taxi booking software

Launch Successful Cab Booking App like Uber

The launch of the cab apps like Uber and its overwhelming success has created a huge demand for apps that operate on Uber technology. These apps are designed just like Uber with a few changes here and there. If you are thinking of developing and launching a similar app, then there are few questions that you will need to get the answers for before getting your app developed.

How do cab apps like Uber work?
What features are necessary for a successful app?
What are the technological requirements?
How much will it cost to have an app developed?
Where do I go from here?
Cab Apps Like Uber

How do Cab Apps like Uber work?

The Cab apps like uber works by allowing users to request a taxi and the taxi that is closest to your pick up point will come and pick you up. There are many drivers who are registered in the app, coming from different professional and non-professional backgrounds who work either full or part-time depending on their personal and professional requirements.

Uber services are a lot cheaper than the traditional taxis and that is one of the main reasons why it is popular in over 100 countries across the world.

The colossal success of Uber is down to one main thing – mobile applications, a tool that has been used to bring success to the taxi industry.

What features are necessary for a successful app?

The can apps like uber is actually a set of two apps, the driver app and the passenger app. These two apps co-ordinate with each other to give the users a smooth riding experience.

The passenger app is used for looking for and requesting rides whilst the driver app is for receiving ride requests from the riders.

Features of the passenger app

Registration and Login

To use the app, every user needs to register and login to the app. Registration should be an easy process whereby users need to input their name, contact details like address, mobile number and email address as well as the details of credit or debit card that the user is going to use for payment purposes.

A smart booking interface

This will give the user access to all the cabs that are available in the vicinity, from which they can choose and book one for their purposes. There should be an option to input the details of the destination too when the user looks for cabs.

Fare calculator

This feature helps riders to calculate the fare from the pickup point to the destination. Fares may vary from time to time due to:

Traffic conditions
Time of the day or night
Toll and/or parking charges
Type of ride and car the user has chosen
Other Rider Features
Real-time tracking system

This feature allows the user to track the driver’s real-time location before the ride is booked. Once the ride is booked, the user can then track the cab at all times via his app. The user can now keep a track of this journey.

Automated payment facility

In-app and cashless payments are made automatically from the registered debit/credit card or e-wallet. The rider receives an invoice too for the same.

Push notifications

This feature helps to give notifications about the cab location, estimated time of arrival, details of the driver and the status of the ride request.

Ratings/Review, and booking history

The ratings and reviews feature allows users to give details about their riding experience. Riders will receive a push notification asking them to give their feedback, once their ride is over. Users can also have a look at their booking history.

Features of the driver app

Registration

Drivers’ registration is slightly different from that of the riders. Drivers will need to give details of their vehicle and other verification documents to the admin for approval before they can drive.

Booking and booking history

Drivers will be able to see notifications for any ride requests made by local riders, which they can choose to accept or decline. They also have access to the records of all their ride history.

Navigation

With the help of Google Maps, the drivers automatically directed to the shortest and fastest route possible at the time of the ride.

Push Notifications

These are usually to notify drivers about the orders, or data regarding the details of the rider location, payment, route, etc. They also help alert the driver in case there are any changes to the original ride request.

Other ad-hoc features include Geolocation services, report generation, support, messaging, etc.

What are the technological requirements?

The cab apps like uber have three major foundations – server, payments and mapping. The server is the most important part of the app as this where you will process ride requests, driver routes and everything required for the successful running of your taxi business.

Languages used in back-end include:

Ruby on Rails
Java
PHP
js
Python
GPS is also one important component of the app. Openstreet API used on both iOS and Android platforms, whilst Google Maps and Google Location are specific to Android only.

Efficient payment process:

Paytm
Paypal Mobile SDK
Stripe
Braintree
The technology stash for push notifications is quite simple – iOS platforms use Apple Push whilst Android platforms use Google Firebase.

Text messages sent out using any of the following communication platforms:

Tropo Do
Nexmo
Plivo
Twilio

How much will it cost to have an app developed?

The cost of an app will vary depending on the features and functionalities that you get inbuilt. If you are thinking of getting an app from scratch you are looking at a minimal cost of at least $8000 to $15,000. The more advanced the features and functionalities, the higher the cost. However to get a readymade clone is not as expensive. There are many developers who sell clones and they will customize your app according to your specifications. The cost again would depend on what you want your app to do.

Where do I go from here?

Now that you know the basic information about a standard on demand taxi app, it is now time to decide whether you want to get your own app custom readymade app clone.

There are many in the market and some developers will have you up and running in as much as 72 hours. There is a lot of competition between the developers so you need to make sure you capitalize on this. Many developers who charge for every service and feature you want whilst others give you quite a few freebies. That is why you need to research well before you make the decision on where you are headed as far as your cab apps like uber are concerned. It is now time to strike.

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