In our latest edition of the Business Spotlight series, we had the privilege of sitting down with the Associate Vice-President of People and Analytics at MAX, a leading organisation in the industry. Our insightful conversation shed light on MAX’s operations, its unique approach, and exciting initiatives. Let’s delve into the details and discover what makes MAX a remarkable company!
Hello, can we meet you?
My name is ‘Denrele Amosu, the Associate Vice-President of People and Analytics at MAX. I have 12 years cumulative experience in Human Resources across different industries like Technology, Finance, Logistics, Oil and Gas, etc.
What’s your favourite thing about working at Max?
Max is a vibrant community comprising a diverse range of individuals from various tribes and countries. We are proud to be a melting pot of cultures, perspectives, and experiences. It’s one of those places where you can learn and grow.
Can you give us an overview of MAX and its mission?
Max started in 2014 as a classroom project somewhere at the Massachusetts Institute of Technology. Tayo, one of the co-founders, has been passionate about solving problems in Africa and decided to scale the solution.
- To solve the transportation issue in Sub-Saharan Africa and create financial inclusion by lifting people out of poverty through job creation.
- We partner with investors to get vehicles for last-mile transportation; we get people who need to make a living and give them these vehicles on hire purchase. They repay the money over a period of time and ultimately own them. We have testimonials of people who have gone ahead to build a fleet for themselves using this business model.
How does Max leverage technology to enable and revolutionise transportation in Africa?
Tracking software – to monitor the speed of the vehicles and even get quick notifications when the vehicles get into a crash.
Payment – A wallet-type system where riders can make their repayments to MAX; the wallet can also be used for bill payments (buying airtime) and transferring from one wallet to another.
We also have electronic vehicles as a part of our sustainable development plans.
Could you explain the role of financial support services in empowering mobility entrepreneurs? How does MAX facilitate this?
There are no down payments for the vehicles at the point of activation (when the vehicles are disbursed). The drivers are only expected to make daily or weekly remittances over time, and the first servicing on the vehicles is free.
How long does it typically take for these repayments to be made?
Contractually between 18 – 24 months.
How do you mitigate against defaulters?
We have an effective and efficient recovery team. This team help to recover the vehicles after a few days of default. We are also able to track our vehicles because of the tracking software.
What sets MAX apart from other companies in the transportation industry in terms of offerings?
We have no competitors using our current model. We have a rapid response team that goes to the riders’ aid whenever they have emergencies. We help our riders sort out issues with regulators, and they have access to our dedicated customer care service 24/7.
Our value-added services ensure that accident victims are cared for at no cost.
How does Max ensure the quality and safety of its services for the users?
Our riders go through a rigorous vetting process – ride test, vision test, 3 days of training on safety, understanding the MAX brand, etc
We also recall people who breach processes for a refresher course.
What are some of the challenges that MAX has faced in its journey? How did the company overcome those challenges?
Max started as a ride-hailing service. In 2019, the Lagos State government banned bikes which were our major source of income. Shortly after that, in 2020, the pandemic happened, and we had to go back to the drawing board to re-strategize and then decided to expand to other cities without the government ban.
Could you share some success stories or examples of how MAX has positively impacted people’s lives through its services?
We have recorded a few people who have built their fleet of vehicles for their businesses. We have a rider who aims to be a super champion and empower people in his environment.
What is the company culture like at MAX?
We have a receptive and inclusive culture and focus on performance and results.
What can we expect from MAX in the coming years?
We are taking over the transportation landscape in Africa especially being a pioneer in the Electronic Vehicle space.
We are expanding to more countries – watch out for that!
MAX is one of the companies using our suite of products to improve their processes, and we’re thrilled to spotlight them as an example of how technology is transforming the transportation sector.
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