inDrive Aims to Be a Global Super App | TechCrunch

inDrive's Expansion into a "Super App"

inDrive, recognized for its unique bidding system for ride-hailing services throughout Asia and Latin America, is implementing a “super app” strategy. This initiative focuses on emerging markets and extends its services beyond transportation.

Expanding Beyond Ride-Hailing

The company is now focused on providing access to everyday necessities for its user base. This expansion began with grocery deliveries in Kazakhstan and is set to broaden significantly.

Planned Market Expansion

Over the next year, inDrive intends to introduce multiple new services across key markets. These include Brazil, Colombia, Egypt, Pakistan, Peru, and Mexico. This strategic shift follows substantial growth, with over 360 million app downloads and 6.5 billion transactions completed globally.

Growth and User Loyalty

Since 2022, inDrive has established itself as the second most-downloaded ride-hailing application worldwide, trailing only Uber. “Increased frequency of use directly correlates with greater customer loyalty and long-term value within the ecosystem,” explained Andries Smit, chief growth business officer at inDrive.

Rapid Growth in Deliveries

inDrive selected grocery delivery as its initial expansion area due to the remarkable growth observed in its delivery segment. More than 41 million orders were fulfilled globally in 2024, with over 14 million processed in Q2 2025 alone.

Kazakhstan Grocery Delivery Launch

The company’s grocery delivery service debuted in Kazakhstan, offering a selection of over 5,000 products. A key promise is delivery within 15 minutes. Initial trials in Kazakhstan demonstrated strong customer satisfaction, achieving a net promoter score of 83%.

Customer Usage Patterns

Users in Kazakhstan averaged five grocery orders per month, according to inDrive. This indicates a high level of engagement with the new service.

Dark Store Model and Local Partnerships

Currently, inDrive utilizes a dark store model for grocery deliveries in Kazakhstan. The focus is primarily on ready-to-eat meals, with approximately 10% of the inventory consisting of fresh produce. Smit indicated that the company is open to forming local partnerships, especially in regions with a high concentration of smaller retail stores.

Scaling Operations

Since August, inDrive has increased its number of dark stores in Kazakhstan by 30%. This expansion demonstrates the company’s commitment to scaling its grocery delivery operations.

Kazakhstan as the Initial Market: A Strategic Choice

With operations spanning 982 cities in 48 countries and market leadership in eight, the decision to launch its super-app initiative in Kazakhstan by inDrive warrants examination.

According to Smit, the company’s rationale centers on a significant surge in digital adoption within Kazakhstan, the largest economy in Central Asia. Furthermore, Kazakhstan hosts inDrive’s largest employee base, functioning as a core center for both research and development and overall operations.

While inDrive has not revealed precise growth figures for its Kazakh operations, a recent Dealroom report – created in partnership with Astana Hub – indicates a 44% growth rate over the last year.

This report also estimates the value of Kazakhstan’s technology sector at $26 billion, representing an 18-fold increase since 2019. This demonstrates a substantial expansion in local startup activity, investment, and the availability of digital services.

Existing grocery delivery applications already serve the Kazakh market. However, inDrive intends to capture market share primarily through competitive pricing, positioning itself as the equivalent of Aldi within the online grocery space.

Smit explained that disparities in access and affordability exist within the grocery sector. Many budget-conscious consumers are forced to compromise on quality or location due to financial constraints, a situation inDrive aims to address.

inDrive’s Super App Ambition: Innovation or a Repeat of Past Efforts?

The concept of a super app has been pursued by numerous organizations. While platforms such as WeChat and Gojek have achieved considerable success, others, notably Meta, have encountered difficulties in establishing a strong user base.

Arjun Smit, drawing on his experience with WeChat in 2016, observed the effectiveness of its integrated user experience. He conveyed to TechCrunch that inDrive intends to capitalize on his insights and the power of AI to ensure the success of its super-app initiative.

This AI integration is designed to deliver personalized experiences and enhance accessibility for users, including those with disabilities and limited literacy skills.

inDrive revealed in November 2023 the establishment of a venture capital and M&A division, allocating up to $100 million for investments over the coming years.

Smit informed TechCrunch that approximately 30% of this fund has already been allocated to support the development of the super-app strategy.

As part of this investment strategy, the company made an investment in Krave Mart, a grocery startup based in Pakistan, in December.

However, a specific timeframe for the integration of grocery delivery services within the inDrive app for Pakistani users remains undefined.

inDrive’s primary competitor, Uber, has also broadened its service offerings, incorporating verticals like food delivery via Uber Eats in specific markets.

Smit stated that inDrive is focused on a distinct customer demographic—one that Uber generally doesn’t target—although some regional overlap exists.

“Our primary focus is on serving the cost-conscious consumer,” he explained.

Key Aspects of inDrive’s Strategy

• AI-Powered Personalization: Utilizing artificial intelligence to tailor the user experience.
• Accessibility Focus: Designing services to be inclusive for users with diverse needs.
• Strategic Investments: Allocating significant capital to expand the super-app ecosystem.
• Targeted Customer Segment: Concentrating on value-seeking consumers.

The success of inDrive’s super app will depend on its ability to differentiate itself and effectively cater to its chosen market segment.

India Presents a Unique Challenge for inDrive

Alongside its operations in emerging markets like Kazakhstan, inDrive has been present in India for a considerable period. It competes directly with established ride-hailing services such as Uber, as well as local companies like Ola and Rapido. However, the platform has yet to achieve significant traction within the South Asian nation.

Notably, Uber even experimented with a bidding system mirroring inDrive’s model in India, seeking to replicate its core functionality. This demonstrates the perceived potential, yet inherent difficulties, of the approach.

Exclusive data provided to TechCrunch by Appfigures reveals a decline in inDrive’s downloads. Year-to-date, the platform experienced 1.07 million fewer downloads compared to the same timeframe in 2024, representing a 22.6% decrease. Conversely, Uber saw a substantial increase of 8.02 million downloads – a 60.6% rise – while Ola added 1.55 million, a 13.2% gain.

Rapido demonstrated the most significant growth, securing 14.9 million new downloads, which equates to an impressive 80.9% surge.

“India remains a complex market for us,” explained Smit to TechCrunch. “While India continues to expand, we have strategically chosen to concentrate our efforts on key cities where we believe we can establish a strong operational presence.”

The company is currently evaluating various operational models, particularly within the freight sector. This is despite its well-known feature allowing passengers to negotiate fares with drivers. These explorations include alternative payment structures for drivers, enabling daily payouts and customized commission rates, as Smit detailed.

inDrive initially encountered obstacles and achieved limited success in several markets. This was even the case in Pakistan, where it eventually rose to become the dominant ride-hailing platform following Uber’s withdrawal.

“We have observed instances where markets initially stagnate, then experience a resurgence, often triggered by a competitor’s challenges,” Smit stated.

TechCrunch interviewed over a dozen riders and drivers in India, and a recurring theme was safety concerns as a primary reason for reduced inDrive usage. Several drivers reported that the bidding system was susceptible to exploitation by riders.

Some drivers also indicated instances of other drivers falsely posing as riders to harass their colleagues through aggressive fare negotiation.

Smit affirmed the company’s commitment to safety and customer satisfaction.

“We recognize the need to enhance communication regarding our safety protocols and to provide comprehensive training and education to both our drivers and passengers,” he concluded.

Future Expansion of InDrive’s Super-App

InDrive is strategically planning to broaden the scope of its super-app platform. This expansion will focus on integrating new services specifically designed to address the unique demands of individual local markets.

According to Smit, financial services represent a key area for potential growth. Currently, a pilot program is underway in countries like Brazil and Mexico. This initiative provides drivers with access to small loan options directly through the ride-hailing application.

The company is investigating the feasibility of extending these financial services to passengers. Furthermore, they are considering offering similar access to small businesses participating in delivery services, as Smit explained.

Exploring Micro-Mobility and Local Connections

InDrive also intends to investigate the implementation of a service focused on micro-mobility solutions. This would facilitate connections between users and local businesses, as well as public transportation networks.

“Our approach is to be highly localized, offering a diverse range of services,” Smit stated. “We aim to leverage our existing capabilities and expertise in areas closely aligned with our core business.”

However, for services outside of InDrive’s current operational experience, the company will prioritize strategic partnerships. They will collaborate with established players to ensure successful implementation and service delivery.

• InDrive is expanding its super-app with locally-focused services.
• Financial services, including small loans for drivers, are already being tested.
• Expansion to passengers and delivery businesses is under consideration.
• Micro-mobility integration with local businesses and transport is planned.
• Strategic partnerships will be utilized for unfamiliar service areas.

The overall strategy emphasizes a tailored approach, capitalizing on InDrive’s strengths while collaborating with external partners to fill any gaps in expertise.