As delivery costs rise and margins get tighter, big platform companies like Grab are turning to automation to stay competitive. Grab recently acquired Infermove to bring robotics development in-house, aiming to make small efficiency improvements that can have a big impact. With millions of deliveries across Southeast Asia, many done on scooters and bikes in busy urban areas, Grab faces unique challenges that limit how much automation can replace human riders.

Building Robots for Real City Streets

Instead of relying on pre-made systems, Grab is choosing to develop its robotics technology internally. Infermove’s robots learn from real-world movement data, including how people navigate crowded sidewalks, crossings, and busy drop-off points. This approach means the robots are trained on actual city conditions, not just computer simulations that often miss tricky edge cases.

This focus on real-world data helps Grab create automation that works better in the complex environments where it operates. By controlling the development process, Grab can customize how robots behave, ensuring they fit within its delivery network’s specific needs. This is important because city streets are unpredictable, and off-the-shelf solutions often struggle with the chaos of real urban life.

Strategic Control and Cost Management

Owning the robotics technology gives Grab more control over how and when it deploys automation. It can decide the scope of robot use, how quickly to roll out new features, and how to balance costs. This reduces reliance on third-party vendors, whose priorities might not always align with Grab’s regional goals or economic realities.

Even with robots taking on some tasks, Grab emphasizes that human riders are still central to its service. Robots are mainly used in specific parts of the delivery process, like the first or last mile, where tasks tend to be more repetitive and predictable. In these segments, robots can help handle busy periods, reduce delays, and ease pressure caused by labor shortages.

Focus on Efficiency Without Replacing Humans

During a company meeting, Grab’s CTO highlighted the progress of Infermove’s technology, calling it “impressive” and noting its early commercial success. Grab plans to keep Infermove operating independently for now, with its founder reporting directly to the CTO. This setup suggests Grab prioritizes steady progress and operational continuity over rapid organizational changes.

This move reflects a broader trend among large digital platforms. Instead of just adding AI as a layer on top of existing systems, they are integrating it deeper into core operations like delivery and logistics. By doing so, companies like Grab aim to improve efficiency while maintaining the human element that customers still value.

Overall, Grab’s strategy shows how automation is evolving from a pilot project into a vital part of daily operations. It’s about smarter, more controlled use of robotics to manage costs and improve service in complex urban environments. The future of delivery may very well be a mix of human effort and smart machines working side by side.

Inspired by

• https://www.artificialintelligence-news.com/news/grab-brings-robotics-in-house-to-manage-delivery-costs/

Sources

• unsplash.com
• ai-expo.net
• techexevent.com
• techforge.pub
• techforge.pub