New Thai Apps Challenge Delivery Giants with Just 5-Baht Fees
BANGKOK — Thailand’s street food vendors and motorcycle taxi drivers are striking back against high-fee delivery platforms with the launch of two ultra-low-cost digital services aimed at empowering local communities and cutting out big tech middlemen.
On Monday, May 19, the Thai Health Promotion Foundation (ThaiHealth) and Chulalongkorn University’s Asia Research Cluster for Social Solidarity and Inclusive Economy officially unveiled two new platforms: “Nong Khoei Ma Thao Rai?” (“Have You Been Here Before?”) and “Tamsang-Tamsong” (“Order and Deliver”).
Designed specifically for small-scale operators, the platforms charge a flat fee of just 5 baht per transaction, a fraction of the steep commissions levied by mainstream delivery apps.
“This is about fairness, community, and putting money back into people’s pockets,” said Akkanat Wantanasombat, lead researcher on the project. He noted the platforms were co-developed with input from the vendors and drivers who use them daily.
The user-friendly apps operate via mobile or LINE Chat Bot, ensuring accessibility for users with limited digital literacy. Job assignments are made based on queue order and proximity, which helps streamline deliveries and reduce wait times.
“This isn’t just about income,” Akkanat added. “It’s about building sustainable self-reliance within local communities.”
The initiative comes at a time when delivery app fees have drawn increasing criticism from vendors and gig workers, and it signals a bold push for digital equity in Thailand’s rapidly evolving service economy.
