kabarsula Smartie launches ride-hailing service in Rarotonga bandar SLOT INDONESIA

Smartie Rides, an on-demand ride-hailing service in Rarotonga, Cook Islands, has launched positioning the locally developed platform as a home-grown alternative to international players such as Uber and Grab.

The service lets locals and visitors request and book rides directly through the Smartie app. Founder and chief executive Brett Baudinet said the launch reflected an ambition to build world-class technology in the Pacific rather than wait for it to arrive from elsewhere.

“People tend to assume technology like this has to come from Silicon Valley, Sydney or Singapore – we’ve built Smartie right here in Rarotonga,” Baudinet said. “We’re a small island, but that doesn’t mean we should have small ambitions.”

Baudinet said Smartie Rides was designed to undercut the cost of traditional taxi transport on the island, which he said could discourage locals from using paid transport altogether – including for trips home after a night out.

“If the choice is between driving your own car or paying for transport that feels unaffordable, people can make the wrong decision,” he said. “A safe ride home shouldn’t feel like a luxury.”

Following a soft launch, Baudinet said visitor uptake had been strong, with users responding well to the ride experience, competitive rates and the ability to access multiple services – including Smartie’s existing food delivery offering – through a single app.

Smartie Tours is due to launch this month, joining Rides and food delivery under the platform’s super-app model. Baudinet said the company saw scope to eventually take the platform into other Pacific island markets.

Smartie Rides is available now on iOS and Android.