Careem Egypt aims to achieve a 30% growth rate in the size of its business throughout 2017, according to Careem Egypt’s general manager Nadeer Shalaby. Careem is an online transportation company that connects passengers with drivers via a mobile application.
Shalaby told Daily News Egypt that the company also aims to increase the number of its independent drivers in Egypt to 200,000, up from 50,000 now, to cover its expansion on the local level.
Careem has been applying a strict set of criteria to approve the entry of new drivers. Applicants and cars are subjected to a range of tests and checks to ensure the highest quality of services provided at all times. Every new car seeking to join Careem fleet undergo a comprehensive safety test before they are put into service. This test includes inspecting the engine, brakes, body, and interior. The driver must be tactful and friendly in dealing with customers. They must also hold a valid driving license and a national ID. Moreover, applicants must submit a criminal record report and conduct a blood tests to prove they are drug free. Should they join the fleet, Careem then provides comprehensive training on how to use the application and means of serving clients. By the end of the training, drivers have to pass a test before they take to the streets.
In Egypt, Careem has 100 employees working at the company’s headquarters and next to 300 call centre agents serving the Middle East region from Cairo. The company aims to boost the number of its call centre agents to 1,000 employees before the end of the year.
Shalaby said that the company is also developing its black and white traditional taxi system to attract 42,000 drivers in the coming period. Furthermore, the company has signed a number of protocols with the Ministry of Social Solidarity, the Addiction Treatment and Abuse Fund, and the Ministry of Sports and Youth Affairs.