SLEMAN - Nearly 50% of female passengers experienced sexual harassment on public transportation in various cities in Indonesia in 2019. This data is according to the latest Safe Public Space Coalition (KPRA) survey which involved 38,766 female respondents from 34 provinces with different ages and educational backgrounds.

Although it continues to happen, there is no deterrent effect that is considered to make the perpetrators think twice in doing it. Concerned about this situation, UPN “Veteran” Yogyakarta (UPNVY) students developed a Cowzy service platform for women. Cowzy developed by Ilyasin Aditya Rahman (Development Economics 2018), Rachmasari Nur Hutaminingtyas (Development Economics 2018), Reza Pratama Nugraha (Accounting 2018), Syallomitha Tiara Kusuma (Accounting 2018), and Ananda Airidasari (Business Administration 2019) has various features which are Zy Ride, Zy Order, Zy Wash, and Zy Trip.

“Zy Ride is an online transportation feature that ensures female passengers get female drivers. The transportation services usually have been mostly male drivers, but we will specifically recruit female drivers," explained Ilyasin Aditya Rahman, the Group Leader.

Zy Order is a service feature for purchasing and shipping goods. Zy Wash is a vehicle wash service done at the customer's place. Cowzy will come to the customer's house with washing equipment to wash the vehicle so that the customer can stay at home without leaving the house.

Zy-Trip is a feature that can connect customers with tourist locations or areas to be visited. This is able to minimize the confusion of local and foreign tourists when visiting a place that has never been visited.

"For example, if a tourist location is closed due to a pandemic, the Zy-Trip feature will provide recommendations for other places to replace the initial destination, so that customers don't have to feel disappointed," he explained.

With this innovation Cowzy became one of the works of UPNVY students which passed the selection for funding acceptance by the Ministry of Education and Culture in the Entrepreneurship Student Creativity Program.

 "The plan is that the platform that is being developed can be accessed via Android and iOS. Having it as an online media, it is easier for consumers to access," he said.