precisely because they are unable to find employment elsewhere due to reasons such as lacking educational qualifications, it’s also a common perception that job progression or moving into full-time work is not possible.

Having identified this issue, Grab also strongly encourages its riders and drivers to take courses for upskilling through its GrabAcademy platform, with many courses available in areas like digital and financial literacy, as well as customer service. The company offers a bonus payout for those who choose to take such courses.

“As an open and flexible platform, Grab is committed to leveraging our technology to support our driver- and delivery- partners in achieving their goals,” said the Grab spokesperson.

There are many courses available in areas like digital and financial literacy, as well as customer service. Grab also uses it as a platform to onboard new riders and drivers, and offers a bonus payout for those who choose to take further courses beyond those required for onboarding.

In addition, Grab consistently engages with their workers with monthly online engagement sessions known as GrabTalk to find out the concerns of Grab drivers and riders, and to act on these concerns. 

In fact, this initiative began even before the pandemic began, with weekly ‘Grab A Drink’ sessions with around 200 riders and drivers turning up for physical engagement sessions.

Grab has also gone the extra mile by teaming up with Intellect and Ngee Ann Polytechnic to launch a Mental Wellness Programme targeted at gig workers.

Platform companies need to keep things running smoothly

Ultimately, fair treatment of gig workers is necessary if these platforms want to keep their services running; the different parts of the ecosystem need to be balanced.

While companies such as FastCo and Grab are businesses first, they have shown with actions that social impact and responsibility for their gig workers are also a key focus – even without legally mandated policies in place.

These companies also need to be able to survive in order to continue providing their services to consumers and, in turn, earning opportunities to gig workers. As such, it would be sensible to expect a commitment to beneficial practices towards gig workers from platforms like Grab, FastCo, and more.

Improving the gig economy is not a one-man job

Everyone has a part to play in bettering the gig economy, and Grab – which is one of the biggest drivers – has been proactively leading the way. With a growing pie of gig workers, efforts to take care of them must be made.

MOM for one, has recently established the Advisory Committee to look into ways to help platform workers, in key areas such as work terms and conditions, better working conditions, as well as medical and injury coverage.

Beyond that, other platform companies are, too, catching on and advocating for gig worker welfare through holistic coverage and engagement sessions.

It is understood that Grab, too, is also in active dialogue with the MOM and the Advisory Committee on their review on enhanced protections.

Companies like Grab and FastCo host engagement sessions to better understand the needs of gig workers, and have pushed out policies to help them even before many people probably even took notice.

If this is not an indication of their commitment to the welfare of their gig workers, what is? Certainly, there are still gaps to be addressed, and it would take the combined efforts of all players – companies, government and even consumers alike to refine the model towards sustainable gig worker welfare.

But gig platform companies are trying to do their part to protect their workers, and their efforts don’t go unrecognised.

Whether it’s due to an enlightened self-interest, social responsibility, or both, it is clear that platform companies are stepping up to protect their workforce, regardless of whether they’re full-time or gig workers.

This article was written in collaboration with Grab.

Featured Image Credit: Grab

Also Read: S’pore FinTech Festival event’s experts say “funding isn’t everything” when running a business

How this zi char brand bounced back from a six-figure debt, now runs 7 outlets across S’pore

Buey Tahan See-Food has garnered a reputation for being a popular local seafood zi char (a Hokkien term used to describe dishes influenced by home-cooked Chinese food) brand in Singapore. 

However, not many are aware that the business almost didn’t make it in their early days.

It was originally called Shi Fu Ge – which also specialises in seafood fare – and was owned by the parents of  Blake Chan, 33, founder and director of Buey Tahan See-Food. Unfortunately, business was not performing well at that time despite it being located along a very popular food street in Sembawang area. 

“For some reason, we just weren’t getting customers,” lamented Blake.

“We tried everything from feng shui, flyer distribution to seven month rites… We just couldn’t get enough customers, so over the course of nine months to a year, we racked up a huge debt.”

Shutting down the business seemed to be the only option left, but not one to be easily daunted, Blake decided to take over the ailing business and rebuild it. 

Delivery business was the unexpected lifeline out of a hefty debt

Taking over a business that’s deep in the red was the biggest business challenge for Blake yet. 

He contemplated many different ways of getting new customers, and finally decided to offer customers the option of delivery. 

He observed that only major fast food brands were providing delivery at the time, so he wanted to bridge this gap and become the first seafood zi char delivery service provider in Singapore.

“I was called naive (for) dreaming big. We (received) no support on the idea, just plenty of negative comments. This was what pushed us forward — we wanted to prove to others that nothing is impossible, as long as we have the right attitude to work on it.”

Thankfully, a close friend of Blake’s — whom he regards as his benefactor — provided a starting capital of S$300, which allowed him to print 12,000 flyers to promote his delivery service. 

He would distribute these fliers daily from 6am to 10pm, sometimes even stretching to 2am. It was laborious work, but each time the business received a new delivery order, he knew that they were on the right track and this fuelled his motivation. 

With the surge of sales from the deliveries, he managed to repay his friend and still have enough money to do a second round of marketing push. This time round, he doubled the flyer quantity and distributed them to HDB estates in Sembawang. 

“(Although this helped to generate more sales), it was still insufficient to pay our rent and the old debts,” he said.

Fortunately, another one of Blake’s friends reached out to him with a business opportunity. His factory was looking for an operator to provide meals for his workers at a low price, and the cherry on top was that there were no rental costs involved. 

The offer was a no-brainer for Blake. He ended up making the big decision to leave the previous premises of his restaurant and shifted into a kitchen located in an industrial area, offering a full-fledged delivery service.

It was this rudimentary version of a ‘cloud kitchen’ that helped enhance his business. 

It was a rollercoaster ride full of ups and downs, but after five years, he finally earned enough to clear the debt and turn a profit, with plans to expand the business.

Juggling business and deliveries at the same time is not easy

Blake started out as the only driver in the early days of Buey Tahan See-Food’s delivery service, but as orders increased, his chef had to step in and help conduct the deliveries. 

“As takeaway orders grew to about 20 to 25 orders a day, I had to hire one of my good friends to be the third driver,” said Blake.

“In the initial stages, we did everything manually (with) paper and pen, and we would tell customers to expect their food to arrive between two and two and a half hours.”

They encountered several delivery mishaps along the way, such as delivering incorrect orders and food delays due to various reasons such as bad weather. 

“Imagine having to be on the road delivering food while being on the Bluetooth speaker and taking in customer complaints and queries. At the same time, I am also trying to update other customers on their orders. This is even harder when it is raining,” Blake shared.

Juggling the roles of running the business and managing his own pool of drivers was difficult, and it became even more so when their delivery orders and dine-in crowd grew, along with Blake’s ambition to deliver orders to his customers in an even shorter timeframe. 

Thus, Blake took the leap to work with third-party food delivery platforms like GrabFood. It has helped them expand their own delivery service by tapping on a ready fleet of drivers that they did not have to invest extra time, effort, or manpower to manage. 

“Honestly, setting up and maintaining a delivery fleet is not easy. When drivers suddenly say they cannot work, then how? You need to re-arrange (deliveries) on the spot,” said Blake. 

“But a delivery platform can help with this and the commission fees are about the same as what I would need to maintain my own fleet.”

Coping with Covid-19 challenges with deliveries 

Blake described the Covid-19 pandemic as a “deadly blow” to Buey Tahan See-Food’s dine-in crowd, with business revenue declining by 50 per cent. However, the brand’s familiarity with delivery services and strong online presence bolstered their earnings. 

“The pandemic has been bad for everyone, but we do what we can to adapt. I decided to invest a bit more in trying out different campaigns and promotions. On my Grab app, I can see what is working well and I also ask (Grab) for recommendations on which campaigns I should try or why some don’t work as well,” said Blake. 

Sales from GrabFood alone consistently contributed about 35 per cent of Buey Tahan See-Food’s total revenue. Blake also took the chance to join more of GrabFood’s marketing campaigns to further grow their online sales in the midst of the pandemic. 

Today, Buey Tahan See-Food has successfully expanded to seven ‘kopitiam’ outlets across Singapore. Blake plans to open more outlets in the future, and is also exploring the idea of venturing out to another type of cuisine to cater to customer demands. 

This article was written in collaboration with Grab Singapore.

Featured Image Credit: Grab Singapore

Also Read: Grab, Lazada, Sea: 14 tech giant alumni that have made a mark in S’pore’s startup world

M’sians confess their worst revenge spending mistakes, and the pitfalls you should avoid

[This is a sponsored article with Grab.]

Proper financial planning sounds easy, only spend what you can, right? While that may have been true before the pandemic, staying cooped up for nearly two years has had an effect on all of our spending habits. 

According to reports, instances of revenge spending among young adults are on the rise. This new type of spending is attributed to people who splurge excessively on things they used to enjoy and spending uncharacteristically on new experiences that they’ve put off before. 

Because hindsight is 20/20 and we want to help you avoid this problem, I spoke to my colleagues about their worst revenge spends this past year in hopes that you can avoid some of our mistakes. 

Marcus, Content Director 

During MCO1.0 I took up cooking for the first time and really enjoyed it. I continued cooking and managed to save a lot of money on dining out. When MCO2.0 was announced, I’ll admit I got a little lazy, but still, I persevered and cooked dinner and lunch for every meal for my family.

When the MCO2.0 was finally lifted in August I’d had enough of cooking and ordered my meals constantly. On a particularly lazy month in November, my transactions for meals alone hit over RM1,000! 

Needless to say, I immediately dusted off my spending journal, forcefully picked up my wok and started cooking again. 

Sarah, Managing Director 

I spent RM500 on rollerblades—and I don’t even like exercising! I bought it during the pandemic because I thought, “Well, I can’t go out to exercise at the gym, I’ll just rollerblade around my carpark.” 

How many times did I actually use them? Three times. And now they’re back in the box. 

Also, I fell down and hit my hand really hard and I got really painful elbow aches for almost two months. I should have known I’m too old (and lazy) for this workout.

Anyone looking to buy a pair of preloved rollerblades? 

Sade, Managing Editor 

So this was around 2020 when I wasn’t going out a lot and I was saving on travel costs (petrol, toll, parking, etc.). At the time, I was playing a lot more games because if I couldn’t live a real life, I could at least live a virtual life. 

Specifically, I started getting into Genshin Impact and I played it on mobile at first but I wanted an upgrade so obviously I needed a gaming laptop. Because I was already so invested in the game, in the span of one week I made quite an impulsive decision to buy a gaming laptop. 

I just asked some tech expert friends for recommendations—I didn’t even do my own research—and they mentioned a model for RM3,800 that was good, so I bought it.

Normally, I would do lots of research and make sure I was getting a good price and bargain, but at that time I thought, if it makes me happy, why not? 

It’s definitely not how I would normally spend pre-pandemic, and now, during the post-pandemic, I don’t think I’d be so lenient with my money anymore. That period between 2020 to mid-2021 was definitely an exception when it came to my spending.

What could they have done differently?

We’re all victims of our impulses sometimes, so it’s good to know how you can avoid costly financial decisions. According to this budgeting hack, you should put impulse buys on a time out. 

This means, if you’re in a physical store, you walk around a bit more before you purchase that item. If you’re shopping online, leave the item in the cart for a week or two. If you find that it still sparks joy, go ahead and purchase it. 

Another useful budgeting hack is to count the hours it would take for you to buy an item. For example, the fully spec’d iPhone 13 Pro Max will cost you RM7,599. If you earn RM3,000 a month, that’s two and half months of work, or 450 hours of work. When thinking about it this way, is it really worth the hours? 

Finally, as most Vulcan Post staffers are pretty frugal and these three stories were the best I could find, I found out that Rikco, our Business Development Executive, also made a big purchase recently but he managed to spend lavishly but in a manageable way. 

Save now, pay later 

Rikco recently purchased a pair of Apple AirPods Pro worth RM849 for only RM199.75 upfront using PayLater by Grab leaving him with more cash in hand for emergencies. 

“I usually like to think for a while before buying things, like for this AirPods for example, I thought about it for a while and since I was eligible to use PayLater, I decided to use that and pay. I secured an RM50 discount by using PayLater too,” Rikco revealed. 

With PayLater, you can also lump together smaller items such as food, groceries, and utilities into a bill that you can split into four-monthly instalments. If you’d rather pay it in one payment, you can too.

To help you stay on top of your finances, the app will also show you an itemised view of your repayments periods and amounts so you can plan your budget better.

Getting started with Grab PayLater

In order to utilise the service, you’ll need to be at least a Silver-tier member (accumulate at least 200 GrabReward Points) and have made three transactions on the app in the recent month.

Besides food, e-hailing rides, and groceries, you can also purchase items from Grab’s partnering merchants such as Lilit, Zalora, All IT Hypermarket (like Rikco did), and more. The full list of merchants can be found within the app.

PayLater automatically deducts funds in the beginning of the next month from your GrabPay Wallet, so you don’t have to worry about late payments as long as you have enough money in your Wallet. 

Plus, when making your first repayment using PayLater, you’ll also receive GrabRewards Points that can be used to offset future transactions.

-//-

Planning your finances properly in 2022 has become even more crucial, especially with the onset of newer COVID variants, recent floods, and reintroduction of gatherings for festive celebrations. 

As mentioned before, the best way to keep your coffers in check is to always be on top of your spending. 

BNPL services like PayLater offer one way to keep your expenses in check, but like any service, it should be used with discretion. Rack up too many incremental payments and you’ll pay for it later. 

• Learn more about Grab PayLater here.
• Read more of what we’ve written about Grab here.

Also Read: 2022 is here, your business could lose out if you don’t become data-capable soon

Christmas is coming: Here’s a handy office gift guide for your bosses and colleagues

Christmas is finally upon us, and along with the feasting and Orchard Road lighting up, there is the time-honoured tradition of gift-giving.

Perhaps, out of all the social groups to shop, your colleagues can pose a challenge. Getting that perfect gift for your beloved co-worker is a little harder than you think. 

You don’t want to overspend, but you’ll also want to get them something practical and useful. We know all about that struggle, and we’ve compiled a gift guide so you’ll be well-equipped to be crowned the ‘gift whisperer’ of the office. 

For fuss-free Christmas shopping, all these items can be conveniently ordered and delivered via GrabMart, GrabSupermarket and GrabFood. That way, you have one less thing to worry about and can fully bask in all that holiday cheer. 

For the coworker who is a huge foodie

We’ll start with your co-worker who always has a good list of recommendations for cafes or restaurants. Nothing says “I appreciate you” more than a smorgasbord of Christmas goodies to treat the foodie in your life. 

You can start small with these Christmas-themed snacks from Marks & Spencer that are sure to bring good tidings. 

For the Percy Pig fanatic, the Percy Pig on Ice Musical Tin (S$39.90) is the perfect keepsake that’s filled to the brim with those trademark gummies in a musical themed Percy Pig tin. 

For the wizards and witches in waiting, the Harry Potter Bubbly Frog Chocolate (S$2.90) or White Chocolate Hedwig (S$2.90) are sure to keep them company till their owl arrives. 

If you’d like to really make it a merry Christmas, get them the swanky Yuletide Cheers (S$80) hamper that is chock-full of chocolates, tea, and biscuits. 

Otherwise, some cookies from Famous Amos never fail to brighten anyone’s day. 

The Santa’s Delight Gift Set (S$44) comes with a collectable Red Santa Claus Round Tin and Santa Cube Box stuffed with Original Chocolate Chip and Chocolate Chip & Pecan. The best part is that Famous Amos offers S$0.99 delivery. 

For the colleague who just became a parent 

It is double the joy for the colleague who has just become a new mom or dad. As any new parent will tell you, there can never be enough bibs or toys to keep the little one entertained. 

Mothercare is a one-stop-shop for everything baby-related, which is why you can’t go wrong with this adorable Silicone Crumbcatcher Toddler Bibs (S$16.20) or this sweet Mothercare Newborn Blue Animal Muslin Bibs (S$14.40).

If there is anything new parents or parents of toddlers cannot get enough of, it is toys to keep the kids entertained. These colourful toys help to stimulate creativity and perhaps give parents a slight breather too. 

This Playgro Music In The Jungle Activity Gym (S$80.10) and the Playgro Up And Away Teething Gift Pack (S$44.91) are definitely gifts that parents will surely appreciate. 

The best bit is that Mothercare on Grab offers free gift-wrapping services at a click of a button, so that’s another thing taken care of as well. 

Also, if this is their first Christmas as a family, nothing marks the occasion like a Mini Christmas Tree (S$24.40) from GrabSupermarket. 

This mini tree is also perfect for tiny hands hanging up ornaments, ushering in new traditions for the freshly-minted parents together with their new family addition.

For the colleague who is also a paw-rent

I’m sure you have that one colleague who won’t stop showing you pictures of their cat or dog — and rightly so since paw-rents are parents too. 

Ask anyone with a pet, and they’ll tell you there can never be too little treats or toys for their beloved pet. 

Get this MARUKAN Dried Sasami treats (S$37.45) from Pet Lovers Centre so Fido can work for some of those treats or this Merry Mini Bone (S$18.90) that comes in that Christmas red that’s just in time for the season.

For our feline paw-rents, Christmas Nordic Style Catnip Toy (S$0.98) is sure to get kitty in the mood ole’ Saint Nick.

For the colleague who is a skincare and beauty junkie 

There is no better gift for the colleague obsessed with beauty and skincare than gift sets that contain an array of items to try, like this Slather & Glow Face Mask Gift (S$30) with three of The Body Shop’s best-selling masks.

Dry hands are always a no-no, so give them the gift of soft and supple hands with this Feels & Festivity hand Cream Trio (S$30) from The Body Shop.

For all things colourful that scream Christmas, LUSH has to be your next stop. Their yearly Christmas drops have somewhat of a cult following, and this year is no different — grab their Winter Garden Gift (S$99) or a fun Snow Cake Jelly Stack (S$35). 

Both The Body Shop and LUSH also offer gift-wrapping services on the app when you check out, at a mere S$0.99 delivery fee.

Another option, if you are entirely clueless, would be to bag these Innisfree skincare sets, like this Jeju Orchid Skincare Collection (S$26), which features travel-sized bottles of the brand’s famous line. 

For the colleague who loves their spirits  

There’s always that one person in the office talking about the fruity notes from a glass of wine or how there are hints of vanilla notes from the cask that aged in their whisky. For that bougie colleague, 1887 on GrabMart is where you’ll find good bottles to feed their obsession. 

This Tullamore D.E.W Original (S$58), available from 1887, is a triple distilled, triple blend Irish Whisky that is bound to impress. Otherwise, this Hendrick’s Lunar Gin (S$103) is also just right for the festive season. 

Plus, if you’re trying to impress the boss this season, this Glenfiddich 15-Year-Old Single Malt Scotch Whisky (S$138) is sure to get you into their good books. Get it delivered right to their doorstep at only S$0.99, and may the year ahead be as smooth as the whisky. 

For the colleague who needs to cure their wanderlust 

Yes, Vaccinated Travel Lanes (VTLs) travel has become a long-awaited reality, but not everyone has the opportunity to travel just yet. A little care package goes a long way this Christmas, and we’ll enlist the help of Don Don Donki and IKEA. 

While IKEA is our favourite Scandinavian furniture store, it’s really the food we’re after this Christmas. Get that signature IKEA meatballs (S$16) along with the Lingonberry Jam (S$6.50) and their signature IKEA Almond Cake with Chocolate and Crunchy Caramel (S$9.90) to feel like you’re in Sweden. 

Grab is also offering 30 per cent off Christmas gift shopping for IKEA so that you can grab some for yourself too. 

You can also head over to ‘Japan’ with Don Don Donki — a ‘must-go’ stop when you are in the land of the rising sun — for a Japanese feast.

To sweeten the experience, Grab is offering S$10 off Christmas shopping at Don Don Donki, so grab all the wagyu you can, and you and your colleague can reminisce about Japan together.

For the colleague who ‘has everything’

This one is a little bit of a toughie as they seem to have everything and have made explicit that they don’t want anything, even socks.  

If you happen to get this colleague as your Secret Santa, the way out of it is simple — just get them a GrabGifts voucher. It’s a practical gift that no one can hate.

This is also a useful gift if you happen to forget anyone on your list. Just a couple of taps on the Grab app, and you’ll be in their good graces for the rest of the year.

Grab all that you need for Christmas 

‘Tis the season for feasting, gifting, and rewards. With different gift sets to accommodate different budgets (from as low as S$15), there’s bound to be something for everyone.

Remember to make use of the promo codes GIFTING on GrabMart to get 30 per cent off your gifts (capped at S$10 for a minimum spend of S$25), or FEASTING to get S$10 off your festive treats (for a minimum spend of S$30).

If you are doing your Christmas shopping online, here’s another hot tip for you. From December 12 to 24, make sure to use GrabPay for all your online purchases. That way, you can get up to 12 per cent back in GrabRewards points. 

As any Grab junkie will tell you, GrabRewards Points are endlessly useful. You can use these points to purchase Grab vouchers, food vouchers, and even miles points. Now, that is Happy New Year indeed. 

As joyous as Christmas is, all the flurry of activity can be quite stressful. Thankfully, the holiday stress can be alleviated with Grab. You can truly get everything you need on a single platform so check out Grab’s Christmas offerings on your app here.

Featured Image Credit: Unsplash

This article was written in collaboration with Grab.

Also Read: Buy crypto via GrabPay? Grab’s making moves towards crypto ahead of its digital bank launch

Marrying the old with the new—these 3 M’sian F&Bs stay true to heritage while moving online

[This is a sponsored post with GrabFood.]

When the pandemic hit and lockdowns were upon us all, many of us felt the pain of being distanced from our favourite eateries.

On the business side, many restaurants also found themselves unable to reach their usual pool of consumers, who would eagerly travel just to have a taste of their dishes. 

Due to the restrictions, it fell upon food delivery platforms like GrabFood to become the middle people connecting consumers and restaurants.

Traditional hawkers in the face of digitalisation

The lockdowns have already proven that even decades-old restaurants are more than capable of embracing the digital era than ever before.

Wen from Restoran Choong Kee Pokok Besar in Ipoh admitted that she was initially wary of using food delivery services. She knew she wanted to reach her consumers but didn’t think it would be worth the trouble. 

Fortunately, after she reached out, GrabFood answered her queries and taught her how to use the app, and Wen found herself surprised. After running her restaurant for 30 years, she was glad to find a new way to share her well-loved food. 

Known for their Hakka yong tau foo, Restoran Choong Kee Pokok Besar’s recipe is special because it uses only fish, instead of mixing in pork. Selling an average of about 20+ varieties of yong tau foo daily, their recipe comes from their grandmother. She used to sell yong tau foo from a push-cart stall back in the day.

The founders have slightly improved it over the years, but as patrons love the taste, they don’t plan on changing anything else for now.

Riyaaz from Hameediyah restaurant (established in 1907) also caught on to how businesses are moving online. With some research, he realised that it would be a highly convenient way of reaching consumers.

“The younger generation has a different way of thinking compared to past generations, so we have to keep up,” he mentioned when talking about a more digitised Hameediyah.

Holding on to culture

Hameediyah is now being run by the seventh generation of the family, and if they continue to grow and embrace change, it could be possible for another seven generations more to remain at the helm.

Speaking of embracing change, Restaurant Shanmuga is no stranger to that. Having a total of 5 branches since 1993, this restaurant has plans to expand in the future.

When asked about the more traditional aspects of the restaurant, their director, Prakash Alagendram replied, “We have only maintained our way of cooking. For the rest, we have embraced digitalisation quickly. From relying on paper receipts, we now trust machines to handle that.”

In contrast, Hameediyah, which turns 115 this year, enjoys a balance of both the new and old. For example, the company still prefers to use a chalk piece and blackboard to calculate customers’ bills. They also boast the way they’ve held onto traditional means of preparing dishes.

At Hameediyah, they choose to make authentic spices using pestle and mortar. These special spices have to be imported all the way from Turkey, Pakistan, India, and Spain.

Despite the fact that their profit margins could increase if they chose to switch to commercial spices, they prefer the recipe (and taste) of their forefathers.

On top of that, they are certain that their consumers prefer it too and would be able to tell the difference if they went in a different direction.

It’s been said that each spice is individually measured to ensure that generations down, the food tastes the same. That’s probably why over a century after their launch, they still sell 1500-2000 packets of nasi kandar a day.

The harmony of culture & digitalisation

Even with the restrictions lifted, Wen is certain that going digital is the way to go.

“Not everyone will want to go out, not to mention wait in a crowded line, so going digital can help you reach a wider consumer base,” she remarked in Cantonese when asked if she’d recommend using food delivery apps.

Riyaaz agreed that the beginning stages felt uncomfortable but the team got the hang of it quickly.

When speaking on whether he thinks that moving towards digitalisation was a good move, he remarked, “Onboarding food delivery services is a must. One must accept the changes and prepare to face hurdles in an effort to prepare for the digital future.”

Rallying Malaysians to support smaller businesses 

To further support small businesses on the platform, Grab has recently launched “Minggu Peniaga Kecil.” This is an effort under their GrabFood Small Business Programme to help small local businesses adapt to the new normal, especially with the growing demand for online services. 

This October, you too can take part in making a difference to local F&B businesses. Grab’s Peniaga Kecil promotion will run from 25th October – 7th November and you can enjoy up to 30% off on GrabFood with the code PENIAGAKECIL.

• Find out more about Grab’s Minggu Peniaga Kecil here.
• Read up on what we’ve written about GrabFood in the past here.

Also Read: COVID-19 has driven the need for secure online signatures, which is this M’sian team’s forte

Feature Image Credit: Restaurant Hameediyah FB
 

As an often hangry cheapskate, I can’t decide which of Grab’s 2 new features I like best

[This is a sponsored article with Grab.]

Before continuing this piece, there are 2 things you need to know about me. One, is that I believe in instant gratification over whatever it is that people with patience subscribe to. Two, I’ve been a Grab Platinum user for years.

I am usually happy to pay for convenience but get tempted by good deals. And whenever I make any online orders, I’d like them delivered yesterday. 

Which then brings me to 2 features recently announced by Grab Malaysia.

1. Delivery fees starting from RM1 for nearby businesses

Seasoned GrabFood users would already know of the “Delivery for RM3 or less” section in the app, but Grab has now released a dedicated “Near Me” tile

Essentially, restaurants within a three kilometer radius of your stated address are now grouped there, and Grab is subsidising the delivery fees for these restaurants to as low as RM1. Of course, this does depend on the area you are in—on a quick check today, my cheapest delivery rates were RM2. 

With the goal of making it even easier for consumers to support their neighbourhood restaurants. Grab’s subsidies mean that the delivery-partners’ income is not affected. You can order in peace, without negatively impacting the abang riders.

Savvy consumers will also know to look out for ongoing promotions like HotDeals and the monthly Minggu Peniaga Kecil, to get good deals and affordable meals.

Here’s a step-to-step guide on how to find the “Near Me” tile:

2. Guaranteed delivery times

There are times when life or work just get in the way and we end up only thinking about meals at the last minute, when we’re already starving. The ensuing wait and potential delays can sometimes be more than we want to deal with when we are in that mood. 

“Premium Delivery” with guaranteed delivery time was created for time-pressed consumers, but in my head, clearly for hangry people too—like myself.

When Grab piloted the feature in August, they reported that one in three consumers opted for Premium Delivery during peak hours. 

If you don’t get the orders in the stipulated time range as indicated on the Grab app, you will be compensated with GrabFood vouchers. Do note that orders eligible for Premium Delivery do not include self pick-up orders, cash orders, business orders, and orders fulfilled by the restaurant’s own delivery fleet.

This option will be introduced in phases starting with Klang Valley, so you can keep an eye out for it during the checkout process when ordering.

For people who actually plan ahead, Grab also has options for scheduling deliveries at a later time or even self pick-ups.

GrabFood is already my first choice when it comes to food deliveries, and it is improvements like these that make it a very competitive option in today’s market that prioritises a delicate balance of affordability versus convenience.

There will also be many keeping a close eye on how the platform will keep operations sustainable for all its other stakeholders too, such as merchants, drivers, and delivery partners seeking income opportunities.

• Download Grab for iOS and Android.

Also Read: A spotlight on 3M’s under-sink water filter, built from their 80+ years of expertise

Sapot these 15 small businesses with 0% service fee on every Grab Online Shop order!

[This is a sponsored article with Grab.]

A key theme throughout the pandemic has been about rallying support for small and local businesses.

In line with that, Grab Malaysia has launched a new platform called Grab Online Shop which aims to help small businesses build their online presence and increase sales.

From now until the end of 2021, fans of these restaurants will be able to make orders where the restaurant owners can enjoy 0% service fees through Grab Online Shop.

Other than that, another benefit for these small businesses is that they can set up their own branded website through Grab, which will be integrated with GrabPay and GrabRewards. Deliveries will then be fulfilled by Grab’s delivery partners.

Essentially, Grab’s created a seamless ecosystem to make business easier for these micro-SMEs and their supporters. Without further ado, here are some of the small businesses available on Grab Online Shop, in alphabetical order and categorised by general area.

Selangor

1. Madam Leela’s Kitchen & Catering, Kota Kemuning

Located in Shah Alam, Madam Leela’s Kitchen & Catering specialises in Malaysian Indian food. It’s got 12 varieties of biryani, but also offers nasi lemak, banana leaf, and more. Whether you’re a vegetarian, love mutton, chicken, or seafood, there’s something for you here. There are ala carte options too, if you’re feeling greedy, or even if you don’t feel up to a full banana leaf meal set. 

Shop listing: https://leelas.grab.shop/

2. Nasi Dagang Corner Maggi Ketam Tomyam & Seafood, Selayang Baru

This store at Batu Caves has an offering more vast than its name, full of almost every Malay rice dish you could think of. From the simplest dishes for a nice Malay breakfast to seafood that you’d find at a spot closer to the beach, Nasi Dagang Corner Maggi Ketam Tomyam & Seafood will scratch that savoury and spicy itch.

Shop listing: https://nasidagangcorner.grab.shop/

Kuala Lumpur

3. Beans & Yogurt [Non-Halal], Taman Connaught

As part of its name implies, Beans & Yogurt is known for its fresh yoghurt made in-house that comes with a variety of toppings. According to the team, it takes 3 days to make each cup of yoghurt!

Over the years, it added popular yoghurt drinks to its menu too. Other than those, the café in Taman Connaught offers a mix of Western and popular local cuisine, along with desserts.

Shop listing: https://beansandyogurt.grab.shop/

4. Bo The Avocado, TTDI

Bo The Avocado is probably peak millennial culture, specialising in avocado smoothies. Incorporated in the middle of the COVID-19 pandemic back in November 2020, the team has had a wild ride through several MCOs yet emerged with a significant fanbase.

Drinks aside, they also create avocado cakes and recently released its very fitting, new product: guacamole.

Shop listing: https://botheavocado.grab.shop/

5. Coffee Stain, Solaris Dutamas

With a name alone that screams “hipster café”,you’ll find your favourite caffeinated beverages and accompanying bites at Coffee Stain.

If you’re missing your brunches, you can make do with delicious deliveries instead. Choose from a selection of scones, souffle pancakes, or some classic breakfast sets.

Shop listing: https://coffeestain.grab.shop/

6. Cotta KL, Bukit Damansara

Much like the past few businesses mentioned, Cotta KL is another one specialising in something. Could you guess from the name yet? (Hint: it’s a cheese.)

Yes, it’s ricotta, which you’ll find slathered generously on freshly baked toast in both sweet and savoury options. If their menu isn’t to your tastes, you can create your own with the bundles of sourdough loaves and jars of homemade ricotta on Cotta KL’s Grab Online Shop.

Shop listing: https://cotta.grab.shop/

7. Kalico Coffee, Setapak

Founded by friends Ashley, Fadz, and On, the lawyer, engineer who’s into baking, and interior designer who doubles as a barista turned a neighbourhood bungalow lot into café Kalico Coffee. Today, it serves pasta, pastries, coffee, and more.

Quite a few online reviews have praised their excellent coffee, generous portions of food, flaky buttery croissants, and special shoutout must be given to their rich, spicy shakshouka, which has received more than a few recommendations. 

Shop listing: https://kalicocoffee.grab.shop/

8. Leng Zai Bak Kut Teh [Non-Halal], Kepong

Instead of the usual ah pek (uncles) with decades of bak kut teh experience cooking away in their stained white singlets, what you’ll find at Leng Zai Bak Kut Teh are leng zai (handsome boys) running the place. Although branded as such, you won’t find a feed plastered with videos and photos of the titular leng zais on their social media pages, which prefer to highlight their food instead.

It was founded in 2017, and started out as a stall in a Kepong food court. Eye candy is one thing, but it seems that fans genuinely vouch for the quality of their brothy and dry bak kut teh, as they’ve since expanded into a proper store.

Shop listing: https://lengzaibkt.grab.shop/

9. Rush Roastery Jakel Mall, KL City Centre

Rush Roastery is an artisanal coffee roaster with over 12 years of experience in the industry.

They’ve brought that experience into each cup of coffee they serve, which range from single origin lattes, to more creatively flavoured frappes.

Even if you’re not a coffee lover, there’s probably something for you, from matcha smoothies to their best-selling Iced Black Pink Cheese, which is a non-coffee based strawberry franilla served with their signature cheese foam on the top.

Shop listing: https://rushroastery.grab.shop/

10. Sri Talamaz, Bandar Sri Damansara

Craving onde onde, talam pandan, or roti jala with no night market or stalls nearby? Sri Talamaz has you covered. The team now make over 100 types of steamed, baked, and fried Malay and nyonya kuih in both fresh and frozen forms.

If you can’t decide from the variety they offer, fans have praised their keria (sweet potato doughnut-shaped dough) gula melaka, and their pulut panggang (steamed glutinous rice fried with spicy chilli and coconut shrimp wrapped in banana leaves) is said to be a customer favourite.

Shop listing: https://sritalamaz.grab.shop/

Petaling Jaya

11. 270 SQFT, Sea Park

In post-pandemic times, you could step into 270 SQFT and take in the 270 square feet of space that offers coffee, bagels, and other scrumptious café delights.

For savoury bites, you can take a look at their list of bagels with different meat or vegetarian combos. They’re also known to take their coffee very seriously, and if you’d like to try something a little different, you can give their yuzu tonic or black sesame latte a go.

Shop listing: https://270sqft.grab.shop/

12. Bean Brothers, Sunway Damansara

This café started in the foreign lands of Seoul, South Korea, but later made its way over to KL and PJ to spread the experience of great beans.

Besides cold brews, coffee pour overs, and your expected white or black coffee, Bean Brothers also serves a mix of Korean and Western dishes, ranging from kimchi bokkeumbap (fried rice) to basil pesto chicken pasta. 

If you’ve been hunting for them, you’d also be able to order croffles here (a blessed union of waffles and croissants, for the unenlightened). 

Shop listing: https://beanbrothersmy.grab.shop/

13. Bröom Artisan Bakery, Taman Paramount

At Bröom Artisan Bakery, you’d find the creations of head baker Ryan Wong which include Danish and French pastries, along with beverages you’d expect at a café.

Ryan had honed his craft in London and Melbourne (globally known for its café culture) for a cumulative 6 years before returning to Malaysia to share his experience via good food.

The café also serves a wide variety of savoury meals, such as nasi ulam, prawn curry laksa, a smoked salmon bowl, a vegan mushroom rice box and many more mouth-watering offerings. You can also buy full loaves of sourdough here too. 

Shop listing: https://broom.grab.shop/

14. Pepo Pizza, Seksyen 51a

For something that’s not coffee or café food, we have Pepo Pizza on the list. Wood-fired pizza crusts just hit different (and I’m sure many would agree with me), and this rustic offering is exactly what the PJ pizza spot has in store.

Aside from classic pizzas, you’ll find artisanal and dessert ones too, along with pasta and antipasti, which make up the traditional first course of a formal Italian meal.

Shop listing: https://pepopizza.grab.shop/

15. The Bao Guys, SS2

Sometimes food can be so good that it’s a crime, but we can’t verify if that’s the case here. What we do know, however, is that the 3 co-founders behind The Bao Guys were law students who turned to the food industry when job prospects were low during the pandemic.

You can probably guess what is their specialty based on their name, but expect combos such as coriander chicken married with fresh onion lime slaw and a spicy Thai mayo, or have a bowl of Vietnamese pho in a bao form, which consists of braised lamb with onion basil lime slaw. If you’re ordering for more than 1, they have box sets of 3 or 6 too.

Shop listing: https://thebaoguys.grab.shop/

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These brands were already Grab merchant partners to begin with, but through the Grab Online Shop campaign, customers can get the same good value while the stores enjoy better sales.

In all, it’s quite the win-win situation, and hopefully this support will see these stores through the pandemic so they can be enjoyed via relaxed dine-ins once again.

• You can learn more about Grab Online Shop here.
• Read more F&B articles here.

Also Read: A spotlight on 3M’s under-sink water filter, built from their 80+ years of expertise

Featured Image Credit: Kalico Coffee / Beans & Yogurt / Nasi Dagang Corner Maggi Ketam Tomyam & Seafood

Get 30% off your food & groceries while supporting small businesses on Grab this September

[This is a sponsored article with Grab.]

With 80% of Malaysian adults now fully vaccinated, businesses that were previously closed physically such as food courts, malls, markets and even cinemas can go back to operating as normal.

That said, the norm that we’ve come to know has to continue and that means wearing masks, social distancing, and not crowding up physical spaces. And if you’ve gotten very used to staying inside, like many of us, there are promotions available that allow you to still support small businesses from the comfort of your home. 

For example, Grab is currently running a 30% off for small businesses on their platform on GrabFood and GrabMart, from 24 to 30 September, 2021.

Hyping up the small F&Bs

If you’re tired of the same ol’ fast food that you’ve been having ever since the lockdown started, Grab actually has an extensive list of small businesses. Especially during the pandemic, many of the traditional and small businesses have hopped onto the platform.

The Bassment [Non-Halal] is one of the local restaurants that has been operating even before the pandemic. It is run by two deaf brothers, and a younger, abled brother. Their menu primarily consists of Asian-western fusion dishes, and they have a variety of coffee and cakes for the tea time crowd too.

But if you’re in the mood to dig into more local flavours, Kadei by Manchula can be a good shout too. They started their operations during the height of the pandemic back in August 2020. They offer a range of Malaysian-Indian cuisines ranging from Indomie Lamb Chop to the classical banana leaf rice or lamb biryani.

Did you know: Kadei by Manchula’s name was inspired by the Tamil pronunciation of ‘shop’, and a play on the word kedai in Malay.

However, if heavy meals are not your cup of tea, you could also consider picking up a bao from The Bao Guys. As their name suggests, they focus mainly on baos. From a quick glance on their menu, they look to be pork-free. They currently offer chicken, tofu, shrimp, lamb and beef baos.

For the week of September 24 to September 30, 2021, you can use the code PENIAGAKECIL on your orders to get 30% off your order from the businesses above.

Delivering essentials and groceries right to you

But if you’ve only used Grab for GrabFood, they actually have a large list of businesses under GrabMart for your daily essentials.

For example, Khairul Gracewood Enterprise located in Pasar Besar TTDI is a butchery offering a variety of local and Australian beef, along with select cuts of lambs. So you won’t even have to step out to get fresh meat to cook with.

And if you have a special occasion coming on, you can also order from 21st Flower Bar on GrabMart. While they’re called a flower bar, they don’t really sell cocktails or drinks. Instead, they sell preserved dried flowers, soap flowers, fresh flowers, candles and jewellery.

Let’s say that your significant other is not a fan of flowers; you can then opt to buy them brownies from Brownies Bar by The Accidental Bakers. They have a wide mix of brownie flavours ranging from salted caramel, peanut butter, cookies & cream and others.

Just like the F&B shops on GrabFood, you can also use the code PENIAGAKECIL to get 30% off your orders for these small businesses.

-//-

Here’s how the promo works when you use the code PENIAGAKECIL:

• GrabFood: 30% off up to RM8 with a minimum order of RM20,
• GrabMart: 30% off up to RM9 with a minimum order of RM30,

Note that the promotion is only until 30 September 2021. There are a lot more other small businesses that are also part of this promotion. You can check the full list on Grab’s site here to find one near you.

• Use promocode PENIAGAKECIL to get 30% off your orders.
• Find out more about the businesses available via the Peniaga Kecil Promo here.
• Download Grab for iOS and Android.

Also Read: 9 facts about personal loans in M’sia you should know to borrow responsibly in a pandemic

Featured Image Credit: Grab

Maximise Your GrabRewards Points With The New Grab X Maybank Platinum Credit Card

[This is a paid article by Grab.]

Grab recently announced that together with Maybank and Mastercard, the company is releasing their very own credit card—dubbed the Maybank Grab Mastercard Platinum Credit Card.

And here’s how you can maximise your GrabRewards points and discounts on Grab using the new credit card.

There are some things to take note of when you’re applying for the card:

1. Be a Grab user, or sign up as a Grab user before or after applying for the Credit Card.
2. The card is free for life (no annual fee for principal and supplementary cards).
3. You’ll need to have a minimum income of RM36,000 per annum.
4. You’ll have to go through the usual eKYC process when registering for the card.
5. Once approved, you’ll get the card delivered to you within 10 working days.

1. Pay Using The Card To Earn Up To 5x GrabRewards Points

Once you have the credit card in hand and perform the first transaction, you can get 1,000 GrabRewards Points added into your account between 2 to 3 days. You’ll be a Platinum Tier Member for 6 months too.

Since it is a credit card, you can use it for non-Grab purchases too. By doing so, you will get 1 GrabRewards Point for every RM3 paid using the card.

Quick Maths: You spent RM150 for a wireless charger and paid using the card. You’ll get 50 GrabRewards Points added into your account once the charge goes through.

When spending money overseas, you can get 2x reward points for each RM1 charged.

It’s even better if you’re a serial Grab-er. With each RM1 spent on Grab, you’ll get 5x GrabRewards Points too. And that means your RM30 GrabCar ride will nett you 150 GrabRewards Points.

2. Be A Platinum-Tier Grab Member For 8x GrabRewards Points

Depending on your Grab tier, you get points every time you spend on GrabPay.

This means that a Platinum-tier member could potentially get 8x points when topping up and spending using the new Maybank Grab Mastercard Platinum Credit Card and Grab app.

Example:
– You top up RM200 into your GrabPay Wallet with the Maybank Grab Mastercard Platinum Credit Card, you get 1,000 GrabRewards Points.
– Spend that RM200, you’ll instantly get 600 additional GrabRewards Points (if you’re a Platinum-tier member).
– In total, you’ll get 1,600 GrabRewards Points with just RM200 spent.

Note: Payments such as FPX, JomPAY, Maybank EzyCash, Maybank EzyPay Installment or topping up other e-wallets (except Grab) will not nett you any points. If a payment is refunded, your GrabRewards Points will be automatically deducted after the refund process. For a complete list of what will get you points, check here.

3. Look Out For GrabRewards Points And Additional Discounts From Grab Partners

When using the card at participating partners, you can get additional discounts too, on top of the GrabRewards Points that you’ll be getting when you spend.

Grab informed us that they’re still looking to add partners, so you can expect more deals in the future.

4. GrabReward Points Is Also As Good As Cash

GrabRewards Points isn’t limited to just vouchers or redemptions anymore.

A while back, Grab allowed their users to pay for Grab services such as Grab Rides and GrabFood using their hard-earned GrabRewards Points. And if you wish, you can also utilise the points to pay for your purchases in stores that accept GrabPay. 

The conversion is as follows: 

• 165 GrabReward Points converts to RM1 when spent in stores that accept GrabPay.
• 160 GrabReward Points converts to RM1 when spent on Grab Rides or GrabFood.

Do note that your GrabRewards Points will expire if no transactions were made for a certain period, so keep that in mind if you’re saving the points for a specific reward or purchase.

How To Get Your Own Maybank Grab Mastercard Platinum Credit Card

To get the card, you’ll need to be a Grab and Maybank user. You can download the Grab app on iOS and Android, and sign up for Maybank here.

Once you’re active on both, you can sign up for the credit card via the Maybank2u app or via the Grab app, which will lead you to Maybank’s mobile site.

Note: When we signed up for the credit card on both Android and iOS via the Maybank2u app, we did encounter some issues, so we recommend going through the Grab app or on Maybank’s desktop website instead.

• For more info on the Maybank Grab Platinum Mastercard Credit Card, click here.

Also Read: I Tested Out A M’sian-Made Mattress Meant For Couples. Yes, I’m Still Single.

I Was Today-Years-Old When I Realised These 7 Things You Can Do On GrabFood

Food delivery is a quintessential service that Singaporeans can’t live without.

When the same old lunch options near your office become mundane, when you’re staying late at work and need a quick dinner fix, or when you just want to spend the weekend chilling at home — you know where this is going: “Eh, want to order GrabFood?”

Ordering GrabFood has become such a natural thing to do that it’s surprising to think the service was only launched in 2018.

In this short span of two years, its food offerings have expanded to more than 8,500 F&B merchants, with options ranging from fast food to bubble tea to mala hotpot.  

The app has also changed a lot in terms of functionality. 

We can now quickly search for available food merchants near work or home by creating ‘Saved Places’, suss out the best restaurants through user ratings, as well as chat directly with our assigned rider to check on the delivery without giving out our phone numbers. 

Admittedly, it’s hard to keep up with all the updates being rolled out from time to time. So, I decided to take a deep dive into GrabFood and find out what else I’ve been missing. 

Here are a few cool features I discovered:

Schedule An Order For Later

Recently introduced, you can now schedule a GrabFood order for a future delivery time of up to two days later. You can select the option to have a scheduled delivery when you’re on the merchant’s page, or just before you check out your basket.

This feature comes in handy when you’re hosting a party, or when you know you have a busy day ahead and won’t have the time to browse and order later.

Currently, scheduled orders are only available for select merchants.

Self-Collect Your GrabFood Order

GrabFood is not just all about delivery too. If you go out to dabao food often, you can use the app’s ‘self pick-up’ option to place an order ahead and skip the queue.

For example, I tried using this feature to buy dinner from a Japanese curry rice restaurant near my home.

When I placed my order, the app told me how long it would take for the restaurant to prepare my food, so I only needed to make my way there when it was almost ready. That way, picking it up was instant, and I didn’t waste any time waiting around.

If you’re not quite sure of the restaurant’s location, GrabFood will also pull up directions from Google Maps to help you navigate your way there.

Place Multiple Orders At A Time

With GrabFood, you don’t have to wait till your order is delivered before you place a new order. 

While your current order is on the way, you can return to the GrabFood home page and place additional orders. 

GrabFood lets you place up to four concurrent orders — they can be from the same or different restaurants, and you can also choose to send them to the same or different address.

To keep track of all your ongoing orders, simply retrieve them from your order history tab.

Using Search Filters

Having a wide variety of food to choose from is great, but sometimes being spoilt for choice can make it hard to come to a decision. After all, “What do you want to eat?” is a notoriously difficult question to answer.

Even when you have a specific cuisine in mind, you might find over 20 results for Japanese food around you.

The next time you encounter this, try switching on the search filter to sort restaurants by user ratings, so you can tap on the wisdom of many to find out which one is worth a try.

GrabFood’s search filters also let you view restaurants according to popularity, recommended merchants, distance and promotions. For Muslim users, you will be pleased to know that you can also filter your search based on Halal options.

Curated Deals And Recommendations On Your Home Page

After ordering Japanese food a couple of times, I realised GrabFood was paying attention. The next time I opened the app, I found a new section on my home page that said ‘Because You Like Japanese’.

GrabFood uses an algorithm to recommend food merchants you might like based on your previous activity on the app.

If you frequently order from the same restaurant, or the same dish, you may see an ‘Order Again’ section that helps you get there faster right from the home page without having to key in your search at all.

GrabFood’s home page also curates suggestions like ‘What’s Good For Breakfast’ or ‘Crowd Picks For Dinner’ depending on the time of day, and shows you all the food deals around your location so you never miss out.

Late-Night Food Delivery

When hunger pangs strike at midnight, we often turn to fast food delivery as a quick and convenient option.

Thanks to GrabFood, supper delivery options are now no longer limited. As of 28 October 2019, GrabFood has extended its delivery hours to 24/7 islandwide so you can fix your cravings anytime. 

Since many food delivery firms stop delivering after 10pm, some night owls have dubbed GrabFood’s 24/7 delivery service as a lifesaver.

Of course, the extent of variety you can find in the wee hours of the night depends on the number of merchants that are open till late. 

I browsed GrabFood at 1am and found a decent mix of food options available in my area, with prata, noodles, dim sum, Western food, Korean food and dessert shops to pick from.

Here’s a full list of 24-hour stalls and restaurants you can order from on GrabFood.

More Than Food: Order Beer, Flowers, Supplements

Contrary to its name, GrabFood actually delivers more than just food.

In line with the firm’s ‘super app’ ambition that lets users do more on a single platform, GrabFood has expanded its offerings to also include delivery for other items like beer, ice cream, health supplements, bak kwa and snacks via the ‘Mart’ icon.

Perhaps even more unexpected is the fact that you can order flowers on the app, which you can find by either tapping on ‘Mart’ or typing ‘flowers’ into the search bar.

Sometimes, couples say ‘I love you’ through the sweet gesture of ordering their significant other’s favourite food for them, but you can now take it a step further by sending a surprise bouquet to your bae.

GrabFood Now, Thank Us Later

Hopefully, these features will come in handy the next time you reach for your phone to satisfy your food cravings.

If you know of any other cool features, share them with us in the comments below!

Featured Image Credit: Vulcan Post

This article was written in collaboration with GrabFood.

Also Read: Grab’s New Insurance Plan Ride Cover Lets You Claim Accidents, Late Pick-Ups For S$0.30/Trip

How Many GrabRewards Points Have You Earned? We Asked 5 Colleagues

“Just (take) Grab lah!”

From taxi rides to food delivery to even
parcel delivery, Singaporeans use Grab for getting themselves – and their
things – from one place to the other.

Besides the convenience it brings, using Grab is actually rewarding.

Like, literally rewarding.

For every ride taken, or in-store purchases
made with GrabPay, or order placed on GrabFood, users will earn points. These
GrabRewards points can be used for a variety of
deals and discounts, from redeeming vouchers to getting
discounted rides or free deliveries.

And it’s so easy to use Grab.

For example, when I’m feeling tired after
work, I get a Grab ride home and comfortably earn up to 90 points for a $15
trip.

Whenever a notification pops up on our phones
on the latest GrabPay or GrabFood deals, we’d gather everyone to order lunch
in.

We’d just collate our colleagues’ lunch orders
and boom – an easy 180 points from a $30 order (with discount, might I add),
earned from GrabFood.

One of my colleagues earned a whopping 2,000
points in a week
just by using GrabPay to pay for meals and shopping.

It’s no surprise that my colleagues and I are
avid Grab users since we’re suckers for good deals and value-for-money loyalty
programmes.

If we can earn points from our day-to-day
expenditure, why not, right?

Since we use it so often, I was curious to
find out just what my colleagues have earned from using Grab services so far –
besides day-to-day conveniences, of course!

So How Many Points Have You Earned?

How
many points have you accumulated in your account now?

Jared Tan (28): “Not much, I think — 1,694. (I’m a Gold member, though.)”

Zafirah Salim (29): “3,683 points.”

Melissa Chan (29): “I’ve used my points quite a bit actually, but I have over 7,000 points in my account now.”

Alanna Tan (24): “5,700+. This is after I bought the 10,000 points for $10, and then redeemed some of it.”

Andrew Lee (27): “(Calculated through history) I claimed 33,000 points over the past year! Currently, I have over 4,000 points now.”

Which
service do you use that gives you the most points?

JT: “Considering that I use JustGrab more than GrabFood, I’d say the former.”

ZS: “Using GrabPay to pay for purchases.”

MC: “Offline purchases! Though I don’t use the wallet offline as much as I should be…”

AT: “I guess JustGrab?”

AL: “I believe GrabFood gets me the most points because I order in bulk and help order whenever anyone wants to order in.”

Grab And Go

Well, it comes as no surprise that the most
popular services on Grab are ride-hailing and food delivery.

But beyond these two services, there are other
ways to earn GrabRewards points.

For Zafirah, she makes a conscious effort to
look out for the GrabPay logo at cashiers when she’s out shopping or dining.

So far, she has accumulated about 300 points
just by paying for her food and shopping with GrabPay.

“If I’m going to spend that money anyway,
might as well have it ‘work’ for me by accumulating points,” Melissa said.

She managed to earn over 600 points, thanks to
her Platinum tier membership, when she used GrabPay
to pay at an innisfree store.

The other three I spoke to said they haven’t been going out of their way to use GrabPay
to earn points.

“I feel like I should, but I didn’t think I’d ever earn enough points to redeem
anything significant, so I just don’t bother,” Jared conceded.

While he’s disappointed that he doesn’t even have enough points to redeem a $5 Grab voucher, for now, he’s content to get food discounts vouchers at his favourite fast food restaurants, knowing that it will only be a matter of time before he accumulates more points.

Alanna shared that even though the idea of
using GrabPay to earn more points is “very worth it”, she hasn’t
“committed [the act] to muscle memory yet”.

She added that during the times she has used
GrabPay to make payments, she gets a sense of satisfaction and a feeling of
being rewarded by just doing “usual daily things”.

“I’m going to start looking out for GrabPay merchants and make it a point to pay with GrabPay from now on,” she said determinedly.

As for Andrew, he said he’ll use GrabPay to
pay only when he gets notifications or updates from colleagues about a GrabPay
deal that’s “difficult to resist”.

He hasn’t used GrabPay offline yet since he
typically shops online, but admits that the number of points he can earn doing
that is enough to tempt him to go out more often.

All of them, except Jared, have used their
points to redeem something from GrabRewards.

“I mostly redeem my points for discounts
off my Grab ride,” Zafirah said.

Melissa added, “I’ve redeemed some ‘$10 off’
and ‘$15 off’ vouchers with my points.”

Both Zafirah and Melissa have taken advantage
of a ‘$10 for 10,000 points’ deal recently during the Grab Singapore Sale and
redeemed the points for a ‘$25 off’ Grab ride voucher.

Redemption of vouchers happen in just an instant and users will be able to use them right away.

For Alanna, at times when she walks past places like LiHO or Udders, she would check to see if she has enough points for a discount voucher and get herself a cuppa or a scoop right away.

Platinum member Melissa would redeem a bunch
of discounts and vouchers in one go, and use them whenever she feels like it –
especially during surge hours.

Andrew shared, “I always find myself
redeeming GrabFood vouchers because I’m usually eating alone and it helps
negate the delivery fee or minimum order to hit a discount.”

He thinks it’s “crazy” that no one
would use the points and advises everyone to use their points.

“The only time I wouldn’t claim (the
points) is when I don’t have enough points,” Andrew exclaimed.

Of course, it’s not only those GrabRewards
points – sometimes, you can also be rewarded without spending a single point!

For instance, customers can redeem a free Jeju
Cherry Blossom Tone-up Cream sample – no points needed!

Kiasu? We say it’s totally worth it.

Other benefits include a 30% discount on Etude House purchases, and retail promotions that will multiply your GrabRewards points on top of the points you earn.

It’s really a rewards system that keeps rewarding.

Grab And Get Rewarded

Whether you’re the type who actively redeems offers and vouchers, or the type who uses it sparingly, you’ll still “earn” as you spend.

The great thing is, it’s so easy to use
GrabPay and collect those GrabRewards points – just look out for the signs at
retail, F&B, and lifestyle partners islandwide!

In fact, Grab has also updated their GrabRewards catalogue with more awesome products to
redeem, including Nintendo Switch, AirPods, and Samsung Galaxy S10.

On top of that, Gold and Platinum members also
get to enjoy exclusive GrabRewards deals,
ranging from lifestyle ones (a personalised Etude House lipstick, anyone?) to
travel specials, such as discounted access to airport lounges across Southeast
Asia.

Gold and Platinum members also get up to 20%
discount for dining at F&B establishments such as Tanuki Raw Express and
the Crystal Jade La Mian Xiao Long Bao restaurant.

Grab has also recently introduced the Challenges feature so users can get more opportunities to accumulate points and unlock even more rewards.

For each Challenge they complete, they will win free rides, vouchers, or GrabRewards points – talk about a great way to increase your stash of points!

As for the latest Grab
Challenge – be the first three to complete 450 rides in the Ride to Tokyo
Challenge (ends 31 Dec 2019) and win a pair of Business Class tickets to Tokyo!

The best part about this is that GrabRewards points don’t expire anymore.

That is, of course, as long as you make one
transaction on Grab within six months from your last transaction.

So if you aren’t already ‘Grabbing’ to earn
points, start now!

This article is brought to you by Grab.

Also Read: Can One Week With GrabPay Make Me An E-Wallet Convert?

Can One Week With GrabPay Make Me An E-Wallet Convert?

I have a confession to make.

Even as a Platinum Grab member, I have yet to use my GrabPay wallet.

Okay, perhaps the only instances I was ‘lured’ into topping up my wallet was when I could get bubble tea for $1, or during the GrabPay Angbao campaign.

It’s not that I am skeptical about Grab as a company (I am a Platinum member, after all) – I just have a general distrust of e-wallets in general, and avoid using them unless absolutely necessary…or when there’s a deal I cannot refuse.

To me, having an e-wallet means ‘locking up’ my money and leaving the key with a company.

More importantly, I was worried that the places I frequent don’t accept e-wallets as a payment option.

Cold, hard cash is, after all, the one that is still accepted anywhere.

This pessimism lingered even after I found out that a friend of mine is a regular GrabPay user (“I can get GrabRewards points when I buy lunch and dinner, so why not?”), and encouraged me to do the same.

Due to my bullheadedness, my GrabPay balance thus stagnated at a grand total of 2 cents for over a year.

This resistance was recently shaken, however, when Grab challenged me to use my GrabPay wallet for a week – to which I said: “Challenge accepted.”

The Challenge: Using My GrabPay Wallet For A Week

To keep the challenge as realistic as possible, I set one ground rule: that I won’t go out of my way to purchase items or go to places I typically won’t just to use the wallet.

After listing out my typical expenses in a week (food, bubble tea, etc.), I referred to the GrabPay merchant map to see if the stores I frequented accepted GrabPay.

Other than my kopi, I was relieved to see that the market I walked through every morning offered me options for breakfast (Swee Heng Bakery), lunch (Subway), bubble tea (iTea), and even a place to trim my bangs!

Taking into account my dinners and miscellaneous expenses for the week, I figured that $150 would be sufficient for the challenge.

Topping up the wallet was simple enough, because I already had my credit card linked to my account.

There was an option to enable auto top-up, but I wasn’t ready for that amount of commitment…yet.

At point of top-up, I had already accumulated 5,833 GrabRewards points, a feat accomplished by my occasional GrabFood orders, frequent Grab rides, and a deal during the Grab Singapore Sale where I got 10,000 points for just $10.

Before embarking on the review, the Grab team told me that in-store purchases actually give Platinum users 10 points with every $1 spent (FYI: Gold members get 7.5 points per dollar; the rest get 5) – something that I didn’t know before!

With that, I started on my week-long journey using my GrabPay balance whenever I could.

There Are More ‘GrabPay Accepted Here’ Stickers Than I Imagined

In true Singaporean millennial fashion, I dedicated my first in-store purchase to one of our F&B icons – bubble tea.

In order to maximise my points, I slyly took orders from colleagues, eventually racking up over $20 worth in milk tea and pearls at iTea.

While combing through a list of very varied bubble tea orders was tricky, making payment for it was the opposite.

Scanning the QR code which was prominently displayed at the counter, the only thing that required a little more effort was keying in the exact amount I needed to pay.

I got 214 points from the transaction. According to my calculations, that means that you get 10 points for every dollar spent!

Protip: Offer to pay for group orders first and maximise the amount of GrabRewards points that you earn!

My next purchase was also food-related, when I grabbed some breakfast from Swee Heng Bakery.

28 points might seem measly, but a little bit always adds up in the end!

Thursday evenings are dedicated to my Korean language lessons in Bugis, and I would typically grab (no pun intended) something convenient like a bowl of soup or a sandwich to consume during class.

Luckily for me, Bugis Junction is a hotbed of merchants that accept GrabPay, and I was spoiled for choice on what to get for my dinner.

Not only at F&B establishments, popular Korean skincare and makeup brand Innisfree was also a place where I used my GrabPay balance twice in a span of one week.

The first time was after I realised that Innisfree was holding a GSS sale.

What better time to get some new makeup, right?

The second time was when the BT21 x Innisfree collection dropped at stores.

Given that this was purchased on the last day of the review, my funds were already running out, and I needed to top up my wallet to make the purchase.

I found it intriguing, though, that I could already feel a change in my attitude when it came to e-wallets.

I also started noticing the green ‘GrabPay accepted here’ stickers at places I never imagined accepted the e-wallet, and made mental notes to use my GrabPay wallet the next time I shopped there.

More importantly, what used to be a paralysing fear that “I’m locking up my money and I’ll never see it again” had become almost unfounded as I saw using the wallet (and getting rewarded while at it!) in an entirely new light.

Here’s How Many GrabRewards Points I Earned In A Week

For those who don’t want to do the math, I essentially earned 2,004 points in a span of a week by spending around $200, give or take.

In terms of rewards that I can claim with these points, I have earned enough to redeem a voucher that’ll give me $5 off a Grab ride (1,900 points), 160 KrisFlyer Miles (1,400 points), or a personal pizza from Dominos (1,900 points).

While that doesn’t seem like much, do note that my experiment was conducted in a way that I didn’t go all out to splurge on random items. All my purchases were simply part of my typical week.

So you could think of GrabPay more as a complement to your lifestyle, one that gives you bonus perks without you needing to go out of your way to earn them.

That said, my week-long experiment has also spurred on my auntie side in finding ways to grab (no pun intended, again) more rewards points.

Here are some protips that you could consider:

Protip #1: Big Ticket Items Are Your Friend

A pleasant surprise came after I had back-to-back Yoga sessions at two different studios.

While I didn’t need to make any payment that day, I realised that if I were to pay for the class packages (which cost between $150 to $200 monthly) with my GrabPay balance, I would be able to instantly get 1,500 to 2,000 points!

So the next time you’re looking to purchase a bigger ticket item, perhaps check to see if they accept GrabPay first.

Protip #2: GrabWheel-ing Around Also Gets You Points

If you enjoy riding around on e-scooters, you’ll be glad to know that your trips will also earn you points!

Every dollar spent on the GrabWheels e-scooter service lets you earn 5 GrabRewards points, so who says that only Grab car rides are rewarding?

Just remember to get a helmet!

Protip #3: GrabRewards Points Now Don’t Expire, So Stack ‘Em Up

Recently, Grab also announced some updates to GrabRewards.

Now, GrabRewards points have no expiry date as long as you make 1 Grab transaction every 6 months.

Grab has also added higher-tier rewards like the Apple Watch Series 4 (300,000 points), Dyson Airwrap Styler (260,000 points), and Samsung Galaxy S10e 128GB (490,000 points), so if you’ve been a hoarder of your points, now’s probably the best time to use them!

Bonus Protip: Pay Less For Rides

Although I’m someone who uses the Grab app mostly for the ride-hailing service, I completely overlooked the promos that Grab occasionally drops when customers pay for rides with their GrabPay balance.

Thus, I was pleasantly surprised when I noticed that my ride back from an event at Funan was $4 cheaper than what it would have been if I had paid with my credit card.

So do keep a lookout for them the next time you take a Grab ride!

–

I have to say that taking the plunge and (finally) using my GrabPay wallet worked out well in the end. 

And it’s not just because I ended the experiment with more GrabRewards points; I am glad to have been proven wrong about e-wallets and have since gotten over my fears and pessimism of them.

• Have you used the GrabPay wallet for your day-to-day purchases? Tell us more about your experience! 

This article was written in collaboration with Grab.

Also Read: S’pore Users Can Now ‘Pay Later’ For Grab Rides And Services In One Monthly Bill

From Now Till June, You Can Watch Movies At TGV For Practically Nothing—Here’s How

2019 seems like it’ll be the year for a lot of blockbusters to hit the big screens. We’re only in the early half of the year and we’ve already had amazing movies like Avengers: Infinity War and Captain Marvel shown at our local theatres breaking box office records worldwide.

Well, if you’re a film buff or trying to catch the newest releases, there’s good news for you. Grab and TGV Cinemas are partnering up to offer you a sweet deal that will have your weekends be spent at the theatres.

From the 17th of May to the 30th of June, specially for those of you who are TGV MovieClub members, you can enjoy RM8 off on your movie ticket for any shows when you spend a minimum of RM10 with GrabPay Credits at TGV Cinemas.

Meaning if your ticket costs RM17 (which is the average price for a classic seat on a weekend night at TGV Cinemas), you’ll only be paying RM9, which is half of its original price!

To make the whole promotion sweeter, you’ll also be eligible to redeem a free regular-sized popcorn combo (worth RM13.50) to munch on while you’re watching your movie. You’ll also be getting a RM8 GrabPay Credits ride reward so you won’t need to worry about driving to the cinemas and struggling to find parking there.

Don’t worry if you’re not a TGV MovieClub member, you’ll still get to enjoy the free regular popcorn combo and receive a RM8 GrabPay Credits Ride reward when you pay with GrabPay.

Although, a little bit of advice, you can easily just register to become a member at the counter. It’s a quick process and you’ll be able to enjoy this deal right away!

Terms and conditions:

• Only applicable to classic seats in standard halls at all TGV Cinemas (except TGV Cinemas Central i-City).
• Only valid for over-the-counter purchase at TGV Cinemas (bookings through the app or website are not eligible).

Aside from these cool freebies, GrabPay users can also get GrabPay Credits benefits such as getting up to 20 times GrabRewards points (which you can then browse through their catalogue to find other cool stuff that you can redeem).

As a quick summary, if you were to purchase a Detective Pikachu ticket at TGV 1 Utama for RM17, this is the breakdown of your rewards:

So time to watch your favourite movies on the big screen in TGV Cinemas until the end of June.

• For more information on this GrabPay and TGV Cinemas promotion, you can click here.

This article was written in collaboration with Grab.

Also Read: Is The Samsung S10+ Genuinely Hack-Proof? We Put It To The Test

6 Mistakes You Don’t Even Realise You’re Doing While Fasting

The month of Ramadan greets us once again and for some of us, it might be the first time experiencing it in a fresh environment such as a new workplace.

Different people have different ways of handling their fasting through the day. Some will push through as though it were any other month, while others might find the first week of Ramadan a bit of a struggle due to low energy and brain fog.

This could actually be attributed to a few mistakes made during the fasting process; minor errors they may be but ones that could actually hinder you from having a smooth fasting experience.

We’ve listed down some of these situations along with ways to remedy them to turn your Ramadan into one that leaves you feeling fulfilled both physically and spiritually.

Mistake #1: Not thinking about food at all.

Most times, people will say to avoid any thoughts involving food while fasting, but there’s absolutely nothing wrong with planning what you’ll have for Iftar in advance.

Not only will this habit help curb you from overspending on a lot of food (which happens to the best of us), you can plan your schedule for the day to accommodate to what your meal will be. If you’re planning on cooking for Iftar, you can make sure you have all the ingredients prepped beforehand to minimise the amount of work needed to prepare the dish.

Or if you already have a meal in mind but can’t be bothered to cook, you can pick a time that’s convenient for it to be delivered to you. You can look at options like GrabFood who currently has a promotion running where customers can get a 30% discount on chicken meals!

Specifically for their Ramadan BOKBOK campaign, you can pick from popular restaurants like McDonald’s, Texas Chicken, Lim Fried Chicken, Ayam Bakar, and more for your Iftar meals from Mondays to Thursdays.

As this promotion is not applicable from 5PM to 8PM, it’s best to really plan in advance and order your meals earlier to avoid any disappointments (no one wants to be grumpy right before buka puasa time). You can find out more about their participating merchants and more details here.

Mistake #2: Drinking large amounts of water during Iftar.

It’s understandable, we’re basically restricted from any form of liquid until it’s time to break fast so of course we’d be downing lots of water to quench that thirst.

But you’ll soon realise how your stomach starts to feel uncomfortable when you do so, because filling the stomach with water is actually more strenuous to it than food. Stomach irritation can happen when there is an imbalance between electrolytes, which are minerals in your bloodstream, and water in your body.

What we recommend is sipping your drink instead of gulping it during Iftar, and then slowly have a glass every two hours. This will help reduce the amount of stomach aches you can get.

Mistake #3: Staying sedentary in your office chair because moving = tired.

Fasting doesn’t mean all activities should be off limits during the day. Sitting in one place all day will make your body feel sluggish due to the lack of oxygen going to your brain.

Even just going for a short walk around your office or making sure to take deep breaths throughout the day can help keep your mind awake. You could even use your break time and play problem-solving games, as it has been said that our mental abilities rise and our mind becomes crystal clear while fasting.

If you are planning on exercising, do it after Iftar as that is when your body’s blood flow is concentrated around the stomach at that time so it will be less irritated. Just make sure to do it after an hour of eating to ease digestion.

Mistake #4: Skipping sahur because it’s “efficient”.

For those of us who aren’t morning people, waking up at 5AM for sahur can be a chore so we choose to skip it entirely.

Many nutritionists have mentioned how sahur supports healthy metabolism, reduces hunger pangs, improves mental alertness, and reduces fatigue. It is the fuel you’ll need to last you for the first half of the day.

If you’re the type to skip sahur because you’re too lazy to prepare meals for it, you can consider getting the food delivered to you the night before so that you can just store it in the fridge.

Lucky for us, GrabFood has extended their delivery time till 2AM (with the last order being at 1.30AM) in Klang Valley. Now you can have this option for your sahur needs or even just for supper, where you can get your favourite McDonald’s dishes or some Mamak specialties from Sri Steven’s Corner and Nasi Kandar Pelita sent to your doorstep.

No more excuses on skipping your sahur!

Mistake #5: Avoiding naps.

As sahur has us up before dawn, some of us experience a lack of sleep which often leads to mood swings and irritability. But there’s a belief out there that taking naps will just make your body feel more tired, which is not true.

Scheduling naps during the day helps to curb this. You can schedule in a short 15-20 minute nap in your office or even if you don’t fall asleep, simply closing your eyes helps to revitalise your mind and body.

Mistake #6: Having spicy food.

Malaysians love our spicy food and especially during fasting, it can be quite tempting to indulge. But having it for Iftar is a big no-no.

Our stomach lining is extra sensitive post-fasting, so subjecting it to spicy food can actually cause heartburn and bloating. It’s a type of food that induces gastric acid, so avoid having this if you want to prevent any bad indigestion issues from happening. You might even feel the pain when you head to the office the next day.

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So if you happen to be guilty of committing some of these mistakes, it’s not too late to make a change so that your Ramadan experience can be a more seamless one. Thankfully, with so many resources around us, these mistakes can be rectified easily as long as you plan ahead and stay mindful.

One of the ways to plan ahead is by having your Iftar meals delivered. Your stomach will be happy and so will you, being able to avoid those heavy traffic jams or large crowds lining up to buy food.

If you’re in the mood for chicken, do remember GrabFood’s Ramadan BOKBOK campaign that’s offering a 30% discount off your favourite chicken meals. From Monday to Thursday, you can order from restaurants like McDonalds, Texas Chicken, Lim Fried Chicken, and more.

All you’ll need to do is key in the promo code “BOKBOK” as long as you have a minimum order of RM25 to enjoy the 30% discount off your chicken meals . Do note that the maximum discount is capped at RM25 and is valid for 1 redemption per user per day.

Try to get your orders in before 5PM though, their hardworking delivery partners need to berbuka too so preparing ahead can help them have the food delivered to you as well as give them ample time to go home to break fast with their family too.

May everyone have a good Ramadan this year!

• If you’d like to find out more information on GrabFood’s Ramadan BOKBOK Campaign, you can click here.

This article was written in collaboration with GrabFood.

Also Read: Is The Samsung S10+ Genuinely Hack-Proof? We Put It To The Test

5 Strategic Upgrades That Grab Has Made To Become The Everyday Super App Of SEA

Last year, Grab first mentioned their desire to be an everyday super app for their users across the globe.

Now, they’ve been living up to their mission by rolling out a number of impressive developments recently that really showcase how their services can be well integrated with our daily routine.

From the implementation of certain policies, to now having the ability to order a driver and food on the same app, here are 5 updates that Grab has rolled which gives a frictionless experience with a one platform offering.

1) Using GrabPay to pay for online shopping and prepaid top-ups.

Grab is now making moves to explore the untapped market that is ingrained into our life routines: phone credit and online shopping.

As a step ahead into becoming the to-go app for our daily needs, GrabPay recently launched a new feature that allows users to pay for their shopping online (such as through 11street.com, MBO Cinemas, DoubleWoot Fashion and even Caring Pharmacy) as well as purchasing prepaid top-ups (from Maxis, Digi, Hotlink, etc).

So whenever you’re having those moments of low credit or you’re chilling during your breaks and browsing through online catalogues, GrabPay now comes as an alternative payment method for you.

An added bonus is that each time these features are used, users will be rewarded! So if you’re planning on buying a prepaid top-up via GrabPay, you can expect to get up to 20% rebate (up to RM8).

You can make use of this promotion that comes at the end of each month (handy as that’s when everyone’s salary comes in).

2) Offering more savings through subscriptions.

To cater to their users that rely on the app on a daily basis, Grab-It-All Basic is a subscription service that aims to provide users with more savings on services like food delivery and rides.

Users can pay RM80 for the Grab-It-All Basic pass which comes with RM190 worth of vouchers. The subscription offers RM3 off 30 GrabCar rides and RM5 off 20 GrabFood orders (with a minimum RM20 order value). Users can make use of their GrabPay credits to purchase this subscription plan.

It’s a bundle worth looking at, especially if you’re one to use the app’s features more than once a day because the amount of savings you get is noteworthy. It’s also an added bonus for those of us who don’t want to wait for promo codes to be sent to our inboxes.

3) Merging Grabfood into the Grab app.

A huge hindrance to users not making full use of GrabFood is the fact that it came as a separate app.

Well, Grab has solved that issue by merging their GrabFood app into their native one to make ordering food a lot more convenient for their users.

This is not only a strategic move for their partner restaurants and delivery partners, but also for GrabFood customers as they will be spoilt for choice with more food options.

Users will now be able to instantly check out the latest promotions and featured restaurants on the GrabFood home screen and they can conveniently redeem and use GrabRewards vouchers with a simple click.

Their restaurant partners will be able to have direct access to the millions of Grab users in Malaysia, which can really benefit small and home-based establishments who prior to this, do not have the means to grow their business beyond their current store front.

4) Partnering with the Malaysian government.

Grab recently partnered with the Ministry of Transport to implement facial recognition technology to enhance their safety features.

The Passenger Verification feature essentially lets users verify their identity on Grab’s app via a live selfie option. From its initial launch, the feature has helped decline passenger-related crimes by 30%, giving their driver-partners greater peace of mind.

The advanced facial recognition technology now built into Grab’s app, ensures that the picture taken is an actual ‘live’ human face; and it is also able to detect and reject inappropriate photos.

The selfie will only be used for one-time verification purposes, and like all personal data on Grab, is securely protected under Malaysia’s Personal Data Protection Act (PDPA).

This move is aligned with their goal of setting a high bar for transportation safety standards and bring preventable incidents on its platform down to zero through technology innovations.

Another partnership Grab has done is with the Royal Malaysia Police (Polis DiRaja Malaysia or PDRM), where Grab driver-partners will begin to receive time-sensitive and critical NUR Alerts.

The National Urgent Response (NUR) Alert system is a national initiative that helps spread information related to missing children under the age of 12 as quickly as possible. Part of Malaysia’s National Child Protection Policy and Action Plan, NUR Alerts are shared by law enforcement and regulatory agencies when a police report is made indicating the possibility of a missing child being the victim of abuse or other crimes.

Through this collaboration, Grab will support the rapid dissemination of NUR Alerts and requests for assistance in finding missing children by alerting it’s network of hundreds of thousands of driver-partners instantly to be on the lookout and inform PDRM if they come across any news.

Working with the Government is key to Grab’s long term strategy for safety for the betterment of the community.

5) Providing express solutions.

To meet the requests of on-demand door-to-door delivery service, Grab rolled out GrabExpress, their latest on-demand delivery service to the wider Klang Valley area.

Similar to their usual Grab ride and GrabFood services, GrabExpress provides users with the convenience of delivering items such as documents, parcels and gifts, to their business partners, customers, family and friends.

This is aligned with their desire to support the e-commerce industry which is growing in Malaysia. With GrabExpress, home-based entrepreneurs and social sellers can easily utilise our service to deliver goods and items directly to their customers. This in turn will also allow them the flexibility to focus on their business growth while knowing that they have a reliable logistics partner.

Since their launch last year, GrabExpress has seen a 10x increase in deliveries with more than 50% being return customers.

GrabExpress is planning to grow and enhance their services to make it more seamless for planning and handling of packages while saving customers’ time and money.

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You can see the different moves that Grab is taking to really position themselves in a way where each step is carefully calculated and strategic in bringing them closer to their goal of being a one-stop app for everything.

Soon you can say that GrabPay Credits will be a new “currency” used for all Grab users, and all it takes is just activating and upgrading your wallet for full access to all these features. Once you’ve reloaded your wallet, all these services will literally be available at the tips of your fingers.

With many more features being planned to be rolled out soon in Malaysia, such as the option to book hotels and purchase movie tickets from the app itself, it won’t be too much of a surprise when we come to a point that Grab can be seamless from planning your commute to work to ordering your next meal and getting ready for your next movie date or holiday trip.

• GrabPay is making Payday more rewarding by offering users a 20% rebate up to RM8 with their GrabPayDay Bonus deal. You can redeem this when using the feature to pay for online shopping and prepaid top-ups.
• For more information on GrabPay and their latest promotion, you can click here.

This article is written in collaboration with GrabPay.

Also Read: 6 Instagrammable Cafes in KL And Their GrabPay Deals You Shouldn’t Miss

6 Instagrammable Cafes in KL And Their GrabPay Deals You Shouldn’t Miss

We visited 6 cafes around KL in a bid to find design elements that we like, and are perfect for Instagram-worthy shots. Read on for a promo code!

The #10YearChallenge: 7 Ways Bubble Tea Has Evolved In Malaysia

I was first introduced to the unholy joys of bubble tea at the age of 18, way back in 2007.

Back then, stationed just across the road from my college’s gate was a tiny, unassuming little counter attached to a photocopy shop.

Behind, you could see neon-bright powders, tall canisters of colourful syrup, and a cheery man who was always there all day.

I only ordered one drink each time—the honeydew bubble tea. It was not Mountain Dew green but it had its own artificial fluorescent splendour that I still miss.

As a proud self-admitted addict for a over a decade, I’ve seen it grow, evolve and change here in Malaysia. Since the #10YearChallenge trended recently, we’ve collaborated with one of my favourite bubble tea suppliers, Grab (and yes, there’s a promo code at the end), to showcase bubble tea in its very own #10YearChallenge.

1. From powdered mixes to freshly brewed.

These days my standard bubble tea order is as plain as it can be—milk tea with pearls, no matter where I go. Like the drink itself, my taste has also evolved in the past decade, and I will probably never have that bright green honeydew flavoured drink again, even if it were available.

One of the main reasons is taste. Brewed tea (now a staple in most of the popular bubble tea stores) tastes very different from the powdered offerings that were once common.

And this is more than just the tea or the flavouring; even the milk used has changed from powdered creamer to fresh cream or cheese in many of the stores all over Klang Valley today.

2. From manufactured/supplied pearls to made in-store

The main thing distinguishing your average bubble tea from the teh in the mamak would be the deliciously chewy pearls that add an extra texture to just “tea”.

A point of pride for many locally grown bubble tea brands: they no longer have to rely on overseas suppliers for their pearls.

Nowadays, it’s not too hard to find pearls being made in-store. For example, you can even watch the pearls being made on-site in Tealive’s Pavilion store, or get The Alley’s freshly made pearls in-store too.

3. From a rushed takeaway to a savoured treat with friends

10 years ago, the places where you could get bubble tea were probably limited to these: the pasar malam, standalone little stores, counters in malls, and the occasional restaurant that also included one or two choices of bubble tea on their menus.

If you wanted to sit and have the drink, the latter was often your only option, and they weren’t exactly always in conversation-friendly or comfortable places.

In 2019, hanging out in a bubble tea café is a norm. The Alley in SS15 is generally always crowded; just look at Instagram for lots of aesthetic photos of people enjoying their drinks in bubble tea cafés.

4. No longer an occasional indulgence, anytime is #bubbleteatime now

Despite my love for bubble tea, in 2009, I didn’t feel comfortable drinking it too often. It felt like too many of the flavourings were very artificial, and it was a bit too sweet for daily consumption.

Now however, bubble tea has become something that can be enjoyed anytime. You don’t need an excuse to celebrate—even a small victory like finishing up your work extra early can be reason enough to have a cuppa.

Thanks to the evolution of ingredients mentioned in point 1 above, and also the ability to customise things—like how sweet you’d like the drink to be (or remove the sugar altogether)—bubble tea can now actually be a healthy beverage. Think of it as an upgrade from that daily cup of tea you make in your office pantry.

5. From limited menu choices to build your own beverage

Speaking of customisation, the 10-item menus of the past are mostly gone from modern bubble tea stores.

Instead, when you’re at somewhere like Chatime or Tealive get ready to see at least 20 different bases and flavours, or even build your own drink; choose which tea/coffee/base, what toppings you’d like, how sweet you want it and how much ice you want in the drink.

This variety means that there are so many combinations to be tried and enjoyed.

6. From scattered shops to international franchises

There were bubble tea chains (mostly located in shopping malls) in the past. However, besides the fans, not many people knew about them, and they didn’t have a very strong brand presence.

But the bubble tea industry has completely changed, with international brands like Chatime, Regiustea and The Alley now active and thriving in Malaysia, and a few of our homegrown brands like Tealive also making a mark in this region. Many of these have become household names, and they are at most major malls and neighbourhoods.

7. From a special trip out to delivered to doorsteps

With a great love for bubble tea also comes a great craving for it at many times of the day.

In 2009, I had no way of indulging my cravings besides actually heading out to get it. Now, there’s always the option of getting it delivered right to my home or office with GrabFood, often even at slightly odd times (as long as the shops themselves are open).

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To all bubble tea fans out there (and anyone looking to be part of the trend), Grab has 2 offers running from February 13 to April 30, 2019.

Offer 1 – For When You Go To The Stores:

Get a RM3 reward rebate with min spend of RM5 on GrabPay Credits.

T&C:
a) RM3 rebates are valid for a maximum of 3 X RM3 rebates, from 13 Feb until 30 April 2019.

b) RM3 rebate is immediately reflected under “GrabRewards” and it will expire after 30 days after issuance date

Offer 2 – For When You Don’t Want To Go Out:

RM3 off and free delivery on GrabFood with the promo code: BBTEATIME

T&C:
a) Must key in the promo code BBTEATIME to enjoy RM3 off and free delivery
b) GrabBubbleTea is only limited to orders from “bubble tea” type cuisine only
c) offer is valid until 31 March 2019

• For more information, you can check out Grab’s website here.

This article was written in collaboration with Grab.

Also Read: How You Could Be One Of 500 People To “Huat” Up Your GrabRewards Points By 18k

Feature Image Credit: BBTea Bar & Regiustea

How You Could Be One Of 500 People To “Huat” Up Your GrabRewards Points By 18k

In the midst of this lunar new year, we’re seeing a lot of angpaos (yay to being unmarried!).

Now technology has basically given us an option where people can give angpao in a cashless —and potentially more rewarding—way to friends and family.

More “Huat” For Everyone

This Chinese New Year, GrabPay is letting you send angpaos for as low as RM1 each. With each successful transfer, you’ll get 88 GrabRewards points. Do note that you can get rewarded up to three times for the campaign period.

To be a part of this campaign, you and the recipient will need to make sure your GrabPay wallet is fully upgraded to v5.29 or above so that it allows P2P transaction. You can do this by going to the “GrabPay” section in your Grab app, clicking on “Upgrade now” and following the steps.

Once that’s done, you can click on the angpao icon in the Grab app or select the ‘Send as an Angbao’ option when sending money. Send a minimum of RM1.00 angbao and 88 GrabRewads points bonus angbao will be sent to you immediately, which you can find under the “Rewards” button in your Grab app.

FYI: Your first 3 P2P transactions done throughout the campaign can land you 88 points per transaction. Meaning you have the chance to accumulate a total of 264 points. This is also limited to the first 100,000 P2P transaction.

Lucky Number 8

To add the huat, every lucky 88th angpao transaction (88th, 176th, 264th etc.) during this campaign period stands a chance of winning up to 18,888 GrabRewards points!

As long as you make sure to transfer RM1, you’re already in the running to be one of the 500 winners that could huat their way to more than 18,000 GrabPoints.

Winners will be announced via email and receive their winning points on Feb 14, 2019 and Feb 22, 2019. Plus, they’re throwing in a little bonus where you’ll be levelled up instantly to a Grab Platinum member, giving you access to all the member benefits like earning more points and prioritising when booking Grab rides.

Aside from that, Grab also still has their Prosperity Pack that costs RM0.88, and you can enjoy deals worth up to RM100. You can look forward to discounts, free delivery and special ride savings this Chinese New Year.

This whole campaign is set to last until the 19th of February so now’s the time to give out that angpao and get some rewards yourself.

• For more information on this P2P Chinese New Year deal, you can click here.

This article was written in collaboration with Grab.

Also Read: We Ordered All Of The Yee Sang Options On GrabFood, Here’s Huat You Need To Lou

We Ordered All Of The Yee Sang Options On GrabFood, Here’s Huat You Need To Lou

• Chinese New Year is coming, so here’re some options of yee sang dishes you can get delivered to you via GrabFood.

One of the main dishes people look forward to during Chinese New Year (CNY) is yee sang. You’ll see many restaurants out there offering their own renditions of this popular dish, and no reunion dinner is complete without it.

Nowadays, instead of lugging it in your car to your relative’s place, you can opt to have it delivered right to your doorstep. One option you can check out is the GrabFood app which now has a special category called “Yee Sang” for you to easily browse choices near you.

To help you make your choice, we ordered all the current yee sang options found near our area on GrabFood and broke down all the details you need to know about each one.

1) Sushi King

Sushi King has 2 size options for their yee sang on GrabFood; the small is priced at RM20.77 and the regular which is priced at RM42.77. You can pick between 2 sauce options: mixed sauce or plum sauce. If you’re a salmon fan, you can add on a salmon flower for an extra RM14.17.

Another version they have is called the Prosperity Yee Sang that is priced at RM50.47. The dish comes with additional premium prawn and Norwegian salmon slices.

Our verdict:

By looking at it, you can see the Japanese touches Sushi King added to this dish. The wasabi taste is definitely strong, so it’s good for those who really enjoy that added spice. The tempura chips gave it a crunchy texture, which blended well with the other ingredients.

It strays away from the usual yee sang taste most of us are accustomed to, so only go for this if you’re looking for something more adventurous and less traditional. The salmon feels very generous, especially topped up with the Salmon Flower, so this is likely to be a hit with those salmon fishers.

2) Esquire Kitchen

Esquire Kitchen only has one option on GrabFood, called the Esquire Kitchen Special Yee Sang and it’s not customisable, as far as we can tell. It’s priced at RM78.

Our verdict:

If you’re looking for a proper authentic and traditional yee sang choice, look no further. This dish came to us in no particular fancy packaging and the overall taste itself was all very standard.

The flavours of the ingredients were decent, and it had quite a distinctive peanut taste throughout. Since a yee sang is essentially a salad, this one from Esquire Kitchen leaves all the right notes that you’d be looking for in this auspicious dish—sweet, tangy, savory, and crunchy.

This is an option we’d recommend if you’re looking to go the safe route.

3) La Juiceria Superfoods

La Juiceria Superfoods has 2 options of yee sang on GrabFood; La Juiceria Superfoods Yee Sang which has smoked salmon and the vegetarian version which comes with more seasonal fruits.

Both are priced at RM48 and comes in 2 sizes, with the large costing an additional RM20.

Our verdict:

This yee sang came with an abundant amount of fruits and nuts alongside the other usual ingredients, which made the taste very fresh and fruity. One of the ingredients that shined was the pomelo as it was the right amount of sour. The smoked salmon also added a salty tang to the whole dish, which could be a great or bad thing depending on your taste.

It’s not the typical flavour you’d find, but it doesn’t stray too far away from a traditional good yee sang. If you’re looking for something slightly different, you can opt to go for this.

4) Sakae Sushi

Sakae Sushi’s yee sang came in 2 options; the money yee sang (suitable for 6-8 pax) priced at RM66.88 or the success yee sang (suitable for 2-3 pax) priced at RM32.88. To add salmon, it costs an extra RM10.

This is the most customisable choice as you can make it more interesting by adding ingredients such as abalone or chuka hotate for a certain fee.

Our verdict:

This yee sang came delivered in cute red packaging so we’re giving them extra points for the added effort!

Because the ingredients were vacuum packed, the natural taste was preserved well. The citrus-infused sauce was a nice touch and we all enjoyed the wakame seaweed that was included.

This is recommended for those who want something more crisp and are on the lookout for yee sang sized perfectly for a small family or group of friends.

5) Delicious

Delicious has 3 different yee sang options: smoked salmon (for RM35), soft shell crab or salted egg fish skin (for RM40). All come in two sizes that can feed from 3-8 people for a fee of either RM25 or RM35.

Our verdict:

When we first saw it, we were concerned with the large amount of cabbage included but it all tasted delicious once it was all mixed together.

The overall taste came out very refreshing, and it wasn’t too sweet. The jellyfish that was included made it feel more premium.

Along with the soft shell crab, this was a dish that many of us enjoyed, and would love to have more of. We would recommend this if you’re going for a more refreshing yee sang.

6) Mohammad Chow Express

Mohammad Chow Express offers 2 sizes for their yee sang which can feed from 4-7 people. The medium is priced at RM78 while the large is RM118.

Our verdict:

This yee sang came in basic packaging, but all the ingredients came to us in tact.

Some of the ingredients did look like they had a lot of colouring and were very bright, which is pleasing on the eye and camera. The texture is more on the crispy side with lots of crispy bits and the sauce is quite sour.

We’d suggest this for those who are looking for a good entry level into yee sang, who might not be too used to stronger tasting Chinese sauces.

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Yee sang is a pretty integral to Chinese New Year, and now that you can have it delivered, it makes things a lot easier so you can focus on really spending time with your loved ones.

Protip: You can buy the Prosperity Pack in your Grab app for RM0.88 where you can get RM8 off and free delivery on yee sang orders from GrabFood (min. order of RM40 applies). If your yee sang order is less than RM40, then you can use one of the free delivery vouchers in the Prosperity Pack.

May your Chinese New Year be blessed with all the lou-ing you’ll be doing!

• For more deals, you can head to the GrabFood app and check out their yee sang tab to see all the options around you.

This article is written in collaboration with GrabFood.

Also Read: I Got Rid Of All My Skincare Go-Tos For A Month To Try Out This Cult Favourite

10 Things You’ve Always Wanted To Ask Your Grab Driver But You Shy

How often do you step into a Grab and instantly strike up a conversation with the driver?

As Grab is now the largest e-hailing provider in Malaysia, as users, it does benefit us to understand how the system works, so that we can use it to our full advantage.

So what really happens if we give our driver a low rating, or if we request for them to take a different route than what was keyed in originally?

We reached out to Grab and got them to answer some really common questions riders might have, particularly when it comes to driver requests, to see if these could shed some light.

1) “Can you pick my friends up on the way to my destination?”

So, this is probably a request many of us have tried at least once.

The real answer is that Grab drivers aren’t actually allowed to deviate away from their course once the request has been accepted. If they’re caught doing so, they could be hit with a penalty from Grab.

It’s probably easier to just ask your friends to meet you at a common point before calling the Grab from there.

2) “What kind of hours do drivers usually work? 9am – 5pm?”

Unlike most conventional jobs, there aren’t any proper “working hours” for Grab drivers—which is actually a plus point because these flexible hours allow many people to take up this job as a part-time gig.

The “working hours” honestly depends solely on what incentive they’re aiming for: per minute fare or time boosters.

Most drivers who choose to work for Grab full-time find themselves being more active during peak hours, which is the morning and evening rush. They can then take breaks in between whenever they want.

3) “How much of an effect do passenger ratings have upon you, as well as on your earnings?”

Most of us passengers assume that giving drivers a 3-star rating is average, but it could actually affect their earnings in the long-run.

Every Grab driver has a Driver Rating (DR), which constitutes of stars. If they have a low DR (which is generally lower than 4.5), generally they might not be able to even drive on the Grab platform anymore.

Grab drivers that meet the minimum Acceptance Rate (AR) and DR requirements also get jobs sent to them faster, which could help them earn more.

4) “Why do drivers avoid cancelling trips when passengers ask them to?”

Similar to the response above, every driver has a Cancellation Rate (CR) limit that they’re entitled to. If they exceed it, they’d be penalised or locked out from the system and get lesser job requests, which basically means lesser earnings.

5) “Is it dangerous to drive for Grab? What precautions do drivers take to protect themselves?”

We’ve recently covered a few of Grab’s recent initiatives to make sure their drivers are safe and protected, but generally, Grab takes the safety of their drivers and passengers quite seriously.

They suspend passengers and drivers who breach any regulations and to help their drivers in their daily duties, Grab also offers some benefits such as a rear-facing dash cam for their protection.

6) “Can the driver still see my phone number once the job is done?”

This was something a lot of us were cautious about as most passengers weren’t too comfortable with the idea that Grab drivers could withhold our personal numbers.

But Grab has now amended the system so now the numbers are masked to provide a sense of anonymity to all.

7) “If the passenger feels that the Grab driver has done a good job, can he/she then request for the same driver in the future?”

That would be a little unfair to other hardworking new drivers that could potentially provide the same service. To ensure it’s a fair playing field and to not penalise any late-entries into the job, everyone gets a fair shot at all rides.

Feel free to leave a nice comment to the driver though if you want to recommend the driver and reward him or her.

8) “Why won’t the driver agree when I ask him/her to accept a new trip with me once I’ve reached my destination?”

Same reasoning as above. It’s only fair to open up the request to all the drivers as Grab doesn’t want to play any biased games here.

9) “If I’ve set the destination wrongly and only realised it after I’ve gotten into the car, can I request a change of destination?”

Previously no. Grab had a restriction on this to help protect both the driver and the passenger.

But as of November 2018, Grab has now rolled out the new “Change Destination” feature where you can change your destination if you realised you’ve made a mistake in your booking.

10) “How much can you earn with Grab, since many have quit their jobs to drive full-time?”

This depends on a few factors, such as the incentives that can be earned, the amount of hours put in, the volumes of rides accepted, and more.

To help people get a better understanding of how it works, Grab has a Revenue Calculator on their signup page which shows an estimate of how much a driver could potentially earn. Do note it’s not meant to be a 100% accurate representation, it’s simply a visual tool that guides you into understanding the earnings potential.

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• If you’re interested in signing up as a Grab driver yourself, you can head over to their website here.
• If there are other things you’re particularly curious about, you can head over to Grab’s official website here for more information.

This article was written in collaboration with Grab.

Feature Image Credit: Grab

Also Read: 5 Situations That Could Really Mess You Up If You’re Using Pirated Software

Is Your Grab Driver Telling The Truth When He Says He Earns More Than You’d Think?

• A guide on how Grab drivers earn from the ride-hailing app’s latest earning scheme.

Over the years, Grab has slowly but progressively transformed into conventional travel where it’s now a staple of many workers’ commute today.

A large part of that is down to the front-end workers—the people that keep the wheels turning, as they say. But how is Grab attracting such a large number of drivers in such a big region like SEA?

It’s pretty simple. The money is decent.

I can’t even begin to count the number of times I’ve heard drivers tell me, “Grab drivers earn a lot, that’s why I left my job.” My initial reaction was one of slight skepticism—but it eventually led to me trying it out for myself.

What did I learn? Well two things, really. Firstly, the job is a lot more complicated than you’d think. Grab drivers (also known as Driver-Partners) are required to abide by certain rules and regulations that are mandated by Grab.

And secondly, there’s more to driving for Grab than just driving around with the meter on. So whether you’re someone thinking of driving for Grab, a current driver, or just a curious bystander, here’s a quick read of what it all entails—and how they bring the bacon home.

Knowing How The System Works

When you drive for Grab, the importance of knowing how the system works cannot be overstated, as how much you earn is very much correlated with how well you know the system.

As of 26 November 2018, Grab has implemented several new tweaks that changes the way drivers now earn. Here’s a simple breakdown of two major changes:

i) Per Minute Fare

Simply put, this means that upfront fares will be calculated based on the estimated trip time in addition to the estimated distance. According to Grab, the reasoning behind this is to further compensate driver-partners that drive during peak hours.

Under the previous system, completing a 10KM trip that takes 30 minutes to complete would’ve gotten the driver-partner the same fare as a 10KM trip that takes 15 minutes to complete.

Therefore, jobs done during peak hours and in busy areas will result in higher fares, while trips that take a shorter time to complete will generate lower fares.

ii) Time Boosters
This new update is essentially Grab’s latest incentive scheme—replacing the previous Hourly Guarantees and Flexi Bonus incentive systems.

Basically, every different hour has a certain Time Booster level (eg. RM0.60 p/minute)—if your trip is estimated to take longer due to a change in traffic such that your average earning per minute drops below that level, you’ll receive a bonus to compensate for that.

In a nutshell, the biggest change for driver-partners under this new system is that they are now compensated in a fairer way when they drive during peak hours.
Another welcome change from Grab is that bonuses are now paid instantly to driver-partners’ wallets. (Previously, incentives were paid out at the end of each week)

Not Everything Is About Money

Of course, but hear me out.

Over the years, Grab has implemented quite a few things that drivers have complained about—a good sign, surely.

i) Discounted commission
There are a couple of useful perks that come along with the gig besides the incentive payments. Drivers are allowed to pay a discounted 20% commission (the normal is 25%) if they turn on “auto-accept”, a feature where the next rider request is automatically accepted.

ii) Wrapping your car
Self-wrapping your car with an advert? It nets you up up to RM350 a month. They’ve also given drivers a guarantee of RM1/km at least, with Grab topping up the difference.

iii) Pesky last-minute cancellations
Something most drivers I know would appreciate is how you’re now compensated even if your passenger has canceled their request. Previously, the bane of many a driver has been the last-minute cancellations from potential customers that cost the driver—both in time and petrol.

iv) Others
There are also Grab All-Stars privileges that include a certain amount of savings on fuel, maintenance, or even recreational outings.

Another way of making a little money on the side here is to refer new drivers onto the platform—each referral gets you a RM100 reward.

Particularly for part-time drivers, Grab’s system now works in that you can drive across multiple cities/states without any extra registration. As long as there are riders in the vicinity, you can expect to be able to work in any of the available cities.

So Is That Driver Telling The Truth?

The answer to such a loaded question: generally, yes.

However, taking the time to understand the system and having the diligence to learn to utilise it properly can have a huge effect on what the driver actually earns.

Grab’s system has evolved over the years from one that just paid well to one that actually provides a more rounded benefit scheme in rewarding its (longstanding) drivers.

Just like anything else worth pursuing, it takes a little learning on-the-go in order to fully realise its benefits. In other words, driving for Grab can be a good source of income—as long as you make the effort.

• To find out more information on becoming a Grab Driver-Partner, you can click here.

This article is written in collaboration with Grab.

Also Read: 5 Situations That Could Really Mess You Up If You’re Using Pirated Software

How In The World Does Grab Regulate Hundreds Of Thousands Of Drivers? We Break It Down.

2018 has been a rather interesting year for Grab, having made consistent headlines for their expansions outside of just being a simple ride-hailing app.

From growing their coverage in the food delivery scene to now offering wallet-to-wallet remittance, it doesn’t seem like the green giant is slowing down.

But having their finger in many pies could come with its own risks. Although it’s nice to have so many services on hand, it could become more detrimental if the quality isn’t maintained.

Hence why constant monitoring and quality control is exceptionally imperative. So how does Grab handle their large number of registered drivers?

Starting With The Drivers

The first step involves the people behind the wheels—the drivers.

According to Grab, to ensure that their drivers are safe and high-quality, they must first go through 5 specific levels of verification:

1) Complete basic documentation

Before anything, all the applicants are required to submit all their identification documents. This includes their IC, a full Malaysian driving license (no P license accepted), their car insurance cover note, and their car grant.

2) Background check

A background check is conducted on every single applicant.

What Grab will look out for are applicants who have no criminal record with PDRM, not more than 3 traffic summons in the recent 1 year (includes speeding, hit and run, dangerous driving, etc), and a medical examination report from applicants who are 50–69 years old (as evidence to show that they are fit to drive).

3) Face-to-face verification

This stage is crucial because they want to make sure that the applicant is who they say they are. It’s done by having a face-to-face meeting with the applicant.

Currently, Grab has 58 Driver Kiosks available nationwide or applicants can go to one of the 208 Alpha Driver offline touchpoints available nationwide.

FYI: Alpha Drivers are driver-partners that are specifically chosen and trained by Grab to help register new Grab drivers by verifying their registration documents.

4) Vehicle requirements

Aside from the driver, the vehicle will also be scrutinised. Only applicants with cars that are 10 years old or younger will be accepted.

5) Training and examination

All their drivers go through a training, followed by a test that they must pass. These can be done either online or offline at one of their driver training sessions. The training includes modules on safety and code of conduct which is especially important for their drivers to know how to give passengers a good experience.

The Little Extra Steps

Although the verification process is already quite extensive, there are other measures that Grab puts in place to further improve their drivers’ safety and driving experience:

• Monitoring their drivers’ driving skills.

Grab has an in-app system that uses advanced algorithms to track driving characteristics of their drivers, which then get translated into weekly reports. This is so drivers can re-evaluate their driving (such as if they’ve been driving above a certain speed limit or if their braking has been unsteady) and how they can improve on the safety and comfort of their drives.

• Providing Personal Accident Insurance.

Grab offers a free Personal Accident Insurance plan where the driver and passenger will be covered during an accident. Grab drivers can make a claim by submitting a form via their Help Centre.

• Keeping your privacy by masking numbers.

One of the concerns Grab users have is of letting strangers know their personal numbers. So Grab has a built-in feature in their app that allows drivers to contact passengers, and vice versa, via the app and the personal contact numbers are masked to protect privacy.

• Verifying not only the drivers but also the passengers.

Aside from verifying their drivers, Grab now requires passengers to register with social media logins or credit card as a form of verification. This is a step towards assuring drivers that the identity of the passenger they pick up is validated.

Keeping All Sides Happy

Everything mentioned above are the regular protocols and regulations done by Grab to ensure that the right necessary steps are taken to get high-quality and safe drivers.

But according to Grab, there are additional incentives provided for the drivers to ensure they perform in the best way as well as some extra steps to help protect their earnings.

Examples of some of their incentives include:

• To help with some of their daily expenses, Grab drivers can flash their app to Grab’s listed partners to enjoy deals and savings on various things like petrol, mobile phone plans, health insurance and car maintenance.

• If they’re feeling tired, there are a few Grab Driver Pit Stops around to enjoy exclusive driver benefits offered at these locations for free or on a discount.
• Grab drivers receive added bonus for jobs during peak hours, jobs that are far away or jobs that will take a longer time due to unfavourable traffic conditions.
• If a passenger cancels the ride late or does not show up, Grab drivers will be compensated for their travel to that pick-up point.
• Grab drivers are able to earn a commission when they refer friends to be a Grab-driver partner.
• Grab organises regular engagement events for meet-ups with drivers to get their feedback and listen to suggestions of where improvements can be made.

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As Grab’s influence continues to increase with each passing day, it becomes an even bigger task on their shoulders to make sure all members in their community are properly taken care of.

According to the team, their end-goal is to better themselves to provide a good experience for all drivers and passengers.

“That’s why we’re making constant improvements to ensure that driving with us is safer, more seamless, and more rewarding.”

• For more information on what Grab is doing under their #BetterEveryday campaign, you can check out the official page here.

This article was written in collaboration with Grab.

Also Read: Top 4 Things Said By Retail Businesses That We Hope To Never Hear In 2019

The People Have Spoken—13 Of Your Favourite Local Restaurants Are Now On GrabFood

• GrabFood recently organised a campaign called “The People’s Pick”
• The campaign ran from 10th of August until the 20th of August

I’m actually a huge fan of ordering food in—food of my choice delivered right to my doorstep, at a time of my choosing, as I wait for the food lying around in my shorts. Bliss.

There is one caveat to this lazy fantasy however, as the selection of many food delivery services can be somewhat limited.

I just want to have some of my regular food places available for delivery, especially even more local-centric food.

GrabFood, as part of their continuing efforts to bring well-known local vendors on board their eatery list, recently concluded “The People’s Pick” campaign.

As the name suggests, Malaysians voted for their favourite local eateries from a shortlist—over 5,000 people casted their votes.

Held between August 10th until August 20th, the top 13 local restaurants with the highest votes formed a whole new category on the app: The People’s Pick.

There is quite a variety of local options that have now been added to GrabFood’s list as part of the campaign, so if you’re reading this at work and you’re feeling hungry: read on.

1. Lorong Seratus Tahun

Known for its Penang Curry Mee, the restaurant came from humble beginnings. In 1960, the business started as a little hawker stall, which has grown into the multi-outlet franchise you see today.

If you’re in the Petaling Jaya vicinity, good news: the SS2 branch is one of the top 13 restaurants. Keep in mind that availability of restaurants on GrabFood is subject to your location as well.

2. Soong Kee’s Beef Noodle

If you’re from the Klang Valley, and you enjoy a steaming bowl of beef noodles, you’ll have heard of this one. Turning 72 years old this year, the restaurant is tucked away in the city centre on Jalan Tun HS Lee—be careful to avoid peak hours as the restaurant can get pretty packed.

But now you won’t have to queue outdoors, as they’ve been chosen as one of The People’s Pick for the KL City Centre region. Their signature dish is their egg-noodles that comes topped with minced beef and pork, as well as special spices and seasonings.

3. Breadfruits

Moving slightly away from the local cuisine, next on the list of #MyLocalFavourites is a café in the Mont Kiara region.

Famous for its brunch selections with a focus on using healthy and natural ingredients, Breadfruits is located in Desa Sri Hartamas.

The portions are pretty big, so expect your appetite to be fully satisfied even if you’re a big eater. Whether you’re craving pasta, eggs benedict, or fresh fruit juices, western brunch is pretty much covered at Breadfruits.

4. Apam Balik Nusantara

Those in the mood for some sweet local flavours won’t go wrong with Apam Balik Nusantara in Kampung Baru. Focusing their entire menu around the beloved apam balik, the guys from Apam Balik Nusantara serve up a huge variety of the sticky, and fluffy or crispy snacks with 36 flavours to choose from on GrabFood itself.

Their most popular choices include the timeless jagung kacang (corn and peanuts), jagung durian (corn and durian), pisang coklat kacang (bananas, chocolate, and peanuts), and pulut hitam (black glutinous rice).

The huge variety of the beloved local dish is nothing to scoff at, but what about the taste? The highly positive reviews left on Google suggest that there’s something special to be had.

5. TNR by Sean & Angie

TNR offers a unique take on char siew. Instead of your usual rice or wantan mee, the char siew is often paired with Hakka noodles, and this goes amazingly well together. If you’re a connoisseur, reviewers often rave about how their char siew offers a sufficient balance between caramelisation and meat.

With favourites such as Hakka Noodle Original with minced meat, Premium Char Siew & Chicken Rice and also Hakka Noodle Premium Char Siew, it’s more than enough char siew to keep your belly satisfied.

Something For Everyone

I’ll say this: whether or not you fancy some of the restaurants that are now on GrabFood as a result of the People’s Pick campaign, there’s something in there for everyone. A quick skim through the merchants list brings up several restaurants that check quite a few boxes off my usual go-to list.

For local cuisine, you have Curry Mee, Nasi Lemak, or you can even satisfy your sweet tooth with some Apam Balik.

Personally, my next order will be from Ravi’s Banana Leaf, an Indian restaurant that prides itself on its authenticity. I’m a huge banana leaf fan, but this will be my first time getting it delivered—anyone want to share some rice and fish head curry with me?

If you’re feeling like some brunch on a Sunday morning but can’t bring yourself to get out of bed (we don’t judge, everyone likes to sleep in on the weekends), there’s more than enough eggs benedict and sausages to go around.

I’ve always been a fan of more local-centric, laid back restaurants. The biggest gripe for many with food-delivery services has always been the rigid selection.

That said, with the huge number of restaurants (1000) and wide variety of cuisines available on the GrabFood app, I’m now spoilt for choice with local favourites.

So have a little culinary fun exploring the app, see what everyone else likes, and eventually vote for what you want. Isn’t that what democracy is really about?

• Use our promo code, VULCAN10 to get RM10 off your first GrabFood order.
• You can download the app from the Google Play Store and Apple App Store.

This article is written in collaboration with Grab.

Also Read: This Malaysian E-Wallet Pays Bills, Earns Rewards & Even Trades Crypto While You Sleep

This E-Wallet Is Already In Your Phone And You Don’t Even Know It

Malaysia’s been hit with a wave of e-wallets this year, and local player Grab recently joined the market with their own e-wallet, aptly called the GrabPay wallet.

GrabPay’s not exactly a new name to many Malaysians. You’ve probably used it if you’ve ever paid for a Grab ride with your credit or debit card as you’d have to select the GrabPay option in the app.

But even though they share the same name, the new GrabPay wallet isn’t just that.

What Can It Do?

One advantage GrabPay has over its competitors is that there’s no need for you to download any separate app to make use of its feature.

Chances are you already have the Grab app on your phone, which automatically means you have the e-wallet on hand (just ensure your Grab app is updated). Once you’ve done so, you can start paying for your Grab rides, GrabFood orders and purchasing in-store items.

We talked about how to register for this feature previously but to reiterate, it’s quite a simple process.

To use GrabPay Credits:

• Enter your personal details and MyKad or passport number in order to be able to pay for the various Grab services and make purchases at Grab’s partner businesses.
• Reload it before using the app to pay for your purchases. You can choose to top up using your credit or debit card, via online banking or using cash at 7-Eleven (MOLPay CASH).

FYI, if your card is already tied to your Grab account, you can just top up your e-wallet instantly without needing to key in your card details again, once you’ve finished the verification process. .

Currently, the wallet can hold up to RM500 but if you through all the necessary verification procedures, it can hold up to RM1,500.

If you’re worried on whether the wallet is secure or you suspect someone has gained unauthorised access to your app, you can set up a Grab PIN which helps save your card details when you login to a new device or re-login to your Grab app.

You may be asked to enter your PIN if the system detects any suspicious activity.

What Are The Benefits?

Using the GrabPay wallet lets you earn GrabRewards points each time you use it.

Similar to how it works with Grab rides, these points can add up to upgrade your status and to be redeemed for various rewards in the app.

These points work across the Grab regions, so if you happen to be in Singapore or Indonesia, you can use your points to redeem rewards there. Do keep in mind that you’ll need to top up that country’s currency in your GrabPay wallet before you’re able to make purchases there.

Some of the ways that you can really optimise the GrabPay service for your day to day expenses is through:

• Paying for GrabCar and GrabFood.

It’s a no brainer that Grab has primed the GrabPay wallet to be the easiest way to pay for their other offerings.

Aside from paying for your Grab rides, you can also pay for food to be delivered to your doorstep. This gives Grab the advantage of offering a wholly integrated solution to their users that other mobile wallets on the market can’t do.

To further entice you, they’ve added an incentive of earning extra GrabRewards points if users pay for their Grab rides using GrabPay.

• Paying for food and shopping.

GrabPay is accepted at more than 800 participating merchants in 8 major cities around Malaysia. They often have specials deals or rewards which you can keep an eye out for here (e.g. bubble tea for RM3, or ice cream from Inside Scoop for RM3).

Some of their key brands include franchises like Tealive, KGB Burgers, TeoChew Chendul, and even small eateries like Devi’s Corner in Bangsar, Burps & Giggles in Ipoh, and Kopi Ping in Kota Kinabalu.

In the future, they’re looking to roll out into shops that may not typically accept digital payments, like your regular gerais and hawker stalls.

Besides food, you can pay for all KLIA Express single and return trip tickets (for adults) using the app too.

• Transferring money.

All users can use GrabPay to send money between each other, and it can be sent via a QR code or a mobile phone number.

Pretty handy during those outings with friends and you want to split the bill, for example.

As Grab is partnering with Maybank, soon you’ll be able to use the app not just with GrabPay merchants, but also Maybank’s own QRPay merchants too.

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As GrabPay’s focusing on high-frequency merchants, they’ve already differentiated themselves from the market with their strong presence in the food and transport category.

But with Bank Negara stating that 80% of all transactions are still done via cash, the main enemy here isn’t amongst other e-wallets but an uphill struggle to break through this stubborn habit of relying on cash.

With the wallet already being integrated into the app, Grab has a good start as they have over 100 million downloads of the e-wallet in their phone without needing to download anything else.

If they continue to execute things well, more users would be able to rely on this mobile wallet service and Grab may just achieve its vision of being the interconnected lifestyle platform—or as they have aptly put ‘Your Everyday App’.

• For more information on GrabPay itself, you can click here.

This article was written in collaboration with Grab.

Also Read: Is RM1k Too Much To Attend M’sia’s First Major Blockchain Event? Maybe Not.