An Interview with a Grab Inventor: Ishan Handa

At Grab, our deep understanding of the Southeast Asia landscape has helped us evolve into the region’s leading superapp, designed to empower everyday entrepreneurs while continuously innovating to provide our users with delightful experiences. In our series ‘An Interview with a Grab Inventor’, we shine a light on our Grabbers pursuing innovations driven by their passion. To foster the culture of innovation, inventors at Grab are rewarded for their creations and efforts contributing to our growth and expanding patent portfolio.

In this fourth chapter, we had a chat with Ishan Handa, Senior Software Engineer, about his journey, patent, challenges, and contributions to Grab's innovative culture.

Can you share a bit about your role as a software engineer at Grab?

I've been with Grab for four amazing years and throughout my tenure, I have played a significant role in Grab's Fraud Prevention team. Our primary objective is to safeguard the platform from fraudsters while ensuring the security of genuine users. To fulfil this mission, we have developed a range of products that allow us to thoroughly analyse user behaviour and devise effective solutions. Our efforts encompass everything from implementing straightforward features, such as freezing wallets of non-compliant users, to developing sophisticated algorithms capable of detecting complex fraud rings that exploit other users' accounts or find loopholes in the system to steal funds. As the self-proclaimed gatekeepers of the Grab ecosystem, we take great pride in our work.

How do you approach innovation in your role?

I really think that being innovative involves solving problems, something I've been doing without even realising it since I was a child. From childhood Lego experiments to refining solutions in Formula Manipal and rock climbing, I've learned that true innovation emerges through persistent problem-solving and continuous improvement. 

What is the process of getting a patent at Grab?

Getting a patent at Grab is a streamlined process. You just need to fill out a simple invention disclosure form with answers to four specific questions about your invention - what problem does it solve, what is the solution, how does it function and how does it impact our revenue. After that, Grab's Patent team assists you with every step, including novelty search and connecting with experts who can provide crucial input on your invention.

The most challenging part of applying for a patent is typically handling the legal documents, ensuring they abide by the laws we have to follow. But, don't worry - along with our internal and external legal advisors, the team at Grab will handle every detail for you.

Can you share an instance where you had to innovate or think outside the box to solve a complex problem and had a significant impact on Grab's operations or customers?

At Grab, ensuring compliance and fighting fraud are top priorities. We've deployed several measures such as declining suspicious transactions, implementing additional verification steps like OTP and PIN checks, and occasionally verifying user account balances before providing services. These actions are crucial for preventing financial losses and maintaining the overall security of our platform.

To handle these challenges effectively, we've developed a sophisticated data computation platform. This involved extensive experimentation with various data storage methods, data structures, and parallel execution of classical algorithms. Through this process, we've significantly reduced processing times and mitigated issues like timeouts that could compromise security measures.

As a result of our efforts, we've observed a decrease in fraudulent chargebacks, where scammers exploit vulnerabilities to access user accounts and conduct unauthorised transactions. Our collaboration with Grab's patent team has enabled us to protect these innovative solutions by filing two patents. This ensures that our inventions remain exclusive to Grab, safeguarding them from exploitation by others in the industry.

How has being a software engineer at Grab contributed to your personal and professional growth?

If someone asks me why I go to work every day, I'd say it's because I enjoy trying out new and creative ideas. Working at Grab means there are many problems to solve so that everyone can easily access things like food, insurance, and loans with just a click. Solving these big problems has taught me to tackle issues that haven't been solved at this scale before. Unlike a job where you do the same thing every day, at Grab, I face a new challenge each day.

What's great about working here is the full support we receive from the leaders. All my experiences here have not only made me better at technical stuff but also taught me to take more risks. Being fearless has even helped me improve in the climbing sessions I do every evening. When people aren't afraid of failing, especially in challenging situations, they are more likely to succeed. Also, with the freedom you are entrusted to make decisions around the products you are building, each successful rollout enhances your confidence.

What advice would you give to aspiring software engineers looking to make an impact at Grab?

1. Embrace curiosity and ask as many questions as possible, regardless of how it may make you appear. Understanding the problem inside and out is crucial for finding optimal solutions that yield maximum impact.
2. Dive deep into the subject matter to uncover new insights and possibilities. True innovation comes from thorough exploration and examination. It cannot be achieved overnight.
3. Don't stress about creating a perfect solution right away. Gradually improve it instead. Many people get stuck initially, wrongly thinking a simple solution won't work. I've seen many give up on difficult problems because finding a hard solution was too tricky at first.
4. The process of getting a patent might seem daunting at first glance, but it's simply about devising a basic answer to daily issues and progressively improving it for better efficiency.

Do you have any closing thoughts or messages you'd like to share?

Don't ever hesitate to pursue your passion. For a long time, I was sidetracked by other things and my passion took a back seat. But recently, I've reignited my pursuit and it's what makes me excited to work every day.

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