Article
The Impact of Digitalization on the Income of Base Motorcycle Taxi Drivers Who Switch to Grab Online Motorcycle Taxi Drivers (Study in Wowanggu Village, Kadia District, Kendari City)
WELL-BEING: Journal of Social Welfare, Vol. 6 No. 1 (2025), hlm. 201–209
Abstrak
This study aims to analyze the factors that encourage base motorcycle taxi drivers to switch to online motorcycle taxi drivers as well as the impact of digitalization on increasing their income and social welfare. This study uses a qualitative research method with a descriptive approach. The research informants were determined by purposive sampling, so that the informants were base motorcycle taxi drivers who switched to online motorcycle taxi drivers, as well as local community leaders. The data used are in the form of primary and secondary data collected through observation, interviews, and documentation. Data analysis is carried out through data reduction, data presentation, and conclusion drawn. The results show that the main factors that drive the switch from base motorcycle taxis to online motorcycle taxis are income stability, work efficiency, time flexibility, and ease of customer access through the Grab application. Drivers' income increased significantly from an average of IDR 50,000-IDR 100,000 per day to IDR 200,000-IDR 400,000 per day, which had an impact on improving welfare in material, physical, mental, and spiritual aspects. From the perspective of innovation diffusion theory, the adoption of this technology follows the pattern of innovation spread, where base motorcycle taxi drivers gradually accept and integrate technology in their work after seeing greater benefits over the old system. Digitalization has been proven to not only increase income but also have positive social impacts, such as decreasing stress levels due to economic uncertainty and increasing family welfare.