Octopus announced on March 4 that it plans to introduce a ride-hailing feature in its Octopus app as early as this year in the Mainland. Users will be able to input their destination and select their preferred vehicle type, allowing them to deduct the fare from their Octopus wallet, with payment automatically converted to Hong Kong dollars. The process will be similar to WeChat and AlipayHK.
To accommodate Hong Kong residents who may not have a mainland mobile number, users will not need to provide personal information, including their Home Return Permit details. If users need to contact the driver, they can select the customer service option on the ride-hailing page.
Additionally, to facilitate travel for Hong Kong residents, Octopus is working to enable Octopus payments in Japan by the third quarter of this year. Payments are expected to be made through the Octopus app, and the company is in discussions with various Japanese payment platforms, aiming to partner with those that have broader coverage.
Regarding local operations, Octopus hopes to launch new services in the second half of this year. The mobile version of Octopus will allow users to make peer-to-peer (P2P) transfers to other mobile or physical Octopus users, enabling transfers even if the parties do not know each other. Users will only need to enter the recipient's Octopus details to complete the transfer.
Related News:
HK man loses Octopus Card, finds it spent HK$229.4 in just 44 minutes
14th batch of Octopus Cards near expiry: Key sound to watch for and replacement steps
Comment