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Careem adds call masking feature for privacy

DUBAI, July 25, 2017

Answering the consumer demand for stronger privacy protection, Careem, a leading ride-hailing service in the Middle East and North Africa, has launched a new call masking feature.

The feature, which is already live in the UAE, will be introduced in other regional markets, including Saudi Arabia and Pakistan, within the coming 30 days, Careem said.

The feature gives Careem’s customers the option to keep their phone numbers undisclosed to the captain (driver), thus adding another layer to customer privacy and security.

Call masking is the latest in a series of safety features introduced by Careem in the recent past such as the facial recognition technology – all aimed at reinforcing the company’s commitment to making Careem the most trusted ride-hailing app of choice, a Careem statement said.

In fact, lack of trust is one of the key reasons keeping people off e-commerce platforms in the Middle East & North Africa, according to a 2017 CIGI-Ipsos Global Survey on Internet Security & Trust. The report showed that for 49 per cent of consumers in the region, lack of trust is a top reason for not purchasing goods or services online, the statement said.

With the call masking feature in place, the captain will only receive an encrypted number instead of the user’s real phone number, thus ensuring the customer’s personal data remains completely safe and unexposed.

“Ensuring the safety and security of our customers in all of the markets where we operate is our number one priority at Careem,” said Mudassir Sheikha, CEO and co-founder, Careem. “Introducing technology that simplifies their lives without compromising their privacy will remain among our key focus areas as we continue to work our way towards strengthening Careem’s position as the answer to the region’s most pressing travel-associated challenges.

“Keeping in mind the social and cultural characteristics specific to certain markets, where Careem has become the travel companion of choice for thousands of women, features such as call masking will enhance the level of trust and confidence customers have in our services – thereby enabling them to be mobile while having greater peace of mind. We expect this feature will prove particularly popular in markets where consumer demand for privacy protection is more pronounced, such as Saudi Arabia and Pakistan,” Sheikha continued.

In Saudi Arabia, where Careem operates in more than 50 cities, Careem has empowered women with a reliable means to get to their place of work and back home again. The company also established a women-only call centre in the kingdom, contributing to job creation and providing opportunities for the Saudi female workforce.

 “As a homegrown brand, Careem understands better than others the demands and dynamics unique to the markets in which we operate, and our aim is always to provide our users with localised solutions that not only respond to their needs and desires, but are respectful of their cultural values and norms,” Sheikha added. – TradeArabia News Service




Tags: Security | Careem | ride-hailing |

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