Thinking aloud: *Uber, Lagos or Max? Where do I start my story?*
MAXGo is like an Uber that utilises motorcycles to get people around in the crowded city of Lagos. This is an answer to a prayer I silently prayed again yesterday. Here is my story:
Yesterday, I needed to get to Cafe Neo, VI from Mulliner towers, Ikoyi estimated to be 59 minutes by bus (and trekking). But I had to go and come back within the hour (60 minutes). Hence, going by bus was a no-no. The next more expensive option was to use an Uber. But if you are familiar with the poor Uber services around Lagos (and even around the world) you’ll know that they are unreliable. Moreso, there is little they can do to avoid traffic. Hence, it is not really favourable. The final alternative was to opt for those two-legged machines, okadas. The rider took me to the venue and I asked that he came back in 30 minutes. He said “no problem” and asked that I took his number which I obliged. By the time the 30 minutes was up, I called but no response I even messaged still no response (I imagine he was on the highway). I ended up taking another bike just to make sure I got back in time for my next appointment (for which I was late).
So, I thought to myself, if only there was a directory where I could look up the nearest rider’s number, perhaps, it would have saved me time. Only for me to discover MaxGo had recently launched that service.
Update: There was a blog post introducing MaxGo by Max dated May 12, 2017. Perhaps, it was just a hint into the future.
MaxGo, MaxNow and MaxEats
The investor-backed Nigerian startup, Metro Africa Express (MAX) which only formally launched in the Fall of 2015 (August precisely) boasts actively of three services from her company: MAXEats, MAXNow and now MAXGo. The startup is recorded to have an equity funding of $1.11M from two investors in two rounds. In the fall of the following year, 2016, they acquired Food delivery startup, Easy Appetite which they have now rebranded as MAXEats.
While MAXNow handles pickup & delivery of goods, MaxGo is positioned to transport people. This they do within a 3-hour delivery guarantee. This is only possible because they use motorbikes.
MAXGo and Uber narrative in Lagos
When Uber started out in Lagos, it held so much promise. They boasted well-trained verified and vetted drivers with ‘exotic’ cars (such as Kia Rio, Toyota Camry) that placed passengers comfort as the priority (some used to even give sweets 🙁 ) anything for the 5-star rating. Little wonder the business was booming despite fuel shortages in Lagos. In fact, it was argued that it could be a greater market than London for the car-hailing service, Uber.
All of a sudden, in May 2017 we started having several conversations around “what is wrong with Uber?“. It is so bad around that just today, an Uber Partner – basically, a car owner, complained about her uber driver stealing her car.
Please help me spread this message. My uber driver has absconded with my car. A black 2009 Toyota camry with plate number NCH 28BF pic.twitter.com/xT8YphSFQO
— Kiks (@kiadum_) June 24, 2017
So, the same things MAXGo is promising such as a system to track and monitor all approved motorcycle operators, background checks and management of all motorcycle operators etc were all promised (and actually delivered) by Uber. But today it is a shame.
Knowing the break-neck traffic situation in Lagos, motorcycles are actually a fast way to get around. Perhaps, Uber Executives would have had this in one of their upcoming improvements to their hailing service. But alas! they seem to be living deads in Lagos.
MAXGo is what Uber could have evolved to in Lagos
"MAXGo is what Uber could have evolved to in Lagos".
Anticipate my new blog post on @techcityng
— Benjamin Dada (@DadaBen_) June 24, 2017
Belief in the MAX team
If not for anything, the MAX team have created a reputation for themselves in execution. Providing a 3-hour last-mile delivery service in the bubbling city of Lagos is no mean feat. And now that one of their biggest threats, Uber seems to be out of the way, now would be the time to move quickly, market themselves, acquire users and gain the trust of the public as the (ride-hailing) delivery company in Africa.
Speaking of marketing, they ran a free ride/campaign in Ozone, Yaba-Lagos today. Where their riders brought people free-of-charge from UNILAG to Ozone.
In conclusion, transportation is still a big challenge in Lagos and Nigeria generally due to the inexcusable problem of accessibility and road maintenance. There is still a lot of work to be done in this space. Even though, we have private (ride-sharing) players such as Taxify and GoMyWay. While the Lagos State Government has been working to improve their BRT services.
To learn more about MAXGo, visit here.
TRIVIA UPDATE: The car has been found
Thank you so much everybody!!!!!! Great news! I have retrieved my car!!! The driver went to park it at the palms and called me to go get it!
— Kiks (@kiadum_) June 24, 2017
