Although dealing with a demanding and challenging market with several competitors, companies dedicated to the transportation of people and delivery still visualize multiple opportunities in Costa Rica.
The need to access more efficient mobility, changes in consumption patterns and the upward trend in the introduction of smartphones and the Internet, have created a business scenario in which the demand for mobile platform services dedicated to the transportation of people and home delivery, increases over the years.
In this scenario of changing habits, the company Uber announced that in the Panamanian market it will make available to its customers a new service of sending articles, which will be called Uber Flash.
For more than three months, when the first cases of covid-19 were reported in Panama, the population has been subjected to strict quarantine, which has forced companies to diversify their services.
For the company's directors, the bill that seeks to regulate the operation in Panama generates "more uncertainty and affects the investment of multinational companies.”
The Uber technological platform, which in Central America is currently transporting people and food, is planning to expand its service offerings to the freight transport business.
Uber and Uber Eats, platforms for transporting people and delivering prepared food, respectively, are already operating in the countries of the region. However, the U.S. company's new bet for Latin America is to use Uber Freight to transport cargo.
The new regulation for the transport technology platform establishes that the service can be provided exclusively in the provinces of Panama Oeste, Panamá, Colón and Coclé.
From a statement issued by the Presidency of Panama:
Drivers working with transportation technology platforms must be over 21 years of age and have a Type E1 license, issued by the Transit and Land Transportation Authority (ATTT).
In El Salvador reform of legislation on passenger transport has been proposed to "incorporate business models based on new telecommunications technologies."
From a report by the Superintendency of Competition in El Salvador:
The Board of Directors of theSuperintendency of Competition(CD) issued an opinion on land transport regulations, in relation to the provision of passenger transport services required by users through the use of digital platforms.
The Varela administration has announced that it will be working on the creation and implementation of a legal framework for the operation of transportation technology platforms such as Uber.
From a statement issued by the Presidency of Panama:
The Cabinet Council has recognized the need to regulate the transport service offered through technological platforms, which is covered by the current e-commerce provisions and is an economic activity that must be regulated under the land transport law.
Panamanian private sector representatives are defending the mode of operations of Uber, who announced the launch of its corporate transportation service in Panama City.
As in Costa Rica, the arrival of Uber has generated resistance among traditional public transport sectors, such as taxis. However, Panamanian businessmen believe, like the vast majority of companies in Costa Rica and other countries where Uber is already operating, that space should be given to Uber for the private transport service to operate without government hindrance.
In order to avoid typecasting it as a public transport service, in Costa Rica the company has invented a new concept comparing itself to a private club.
Uber itself created the concept "Self-Sufficienct Community " a scheme used to offer a shuttle service that aims to "make your mobility needs self-sufficient." Under this arrangement, which has been questioned by the government, which argues that the service is illegal, they say they have already recorded "... 17,000 registrations and 25,000 travel requests."
Recognized Brazilian company of backhoe loaders, telescopic, articulated and other types of cranes looking for companies interested in representing the brand and distributing their machinery in Central America and Mexico. The company manufactures and sells telescopic,...