(PR.co.nz) Cabchooze ranked at 25th and 26th position in New Zealand Appstore and Playstore last month compared to 5 year old International Airbnb’s 29th rank under ‘Travel’ category.
Cabchooze Taxi app latest version now has a field “Additional Information” for the user to enter info about them and their location. And Taxis Drivers love it- It now makes lot easier for us to identify the Passenger making our business very easy, says Mr Singh. He further adds “my empty hours and my idling are reduced hugely and daily earnings improved tremendously”- Five jobs in one day, what more one can expect from cabchooze open source platform for any licenced Taxi Driver to access for free. When I return home first thing my family asks is- how “cabchooze magic” went for us today.
Speed at which the Taxi Industry is adopting this mobile App technology can be judged from the fact that Cabchooze Driver App available in Android ranked 29th last month.
Thanks to Google for making it easy for developers to update their apps in a matter of hours. This is great for start-ups. During Beta launch reviews, suggestions from users, peers and geeks are really dear to us. Google is giving developers the opportunity to iterate their apps and respond to appplaints very quickly, says Arjun- Cabchooze app Founder.
Analysis of information collated from the app’s first 60 days since its Beta launch operation indicates the great majority of taxi rides are smooth ones, with three quarters of participating Cabchooze drivers receiving either a ‘good’ or ‘excellent’ feedback rating from passengers.
On the other side of the ‘glass divide’, passengers were considered by drivers to be ‘excellent’ customers. Less than 5 % behaved in a way the driver deemed to be ‘poor’ or ‘unsatisfactory’.
Hinging on its ability to offer smart phone users a choice of nearby available drivers, app director BK. Sharma says Aucklander’s and the Taxi Industry are experiencing its 1st phase of mobile revolution. More is ought to come in businesses, governance and service sector.
‘We are tapping into the wants and desires of the millennial generation who love to play with new tech, relish full control of a situation, and prefer as many options to choose from, when it comes to spending their hard-earned dollars.’
Making feedback about drivers – and passengers – public knowledge encouraged safer taxi journeys. Mobile numbers of any driver or passenger with too many low ratings or misuse would be deactivated, Sharma says.
A next version of the app would be released soon. ‘Our IT team is ironing some bugs and changes in the Beta version analytics and empowering a few more logistics before releasing its full launch,’ he says.
App co-founder Arjun reports that to date speed at which the Android phones are being acquired in New Zealand, cabchooze android users are catching pace with iPhone and iPad user. Nine out of ten passengers were aged between 18 and 48, in line with general demographics surrounding the use of new smart phone and tablet technology.
‘Today’s consumer is driven towards a product which is easy, has no strings attached, offers them many options to choose from, knowing the price before they buy – and works well,’ he says.
He adds that over 60% Taxi fares were generated from CBD and around including sky city, clubs and pubs. Replying on the query from Auckland Taxi owners who are demanding card payment be routed through cabchooze Mr Sharma was of the opinion that a dongle plugged in to the Driver phone could be a feasible option. This way it can cater to prepaid Taxi cards popular with this Industry and businesses.
HOW IT WORKS
Users simply enter their location and destination into a search engine and within a couple of minutes, the prices, proximity of nearby cabs – as well as the driver’s ‘rating’ are sent directly to their phone, allowing the user to select the ‘bid’ of the cabbie they desire.
Passengers are able to track the cab’s progress on a map as it makes its way to the pick-up location, and, in the same manner, follow the driver’s route all the way to the specified destination. If the metered price of the journey turned out to be lesser than the original ‘bid’ sent by the driver, the passenger is only obligated to pay the lesser amount.
MORE ABOUT CABCHOOZE
– New Zealand’s first taxi hailing app, Cabchooze is free for users and Taxi Drivers to download.
– Drivers only pay a flat fee of $1.99 per fare to the app developers. No fee on $10 or less bids amount.
– Users and Drivers rate each other and their rating is displayed in the app.
– Cabchooze has trained over 180 Drivers and has provided them with Android smartphones.
– Cabchooze is 100% NZ owned and operated brand developed by Auckland’s Youchooze IT Ltd.
KEY FINDINGS FROM CABCHOOZE DATA ANALYSIS TEAM
– 96 % of drivers were rated either ‘fair’ ‘good’ or ‘excellent’ by passengers
– 96 % of users were rated ‘fair’ ‘good’ or ‘excellent’ by the drivers
– 1% of users were deemed ‘unsatisfactory’ customers by drivers.
– 53 % of Cabchooze users were male
– 92 % of Cabchooze users were aged 18-45
Media Release on 23 September 2013 by Youchooze IT Ltd
For media queries please contact:
BK Sharma
Project Director
Youchooze IT Ltd
+64 21 725 059 (M)
bk.sharma@cabchooze.co.nz