Since its inception in 2016, ekar has been a pioneer in the Middle Eastern transportation sector. Founded by Vilhelm Hedberg, ekar emerged as the region’s pioneer in car-sharing services, offering users unparalleled access to a diverse fleet of vehicles through its innovative self-drive “super app.” With a vision centred on Mobility as a Service (MaaS), ekar aims not only to enhance transportation accessibility but also to mitigate environmental and social impacts by revolutionising traditional car ownership models.
ekar’s challenges and ambitions
In its early stages, ekar utilised an off-the-shelf car-sharing platform. However, as the company grew and its ambitions expanded, it became apparent that the platform’s limitations stifled innovation and hindered scalability. Determined to differentiate itself in a rapidly evolving market, ekar sought a transformative solution to elevate its services and infrastructure.
In 2019, ekar embarked on a collaboration with Integra Technologies, an AWS Partner based in Dubai. Together, they embarked on a mission to overhaul ekar’s infrastructure and elevate its services to new heights. Leveraging the capabilities of Amazon Web Services (AWS), ekar transitioned from a monolithic architecture to a cloud-native system, powered by microservices.
The migration to microservices, facilitated by AWS technologies such as Amazon ECS and AWS Fargate, marked a pivotal moment for ekar. By embracing a serverless architecture, ekar achieved unparalleled scalability, resilience, and cost-efficiency. The transition not only streamlined development processes but also resulted in a remarkable 30 per cent reduction in infrastructure and development costs, empowering ekar to realise a tenfold increase in revenue.
Recognising the importance of innovation and efficiency, ekar swiftly established a dedicated DevOps function in collaboration with Integra. This strategic move enabled ekar to optimise its development lifecycle, accelerate time-to-market, and fortify its position as a market leader.
Furthermore, ekar’s pursuit of excellence extended to data management and analysis. With an expanding fleet generating vast amounts of data, ekar leveraged AWS IoT Core and a suite of data analytics tools to derive actionable insights, enhance operational efficiency, and drive business growth.
Harnessing the power of machine learning
In its quest to deliver superior customer experiences, ekar embraced machine learning technologies, leveraging Amazon Forecast to predict car usage patterns with unprecedented accuracy. By autonomously optimising vehicle distribution and implementing dynamic pricing strategies, ekar achieved a remarkable 40 per cent increase in booking utilisation, setting new standards for operational efficiency and customer satisfaction.
By continuously rolling out new features and service enhancements, ekar redefined the customer experience, offering unprecedented flexibility and convenience. From automated refuelling services to diverse rental options, ekar’s commitment to innovation remains unwavering.
As ekar continues its journey of innovation and growth, its sights are set on expanding its footprint across new geographic territories. Armed with a robust ecosystem, scalable infrastructure, and unwavering support from Integra and AWS, ekar is poised to lead the charge towards a future where mobility is seamless, sustainable, and accessible to all.
