Thursday Apr 25, 2024
Thursday Apr 25, 2024
Friday, 7 June 2019 00:00 - - {{hitsCtrl.values.hits}}
PickMe, one of Sri Lanka’s leading technology-driven mobility solutions provider announced its most recent partnership with Fintrex Finance Ltd. In today’s fast-paced environment, a ‘do-it-alone’ approach is not the best strategy for growth. Hence, being two fast growing and dynamic companies, this alliance aims to complement their businesses, which will no doubt be a winning combination.
From humble beginnings of just three years PickMe has steadily grown since 2015, having attracted $ 3 million from venture capitalists, the highest among all start-ups in the country. The company made Rs. 1 billion in revenue and achieved profitability in a short period of time.
“The partnership with Fintrex Finance is based on mutual consensus and as two fast-growing and dynamic companies, this partnership could be mutually beneficial to both companies. We have provided employment opportunities both directly and indirectly to hundreds of Sri Lankans and are a leading contributor to the country’s economy. Having Fintrex Finance onboard is another feather in our cap in our quest to becoming an internationally reputed company with a truly Sri Lankan identity,” said PickMe Chief Operating Officer Isira Perera.
PickMe is a 100% local company made to international standards. A homegrown technology driven mobility provider to the nation, the company was founded in June 2015 providing transportation solutions to their customers ranging from trishaws to luxury cars using its smartphone app. The company now has a diverse group of investors which include established Sri Lankan companies and renowned Sri Lankan business-personnel.
PickMe has expanded their corporate portfolio by tying up with Fintrex Finance owned by Bluestone 1 Ltd., backed by a consortium of world-class investors including global insurance giant Fairfax Holdings, MAS and the Hirdaramani Group.
Fintrex Finance products offering include Finance Leasing, SME Loans, Trade Finance, Fixed Deposits and Savings. Fintrex intends to embrace technology in order to improve efficiencies and cater to emerging business transaction trends and expectations of their modern clients.
The PickMe Corporate Solution offers paperless transactions, 100% visibility and traceability at economical rates. It also provides a 24 hours special corporate support line of PickMe, which allows consumers the ability to access PickMe services from Colombo, Kandy and Negombo etc. There is also an assurance that clients could access and place bookings from all vehicles ranging from tuks to mini cars, sedans and vans.
Some of the leading corporates that have entrusted their mobility requirement to PickMe are Sampath Bank PLC, DSI Samson Group, Brandix, Suwaseriya, DFCC, Mobitel, Dialog Axiata PLC, Pership, John Keells, MAS Holdings, Singer Sri Lanka, NTB, Seylan Bank, LOLC, Hirdaramani Group, Standard Chartered Bank, Aitken Spence, Hayleys, HNB, etc.
PickMe has also launched its newest venture PickMe food, which facilitates customers to order and acquire their meals in record time. The company also facilitates to customers’ logistical needs with PickMe Trucks.
Furthermore, all these solutions are available on one app. PickMe currently enables the mobility needs of passengers based in Colombo, Gampaha, Kegalle, Kurunegala, Matale, Galle, Kalutara and Kandy districts in addition to providing corporate travelling solutions to Sri Lanka’s leading businesses and organisations via its Business Portal.
Speaking on the Fintrex perspective, CEO Tamara Dharmakirti Herath said: “The synergies of both companies have been looked into and our brand identity reflects the team’s potential to maximise efforts and unlock value for customers. It signals a clear bias for action, speed and agility. The future road map for Fintrex is to embrace technology in order to improve efficiencies and cater to the emerging business transaction trends and expectations of modern clients and in this respect, we share a common goal with PickMe making our partnership a winning combination.”
The PickMe Board of Directors represents a multitude of shareholders and consists of Chairman Ajit Gunewardene, Conrad Dias (representing LOLC PLC.), Dinesh Rodrigo (representing Interblocks Ltd.), Brand Finance Lanka Managing Director Ruchi Gunewardene and PickMe CEO Jiffry Zulfer, managing its day-to-day operations.
