PLDT, Smart products now for same-day home delivery via Grab

PLDT, Inc. and Smart Telecommunications, Inc. have partnered with Grab Philippines for the quick delivery of their products straight to the homes of their customers within 24 hours.

“Starting Monday, June 8, 2020, PLDT Home customers in the Greater Metro Manila area can order PLDT Home Wifi Prepaid units through the PLDT Home website and get their units delivered via the Grab Express delivery service,” PLDT and Grab said in a news release e-mailed to reporters over the weekend.

They said customers can pay for their purchases through debit or credit cards.

PLDT Home and Smart Stores are now accessible through Grab’s on-demand grocery delivery platform, GrabMart.

There will also be an option for Smart prepaid customers to buy load or mobile data packages through the Grab app using the GrabPay wallet.

Smart said more of its products will be made available on the GrabMart platform.

“This is aligned with Smart’s commitment to bring simple solutions and amazing experiences to enrich the digital lives of Filipinos,” PLDT-Smart Senior Vice-President and Consumer Business Customer Development Head Alex O. Caeg was quoted as saying.

Smart President and PLDT Chief Revenue Officer Alfredo S. Panlilio said: “This is part of our overall shift and broader strategy of moving toward online-driven solutions as we ready ourselves for the next stage of the new normal. This partnership extends our reach not only online, but also kicks-off our other strategic initiatives in the space of remote working, e-learning and e-health.”

Grab Philippines President Brian P. Cu said: “We are thrilled to partner with PLDT, Inc. in making the Internet more available to more homes using our superapp services. It has always been Grab’s aim to empower Filipinos to do more everyday by leveraging the use of digital technologies that improve their lives and make them future-ready. Our partnership with PLDT jumpstarts the many initiatives we have to deliver positive and a sustainable impact for the benefit of all Filipinos.”

Hastings Holdings, Inc., a unit of PLDT Beneficial Trust Fund subsidiary MediaQuest Holdings, Inc., has a stake in BusinessWorld through the Philippine Star Group, which it controls. — Arjay L. Balinbin