Ola Commits To Allocate $20 Mn For Safety Initiatives; Introduces Number Masking To Keep User’s Contacts Private

In line with its continuous efforts to reinforce safety and security of users, Ola, has introduced a new featured called ‘Number Masking’ that makes customer’s mobile number to remain undisclosed to drivers.

The company has also committed to allocate $20 Mn for safety initiatives over this year. The Number Masking feature is a first-of-its-kind step in the industry towards ensuring complete privacy of user’s contact details.The new feature will ensure that calls made by the driver-partners can be traced by Ola from archived recordings at all times.

Ola has integrated a cloud telephony solution which will enable the Number Masking and traceability of calls. Whenever a customer books a cab, it sends an encrypted number to the driver. Further communication from the driver is channeled through this number only. A driver, attempting to call the customer from their Ola device, shall not be able to see the customer’s mobile no. instead the call will automatically be routed through an encrypted number to the customer. This also ensures that the driver-partners will not bear the cost of calls made to customers, since the call will be directly routed through the device.

Apart from Number Masking, Ola has several other metrics to ensure a user’s security. As claimed by the company, all driver-partners on the platform are verified and licensed by the local authorities who  undergo a mandatory training program at the time of on-boarding and subsequent feedback driven training from time to time.

The Ola platform also offers a host of features like live GPS tracking, sharing of ride details, feedback and reporting during the ride as well as an in-app SOS button.

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