Improving Digital Security for Millions at Grab

As the world relies more and more on digital solutions, consumers are understandably concerned about how to protect their privacy and security online. Services like e-commerce and digital banking are particularly important, with users and providers equally eager to invest in devices and services that prioritize digital security.

Grab, a popular app in Southeast Asia offering everything from meal delivery and ridesharing to shipping services, faced these same privacy issues. As Grab worked to expand across numerous markets throughout Asia, they discovered users were struggling with difficulties logging in and third-party authentication, causing poor engagement and negative feedback.

Pritam Karmakar, an experienced software engineer who has worked with Meta, Tibco Software, and other global digital brands, tackled this concern by developing a cutting-edge authentication solution that provides users with a safer, easier way to navigate the Grab digital landscape.

Innovation in Action: Solving Real-Life Problems Through Ingenuity

Karmakar fell in love with technology early in his life, and his education only fueled this fascination: "I've always loved solving real-life problems, and my engineering curriculum introduced me to the power of technology in addressing challenges efficiently."

While at Grab, Karmakar found himself uniquely poised to tackle an issue that has been prevalent in Southeast Asia for many years. The region's digital economy has been expanding rapidly, growing by billions of dollars a year, and while this is an exciting opportunity, it also comes with a significant challenge—ensuring secure and seamless authentication across various platforms without disrupting the user experience.

This lack of a standardized authentication system left many businesses vulnerable to fraud and other security threats on the business front, while inconsistent login and other poor user experiences negatively impacted customer retention and engagement.

Karmakar used his technical ingenuity to solve these user issues through Grab's OAuth 2.0 SDK, also known as the GrabId Partner SDK.

This cutting-edge authentication solution enabled third-party applications, including rideshare companies and food delivery services, to integrate Grab's login system, providing users with a trusted, fast, and secure way to access digital services beyond Grab's ecosystem. Essentially, users no longer had to provide login and security information across multiple platforms, enabling a more streamlined experience and a greater degree of security.

"The challenge here was not just in building the SDK, but ensuring it was reliable and widely adopted by other companies, which required building trust within a diverse and highly fragmented market," Karmakar explains. "To tackle this, I worked closely with internal and external partners to ensure that the SDK was intuitive, secure, and scalable, while also managing the technical complexity of integrating with various partner systems."

The GrabId Partner SDK was quickly adopted by prominent businesses, including Tiki in Vietnam and Move It Now in the Philippines.

Grab SOS and Passenger Safety

Ridesharing apps are hugely popular in Southeast Asia. However, passenger safety has proven to be a huge concern, with users often reporting feeling unsafe, uncertain, or even threatened during their ride.

To solve this, Karmakar developed the Grab SOS feature, an in-app emergency button that allows passengers to quickly alert authorities and share their real-time location with trusted contacts during distressing situations.

The SOS feature has been instrumental in safeguarding passengers. A notable case involved a woman in Indonesia who used the emergency button to escape a potentially dangerous situation with a driver. Her story went viral, proving the feature's effectiveness in providing a safety net for users.

Karmakar's Next Chapter in Digital Innovation

Following Karmakar's success at Grab, he was recruited by Meta (formerly known as Facebook) to develop scalable, user-centric solutions that empower businesses all around the world. One of Karmaker's biggest projects was Meta's WhatsApp Business service, where he focused on honing and refining its Marketing Messages feature that empowers small businesses to enhance customer engagement.

Millions of businesses rely on WhatsApp to run their daily operations, and designing features for such an important platform came with immense responsibility. Karmaker had to ensure that every feature solved real problems without introducing friction into business workflows, as any flaw could disrupt millions of businesses that depend on WhatsApp Business for their livelihood.

"Each of these experiences—whether at Meta, Grab, or with Eventic—has shaped my approach to problem-solving," concludes Karmakar. "They've reinforced the importance of designing with the user in mind."

From redefining customer engagement so that small businesses can grow and thrive to introducing security solutions that allow consumers to operate safely online and in the real world, Karmakar has shown a flair for tackling real problems with efficient, usable solutions.

Looking ahead, Pritam Karmakar aims to explore further the intersection of security, scalability, and accessibility in technology while mentoring the next generation of engineers and contributing to thought leadership in his field.