Remember when taxi drivers said Uber would never take off?
Back in 2010, many in the taxi industry believed ride-hailing was just a passing trend.
But Uber & Grab proved them wrong.
In 2014, we had over 28,736 taxis on the road. By 2024? That number halved to around 13,117.
Meanwhile, private-hire vehicles exploded from just 1,609 to 59,371 in the same period.
That’s not just a shift. That’s a complete overhaul of the market.
Even ComfortDelGro, the biggest taxi player, had to scramble. They upgraded their apps, adjusted fares, and in 2021, partnered with Grab just to stay in the game.
But challenges like high rental taxi costs and clunky booking systems remained – and many taxi drivers jumped ship for better pay and more flexibility.
Why does this matter?
Because we’re seeing the same kind of disruption now. This time, it’s AI.
You’ve probably heard:
👉 “AI won’t replace human employees.”
👉 “AI It’s just another shiny object.”
But that’s exactly what people said about ride-hailing apps. And the data shows what happened next.
As SME owners, here’s the lesson: resist change, and risk getting left behind.
Here’s what we can do:
- Adopt early. Don’t wait for tech to be ‘perfect’ – start small, test, and learn.
- Stay informed. You don’t need to be an AI expert, but you do need to understand its impact.
- Evolve constantly. Check in regularly – are your processes still fit for purpose?
Disruption doesn’t announce itself. It sneaks in – and suddenly, the game’s changed.
What are you doing to prepare and Play to Win™?
