The Inter-American Development Bank (IDB), IDB Lab, and Beat, Latin America’s fastest growing ride-hailing app, announce today their official partnership in order  to promote and facilitate access to voluntary saving mechanisms for independent workers across four countries in Latin America.

Starting March 2021, the Inter-American Development Bank, IDB Lab, and Beat have been working together to establish new ways through which technology, particularly mobility apps, can facilitate access to saving mechanisms for independent workers. This will enable them to have voluntary access to pension funds and/or social security, depending on the market. The joint effort was initially launched in four Latin American countries: Colombia, Chile, Mexico and Peru, and reinforces the digital transformation pillar of Vision 2025, the IDB's pathway to promote economic recovery in the region.

The IDB, IDB Lab and Beat conducted an in-depth survey to understand the preferences, needs, and motivations of nearly 5,000 drivers across the region. This exercise provided relevant insights on the highly important role that ride-hailing plays on the reactivation of the economy.

Due to the current global economic and social setback caused by the COVID-19 pandemic, mobility apps like Beat have increasingly become more relevant for the well-being of local communities, as a flexible and effective alternative to generate income for many car owners who lost their jobs or have lower earnings.

Recognizing the opportunity to keep providing alternatives aligned with the needs of platform drivers, through innovation and in a sustainable manner the IDB, IDB Lab and Beat are excited to announce the kickoff of market-specific interventions, which will entail collaboration with authorities and local stakeholders.

“Mobility platforms, such as Beat, have become a great alternative to generate income, particularly during times of crisis as seen during the pandemic. From survey results, we know that independent workers on these platforms value the additional income they generate and the flexibility that the platform offers, and that many are not looking for a full-time job. Thus, we are looking for social security schemes, including pension saving schemes, that will help these workers navigate risks without losing that flexibility,” comments Oliver Azuara, Senior Economist for IDB’s Labor Markets Division.

“Beat's mission is to build technology for a better urban life and we want to become part of people's daily lives by making mobility affordable and efficient, and by offering economic opportunities for anyone, which is crucial in the context of Covid-19. Through this unique regional partnership with the IDB's team of experts, we seek to improve the understanding of the impact that we have in our local communities in Latin America and implement solutions that efficiently address the needs of the drivers who use our app,” comments Gonzalo Escribano, Public Policy Head for Beat Latam.