‘Fastrack’ rides on e-commerce boom

From only four riders, this company now employs more than a hundred riders covering not only Metro Manila but also parts of Luzon. This courier company, Fastrack, started in a small townhouse seven years ago. Today, its headquarters is a four-story building. It is now competing with other major players in courier services, staying resilient by offering low-cost delivery to both local and international clients.

One of the company’s co-founders is Karmela A. Martinez, 36, the Fastrack’s senior vice president for marketing.

Established in February 2012 in a townhouse along Katipunan Avenue, the founders of Fastrack initially targeted online business owners as clients – specifically people who use social media such as Facebook and Instagram to showcase their products.

Since Fastrack courier service is affordable – going as low as 140 for delivery points in Metro Manila – and efficient, it was noticed by Filipinos who now have embraced online shopping. With e-commerce booming, Fastrack’s founders grabbed the opportunity and the rest they say, is history.

“When Fastrack was launched, we had only four motorcycle riders delivering small parcels. We even did the pick-up of items from our corporate clients,” Martinez recalled. “Sometimes, we even use our personal car to pick up parcels, bring it to the office, then our riders will deliver it.”

The company now employs almost 100 motorcycle riders who deliver items of different shapes and sizes all over the Metro. Fastrack also now has delivery vans for provincial deliveries.

Fastrack now caters not only to online businesses, but also to anyone who needs to have their package delivered as fast as possible for a more budget-friendly price.

Today, 90 percent of Fastrack deliveries use motorcycles while the rest use L-300 vans for larger and heavier items, and farther delivery points.