How to create a mobile app for taxis

The goal of any business is profit. Therefore, you need to find a way to make money for the app. Here are four monetization models that can help you recover development costs and generate a steady income.

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1. The Commission. Take a small commission on every order. For example, set a 5-10% commission that will go to you, not the driver. The main thing is to honestly warn users about this before they even start working through the app.
2. Advertising or commission for promoting an establishment within the app. Another way to make money is to display banner ads in the app. To do this, select a couple of places where ads will not be too intrusive. For example, place ads on loading screens or in the profile section. Just don't overdo it, otherwise ads will annoy users.
3. Paid subscription for users. What if we offer users a subscription? For a monthly fee, they will receive bonuses — discounts on trips or removing ads. It's a good idea to offer a free month trial so people can evaluate the benefits of the subscription and decide whether to subscribe on an ongoing basis.

Before we create a taxi app, let's figure out how it will function. There are two modes: for drivers and for passengers.

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In driver mode, users take travel orders, get information about passengers, use real-time navigation, and accept payments.

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In passenger mode, you can order a taxi, view driver profiles, track the car on a map and pay for the trip in the app.

Two types of services for ordering a car are apps for local tax and aggregator apps.

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1. Local taxi apps. Passengers book trips directly from the companies that develop and service them. The user gets access to cars owned by a particular company and chooses vehicles depending on their preferences — economy class or business cars.
2. Aggregator applications such as Bolt, Uber, and Yandex Go, connect passengers to drivers from various taxi companies. Such applications do not manage their own fleet, but act as intermediaries, allowing users to choose drivers from a variety of available companies.

Before getting into the features, it's important to note that to develop a taxi service, you'll need to create two separate apps — one for passengers and one for drivers. Let's look at their functionality separately to better understand how to make a taxi app.

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Passenger features

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Register

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‍Users must register and verify their identity to start using the app. This not only ensures safety, but also creates an atmosphere of trust right from the start.

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Order a trip

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The main thing the app needs is easy booking. Users choose the place of departure, destination, vehicle and payment method. Quickly and without extra steps.

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Real-time GPS tracking.

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‍An important feature is to monitor taxation in real time. This helps you know when and where to expect your car and plan your time.

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The ability to view the driver's profile

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The service should contain information about the driver — name, photo, car details, and even the current location. This is important for safety: the passenger will be sure to get into the right taxi.

Payment variability

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‍The variety of payment methods, from cards to mobile wallets, gives passengers flexibility. It is important that payments are processed securely.

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Travel cost estimate

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‍The price should be clear in advance. The app reports the cost of the trip based on the route so that there are no unpleasant surprises at the exit.

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Push notifications

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‍With notifications about the trip confirmation, the location of the vehicle and the time of arrival, the passenger will be aware of the status of the trip and updates related to it.

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Chat and chat with the driver

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‍The ability to easily contact the driver via the app — without sharing phone numbers — is fast and secure for both parties.

Ratings and reviews

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‍At the end of the trip, the passenger can leave feedback about the driver and the service. This feature maintains a high level of quality and helps to quickly resolve emerging issues.

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View travel history

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‍The platform keeps a history of trips, payments, and ratings. This helps the user track expenses and manage trips.

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‍helpdesk

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‍The service should have a support service so that users can quickly contact operators via chat or call to solve problems with travel, payments, or technical issues. This ensures timely assistance and increases the credibility of the service.

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Features for drivers

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The service for drivers will include similar functionality: check-in, communication with passengers, travel history and push notifications. But there are differences that make it unique and adapted to the tasks of drivers:

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Tracking and managing earnings

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‍Drivers keep track of their income, view their travel history, and withdraw their earned money through the app. This helps to maintain full control over financial matters and keep abreast of income.

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Choosing a trip

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‍Drivers set order preferences. This depends on the distance, the passenger's rating or the amount offered per trip. This is how users choose profitable and convenient orders that suit their driving style.

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‍Navigation

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‍This feature provides traffic information, alternative routes, and step by step navigation. Using these tools, the driver will choose the best route to quickly get to the passenger and deliver him to the right address.

Let's move on to the features that will answer the question of how to make a taxi app that will be different from those on the market and will also be profitable for users.

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Nice “goodies” for trips for both the client and the driver

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Create bonuses and rewards for both sides — passengers and drivers. Offer referral bonuses, loyalty programs, or discounts for passengers to come back and recommend the app to friends. And for drivers, rewards for the number of trips or positive reviews that will motivate them to provide better service.

Ensuring personal safety for all participants in the trip

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Ensure security in the service. This is critical for users. Pay attention to the process of integrating third-party services and technologies to ensure that the app meets security requirements. Include features: the SOS button, the ability to quickly contact emergency services and checking driver data.

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Confidence of personal data

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It is important that the platform protects information about passengers and drivers using reliable security systems. All data, such as phone numbers and payment details, must be encrypted and used only as part of the provision of the service.

Finally, let's move on to the main thing — development. It is not difficult to create a mobile interface, but in order for it to be of high quality and meet your and customers' expectations, it is important to carefully consider and plan everything.

1. Identify your target audience

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Before developing, it is important to understand who will use the platform. Study the age, interests, needs, and geography of potential users. With this data, you will be able to develop the program's functions and interface to meet all your needs.

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2. Analyzing competitors' apps

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This stage will help you understand what is already on the market and identify strengths and weaknesses. This will help make your app unique and offer users something new.

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3. Defining functionality and writing technical specifications

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Use the MVP principle to develop key features without wasting extra resources.

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At the beginning, you should focus on the basic features that are necessary for the program to work. Later, it will be possible to add additional features that will improve the app. Then write down a detailed technical assignment with all the functionality that you have thought through.

4. UX/UI design

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During the UX/UI design phase, focus on creating an intuitive interface that makes it easier to use the app. Users should be easy to navigate and book a taxi quickly. The interface should be visually appearing and intuitive.

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5. Development and testing

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Finally, we are in the process of creating the final version of the product. Developers write code, integrate third-party services, and thoroughly test the application. Its functionality is checked and the errors identified are eliminated. Only after that you can safely launch the application in markets.

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Special attention should be paid to the tools and platforms that you will use for development. Consider technologies that allow you to run the product on iOS and Android so your team can work on both versions simultaneously and save time and resources.

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6. Publication and promotion

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After all the improvements and testing are complete, it is time to launch the application on the platforms. Promote it through social media, influencers, and other channels to attract users. With analytics, you can monitor performance and identify areas for improvement.

7. App development and support

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Once an app is released, it is important to provide technical support. Developers should regularly update the product to comply with new versions of operating systems, as well as take into account user feedback and make improvements.

We hope that the article answered the question of how to create a taxi app. The development of such a service will open up new opportunities for your business, given that the taxi industry is now in demand and popular on the market. Remember, the main thing is to consider a user-friendly interface, functional features and take into account user needs.

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Developing a quality product requires a professional approach, and the company Beetrail ready to become your reliable partner at all stages.

We create solutions that help businesses grow, adapting to changing market requirements and audience demands.

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Beetrail knows how to turn your idea into a successful app. We are engaged in turnkey development: from concept to publication and support.

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Take a look at our projects and submit a request in the form below. We will be happy to discuss your needs and help you calculate the cost.

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We care about your app!