Octopus drives digitalisation across taxi industry with BigBoss partnership

Octopus Cards has forged a strategic partnership with BigBoss Taxi to unveil "Easy Ride" (Call車易), an all-in-one platform integrating ride-hailing, electronic payments, and driver settlement services.

This marks Octopus's first taxi fleet partnership, aiming to deliver a one-stop solution for passengers and drivers while accelerating digital transformation across Hong Kong's taxi industry.

This partnership comes as the usage of taxi payments with mobile Octopus increases. According to the release, electronic taxi payments through Octopus mobile POS surged by 70% during the Easter holiday period, while tourist mobile Octopus usage increased by 62% YoY.

As part of the collaboration, Octopus launched the outbound version of "Easy Ride" on 27 May. The service integrates multiple taxi fleets within the Octopus app, eliminating the need for passengers to download separate applications. Users can book both fleet and regular taxis while paying seamlessly with Octopus cards, mobile Octopus, or Octopus wallet.

Meanwhile, Octopus has launched "Easy Payout (落袋易)," a driver salary and fare settlement system that operates independently of banking hours. The pilot programme covers approximately 300 BigBoss Taxi drivers, with plans for broader fleet expansion.

The system provides drivers with flexible payment collection, allowing income transfers to commercial Octopus accounts for immediate use across the city's merchant network. Drivers can access detailed income records through the Octopus App for Business and transfer funds to personal bank accounts as needed.

Octopus plans to expand partnerships with additional taxi fleets, further enhancing service coverage and contributing to Hong Kong's smart city development through comprehensive digital mobility solutions. Until now, Octopus is accepted at nearly 190,000 acceptance points citywide, with a growing online footprint, according to the release.

In early 2024, the company opened its taxi payment network, supporting multiple digital wallets including UnionPay, AlipayHK, WeChat Pay, and PayMe by HSBC.

Tim Ying, chief executive officer of Octopus, said: "Octopus has been driving taxi digitalisation for almost a decade. More than 30,000 drivers now accept payments fee-free through our platform. With 'Easy Ride,' we're completing the ecosystem: call, pay, settle all in one seamless experience. This isn't just about convenience; it's about transforming how Hong Kong people get around town, making every journey smarter for passengers and drivers."

Alex Chiu, chief operating officer of BigBoss Taxi, said: "BigBoss is delighted to be the first taxi fleet in Hong Kong to collaborate with Octopus. Passengers can enjoy a seamless travel experience with 'one-click booking and instant payment' through the Octopus 'Easy Ride' platform or the BigBoss App. We firmly believe this partnership will bring more business opportunities to our drivers and offer passengers a more transparent and reliable point-to-point travel option. Through technology, we look forward to joining forces with Octopus to invigorate and diversify the industry, working together to realise the vision of smart mobility."

MARKETING-INTERACTIVE has reached out to Octopus Cards for more information.

Don't miss: Octopus Cards and PingPong join hands to expand cross-border payments

Back in March, Octopus Cards collaborated with Chinese fintech company PingPong to provide more efficient and secure online cross-border payment solutions for businesses entering the Hong Kong market.

This came as Hong Kong is an international financial centre and a free trade port with unique geographical advantages. The city serves as an important gateway for mainland enterprises to "go global" and is a key battleground for numerous brands seeking internationalisation, according to the release.

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