Getting new business on Taxi industry Software

[johnnyr81]

hi,

We're a software development company that is delivering complete solutions (web and mobile) for taxi industry: web sites, booking systems, dispatch systems, passengers apps, drivers apps.


Even if we're not expensive at all (in fact we lower down the prices under any competitor), we promoted ourselves on all channels (don't know if there is one left behind) we realized it's quite hard to approach this market, that seems to work like 20 years ago.

In fact this is one of the main reasons why Uber and other car services provider do have a such big success. And this only because they do not invest in something that will improve their business and helping to deliver better services to their clients. It's looks like everyone are focused to get new passengers only, but they do not think at all to the delivered technology services (in best cases they will focus on the drivers only).

So, what can be the right solution to remove this bottle neck and win the clients trust in a way that they will buy our solutions?

 

[Will_Authentic_Style]

I'm not sure I can help, but only speak from my own (limit) experience in this industry dealing with an enquiry we had 6 months or so ago.

Taxi companies definitely seem like they're stuck in the past. I don't think they understand the money required to make an investment for a better website, booking system etc etc and what benefit that could have on their business.

In your situation it might be a case of lowering your price to get one company in the door, do your stuff for them and then use that as an example (backing it up with figures and data) so you can approach others to win them around.

 

[johnnyr81]

We have few clients, but the wheel is moving very hard because of what I had mentioned above and it's hard for us to understand why as Uber already threats their jobs and businesses, so the question may be: How you convince someone which does not believe in technology that without it they will dissapear?

 

[Simon.P]

Hi,
Can you surmise the before and after benefits of existing clients to new ones?
i.e Client 1 had this, that and the other prior to our implementation and needed only this afterwards. Their drivers also spent less on fuel and earnt more money for example.

 

[simonclark123]

Hi johnnyr81

I am a landline and mobile dealer but have developed a very succesful niche market in the taxi industry supplying gsm deskphones converted into taxi freephones.

Many of my customers already use what seem to be fairly sophisticated despatch systems already.

What is the key benefit of your system?

Best Regards

Simon

 

[johnnyr81]

@H_Martin: this is the problem, the system is meant to increase level of services to the end clients and automate big part of the companies operations; As about drivers benefits: many of them are afraid are self employees and don't want a tracking system. As well, many companies don't want to use a such system because they of the national taxes - writting on the paper will be easier not to reports income.

@simonclark123: the key benefits: for passengers: book a tai from a click (similar to uber); for the drivers: easier to retreive/confirm the bookings (they are still plenty of them using radio stations); for companies: reduce the human resources and so the costs

 

[Daryn]

Have you ever worked in a taxi office or been a taxi driver. Ive been a taxi driver for 15 years now and TBH I cannot see where any other system could be better or replace the systems most taxi offices have in place today. All the taxi offices in my area provide data heads in their cars now and they work a treat. Most of them come provided with GPS Sat na built in so everything that is needed already exists. A job flashes up on the screen, you accept the job, the sat nav then takes over and provides you with the correct route and the the customer automatically gets a text letting them know the car is outside the reg of the car etc. These systems already send the job to the nearest car. I honestly cannot see what else any software could do to make things more efficient.

The only new software that might stand a chance has to be aimed at Hackney Carraige drivers that dont work in an office but want to all have the same system where a customer phones and the call automatically goes to the nearest driver. No up front fees for driver or customer but pay per job and non of this flat fares either like Ubber asks you to do.

Ive had several people ask me to buy a system app, then they ask for 50p per job on top its not a very attractive offer TBH and most would prefer to just work in an established office where you will receive work the average weekly rent is £115.

If you want to design a app or software then talk to a taxi driver and find out what they would want, then if it benifits both your company and them then thats where the money will be made for both parties.

 

[johnnyr81]

@Daryan:
The system had been developed exclusively based on feedback - the main sponsor had been a Minicab company. Usually our system is addressing to Cab companies, from there it's their choice if they extra charge the drivers. All features you mentioned are already built-in our software.

 

[fisicx]

We're a software development company that is delivering complete solutions...

And that right there is where it begins to unwravel. You are offering something that means chucking out everything they have already invested in often over many years.

Whenever we need a taxi we just ring the local number, don't need and app/website or anything else.

Your solution over complicates things with no real benefit to us or the cabbie

 

[fisicx]

We're a software development company that is delivering complete solutions...

And that right there is where it begins to unwravel. You are offering something that means chucking out everything they have already invested in often over many years.

Whenever we need a taxi we just ring the local number, don't need and app/website or anything else.

Your solution over complicates things with no real benefit to us or the cabbie

 

[Daryn]

Their is so many of these apps and software now no one knows what is good and what is rubbish lol. I had one on my phone and looked great but it just never worked properly. A few of us downloaded it. The app looked great and simple and done the features we wanted but it just would not work lol. I asked my regular customers to download it and give it a try and they got as frustrated as we did so said never again.

The app was free for driver and customer, it was developed fr android. You paid per job but had to pay up front at £5 a time although they give you the first 5 jobs free I think to try it out. Never happened never worked. Me and my wife give it a go. Good job it was free lol.

If their was a similar app out their most drivers would have it on their phones. They always seem to rely on me to sus these things out and Ive spent many hours at a time doing this.

In the end I just got a landline number with voipfone which works great although has non of the features an app has its just a landline number diverted to my mobile but it works great and Ive had no problems with it.

 

[johnnyr81]

@fisicx: This is the current problem of the taxi companies: they thing they technology should not ever replaced. One of the reasons why Uber win.
@Daryn: don't look after apps to make money, search for companies that must guaranty you this.

 

[fisicx]

No, I didn't say that. I said you are asking them to replace everything in one go. Don't offer a complete package, offer integration.

What will put people off is downloading yet another app just to book a taxi when it normally takes a 30 second phone call.

 

[Daryn]

I can give you a few pointers if this is what you are wanting to do.

many Hackney Carraige drivers are self employed and dont work from an office, they work on their own.

The current problem I have is if I get a call and Im close to that customer then great it hasnt cost me much in fuel to pick up that customer BUT if they are at the other side of town and its a short journey then I make next to nothing out of that job unless my friends are out at work and I can give one of them the job thats closer. This works out for us most of the time.

So looking at this problem its better to just sit on a taxi rank and get a job when it comes to us.

What would be needed. A universal app that any driver could have in a given town but only for Hackney Carraige drivers as any private hire using one of these would be driving illegally and without insurance to do this.

It would have to work via GPS and give out a job to the nearest driver.

The app would have to be free to driver and customer but charge the driver per job and not silly money either.

The app would have to show where the job is on the screen before the driver accepted it otherwise he could be in the same boat as us now where it could be at the other end of town and not going far but not show where the job was going until accepted.

These are just a few pointers but I can honestly say their is so many out their now you would be wasting your time, we are all fed up with trying these apps now and just use our phones.

We even use facebook to advertise and get private messages straight from the customer so no one else can see where they wanting picking up and where they are going this works great and is free and gives us a good customer base.

Im really afraid you can not guarantee any work these days its impossible, people do not go out like they used to do.

Im not knocking you for doing these things, I love technology but until someone comes out with a brilliant piece of mobile software that bypasses the need to use an office that we can test amongst ourselves then I for one would not experiment with my customers again it was a nightmare last time.

 

[SwindonSteve]

Your software has other applications beyond private hire/taxi. Think logistics in its broadest term. A person is a package, a package is a person.

 

[johnnyr81]

@SwindonSteve : you're right; there are plenty of new approaches from here: in fact everything that is moving and turn out in an application idea. But till then we need to settle down on current market; of course if we'll find clients to sponsor new concept we can go over it.

 

[avecSys]

Its funny I should stumble upon this post. I recently got a taxi home from a night out and as usual still had my business head on as this certain firm are situated below our new offices. I wanted to find out what software they were running and what support they received. I was told the company had purchased the software on a licensed agreement and also paid a support charge on top. The company itself are fine with their new software but tend to be a little disgruntled at the lead time on the arrival of a support engineer for the software when they have problems. This can take anything up to 4hrs and I'm sure 4hrs out of business for a taxi firm is a lot of money. Have you ever considered selling your software through third party IT providers? I think it would benefit both sides as you would get the licensing money and the IT providers could supply support. I would be interested in selling this product, provided we could get support business out of it also.

Maybe this is a way of selling your product

 

[johnnyr81]

@avecSys:
Sent you a PM. We'll start it from there.
Regards,

 

[Chris Ashdown]

Getting on for 12 years ago the Australians in Sidney had a computerised system that seemed to work well with drivers given the options of a job based on nearest first then second nearest etc and i think also sent a snapshot of the passengers to headquarters as a safety measure and also video recording and driver secure behind thick plastic shield

 

[johnnyr81]

@chris: Australians taxi industry seems to be very well regulated but the technology used 12 years ago it's already outdated and its outcome can not compete nowadays with new ones.I've seen also that current business still remains in the past and put the technolog at the end of their development chain.

 

[singhabhishek251]

Taxi industry is still way far behind except some big companies and local taxi companies will never understand the requirement for this software and the big one will have it planned in advance, so it looks difficult to get hold in this because the price will look high for the local taxi owners.

 

[johnnyr81]

I believe the local taxi companies, rather than the airport transfer focused companies, shall have a such comprehensive system in place, if they want to deliver better services to their clients, while their increasing their business performances (a full control over the drivers and a high level of automation shall deliver a better outcome).