Since the launch of Uber, several entrepreneurs have started launching similar platforms to explore this sector’s dormant potential. It has become extremely popular with the millennial generation and has been bound on an upward trajectory of growth for a few years. Budding entrepreneurs spend countless hours to crack the business strategy to lure customers to their platform. This article will analyze the critical features that should go into an on-demand ride-hailing app to cater to modern customers’ needs.
Essential features in the passenger-side app:
Account registration and profile management:
Users should register their account to start using the services on the platform. Traditionally, users will be able to register their account by entering their phone number and email address. But it has become common for entrepreneurs to integrate social media plugins into the app to make things easier for users. The users can seamlessly log in their accounts with their Google and Facebook plugins.
Multiple Payment methods:
It would be best if you didn’t miss integrating online payment methods since people prefer cashless payments. As you are handling a taxi booking business, people from multiple ethnicities and countries will travel in your cabs. Since the platform will be designed in compliance with the PCI standards, users need not have to worry about any financial data. It would be best if you integrate the options to accept multiple currencies. Offering a fare calculator that uses AI integration to estimate the trip fare will be helpful for the passengers. It will calculate the fare based on the traffic conditions, booking time, occasion, etc. The following are the four main criteria for estimating the trip fare.
- Cost per mile
- Cost per minute
- Base far
- Late night/Peak hour charges
Real-time tracking feature:
Geolocation features are the USP of on-demand service apps that has caused the major transformation in various sectors. Since this is a ride-hailing business, most of the operations involve identifying the location and traveling. GPS technology will be the perfect companion for entrepreneurs. It can effectively solve the problems faced by service providers in traditional business methods. Although it looks simple on the surface, there are multiple layers of complex processes and data-sharing algorithms working together in the background.
Communication:
Lack of communication was another drawback in traditional business services. It would literally be impossible for the passengers to raise complaints about the driver’s behavior or resolve their queries about the service. However, on-set of on-demand ride-hailing apps in the market have made communication swift and hassle-free. The passengers will have in-app call/chat features to communicate with the drivers directly. They will be able to contact the driver once the booking gets confirmed.
Push notifications:
Push notifications are a must-have feature on ride-hailing apps as they can be an effective way to communicate with the users. It can be used to keep the passengers informed regarding the upcoming offers, maintenance breaks, discounts, promotions, offers, etc. It can also be used to send regular updates regarding the status of their booked ride. To integrate the push notifications feature in Android, Firebase Cloud Messaging service can be used, whereas the Apple Push Notification service can be used for iOS platforms.
Schedule a ride:
Ride-scheduling will be a useful feature for the passengers since they live a hectic schedule. It can be handy to book cabs during peak hours as there might be issues with the cabs’ availability and from office/home. The users will be able to schedule their in advance anytime between 15 minutes to 30 days and be extremely handy people planning ahead of their travel. Ensure that the scheduled-rides feature is a part of your MVP as it could be a head-turner.
Fare splitting/Carpooling:
Carpooling can be a great way to attract users as it makes their lives more comfortable. Along with the added convenience, it adds appeal to the app. It connects people traveling to the same destination or route on a platform and turns strangers into co-passengers. The total fare will be split among the passengers based on their destination.
Essential features in the driver-side app:
Profile creation:
Just like the passengers, the drivers should create their accounts on the platform to get started. The on-boarding process will be the same, but the admin team will ask for the government-issued identity card for verification purposes. The Admin team will verify the authenticity of the documents submitted before on-boarding the drivers. Once their account is created, the drivers can upload their name, phone number, photos, car details, etc.
Accept/Reject trips:
One of the main reasons for the popularity of on-demand ride-hailing service apps among the drivers is its options to work flexibly. These options lead to an increase in job opportunities for freelance drivers. They can work at their preferred time and will be paid based on their work. They can also choose to set their working hours and decide to accept/reject a ride request.
Driver report:
The drivers can quickly generate their reports anytime from the app, and it will provide brief information on their trips and earnings. Any remarks or complaints on drivers will also be included in the report. The service providers can ban a driver from the platform after issuing multiple warnings priorly.
Advanced navigation system:
Since drivers should reach their destination on time, their navigation system will be highly optimized. Every on-demand ride-hailing app like Uber will have AI integration that chooses the shortest and fastest route to the destination automatically. These optimizations eventually contribute to the credibility of the business. Since the passengers reach the destination before the estimated time, your app’s popularity will increase at a faster pace more than ever before.
Heat maps:
Heat maps feature is the savior angel in disguise for drivers who are looking for ways to maximize their earnings on the platform. It shows the areas with the maximum number of ride requests on the map. The data will be updated dynamically to deliver better results. Drivers can wait in these locations to pick up more passengers seamlessly. There will be multiple locations on the heat maps with a maximum number of potential passengers based on the place, time, and occasion.
Support team:
No matter how well the app is optimized, the drivers tend to get stuck at times and have multiple queries regarding various aspects of the app. Hire a customer support team to offer a seamless experience for the drivers as they should be able to contact the support team at any time of the day via chat/call options from the app.
In a nutshell:
Although there are numerous service providers in this niche, entrepreneurs can still have an excellent opportunity to strike gold with their Uber clone app. Entrepreneurs should continue to work aggressively on their business strategies and focus on optimizing their unique value proposition to lure customers. There are multiple monetization strategies in this business; entrepreneurs should do in-depth research to learn more about this sector. A thorough analysis of this market and competitors will eliminate the common issues that are likely to be faced by every budding entrepreneur.
