IPO or Initial Public Offering has been used a lot by many big companies. Selling their stocks to the public is helping them getting the attention from the public. Indirectly, IPO also promotes the companies through the constant media coverage. Recently, Indonesia Stock Exchange (IDX) has appointed Traveloka as the first unicorn startup company in the country for IPO.
Starting as a problem solver, now Traveloka is the biggest startup in Indonesia
Traveloka is a company offering online booking service. It was launched in 2012 by its’ founder, Ferry Unardi. It is now the biggest booking agency in Indonesia, claiming more than 80% of flight booking market.
With a huge amount of investment from Expedia that counted to more than $1 billion, Traveloka expanded to the Southeast Asian market. It is now available in Malaysia, Thailand, Philippines, Vietnam and Singapore.
Ferry Unardi, only 23 at the time, faced difficulties in booking airplane ticket from America to his hometown in Padang, Indonesia. The Harvard bachelor then started Traveloka as airplane ticket booking platform. He teamed up with Derianto Kusuma who had the experiences of working at the Silicon Valley.
The all-in-one cleverness
Traveloka makes ticket purchasing easier for the customers. From reservation, purchasing, to pre-boarding process are available in the apps. Featured with Price Alert system, customers can monitor price changes to match the budget prepared.
Seat number, extra baggage and flight meals are also available in the purchasing process. Traveloka also makes sure customers have a comfortable check in.
Online check in is possible and customers can even have their boarding pass sent directly to their accounts. So no more queuing. The apps also sells access to airport lounge which previously limited to certain bank customer.
Does not stop on airplane tickets reservation, Traveloka expanded to other transportation. Customers can now book their train and bus tickets using the apps. In 2014, the biggest unicorn startup in Indonesia also makes hotel booking available.
With the IPO, Traveloka is expected to grow even larger. However, with the public’s attention, the company must even be more careful. Because as well as the promotion goes, it’s easier also to make tiny mistakes fatal.
