The days are long gone when one had to wait for a cab and call the driver multiple times to describe the pickup location. Today, the on-demand economy has revolutionized the way you used to commute and go from point A to B. Reaching your destination has become easy and fun. All you have to do is download any ridesharing app, register, find nearby drivers, and voila! you get your driver at your doorstep!
Since starting Lyft and Uber like ride-hailing apps has become simple due to its low barrier, more and more startups are spearheading in creating Lyft and Uber-like apps. In this article, we have curated a list of the most vital features that could help you start competing in the market.
Read more: Uber is overtaking taxis in Australia: How you can enter this market with a new taxi app?
Here are the best features you must include if you are thinking of developing an Uber-like app.
1. Easy Signup
You wouldn’t want your user to download the app and uninstall the app without even riding one trip. And to make sure that doesn’t happen, you should incorporate a minimal but engaging signup form. Do not make a mistake of developing a signup form that’s too long and asks for unnecessary information.
Read more: Alternatives for Uber App
If you think you need more information than just the name and number, you can ask about such information after the user has tried out your app for around a week. This way, you can collect your data efficiently, and the user will also not be irritated the first time he/she opens the app.
2. Carpooling
Carpooling is the most affordable way for your passengers to travel, and it is good for the environment.
Carpooling allows your rider to book a car that is already hailed by another passenger. You can share your taxi with other passengers, and hence it will enable you to split the fare accordingly. Companies like Lyft and Uber lets riders book shared taxis to save the final cost.
Learn more: Guide to Successful Analysis of Mobile App Needs and Features
Most of the new generation users (Millenials & Gen-Z) support carpooling. So, if you provide this feature, your users would very much appreciate it.
3. Automated Tracking
Users like to know about the whereabouts of the taxi they have booked. This feature is essential for the user as they can track their driver on a real-time basis. So the rider can track their cab from the moment they book the ride to the point that they reach their destination.
4. Emergency SOS Button
An accident can happen at any time, and you’ll never be prepared for it. But with this feature, there is a chance that you are saved from any mishappening. By pressing the SOS button in the taxi app, the location of the sender (passenger or driver) is sent to their assigned friends and family members, and also to the local police.
5. Multiple Payment Options
All the popular on-demand taxi apps provide multiple payment options. This way, the user can pay online if they lack cash; and pay cash in the location where the net connection is weak.
Encouraging cashless payment by offering numerous payment methods such as credit/debit cards, online digital wallets, dedicated payment apps, and others shows the users that you are ready to go all the way for their comfort.
As we talked earlier about the carpooling option in this blog, concerning that feature, you can add the “Split-fare” feature to the payment option. With the Split-fare feature, the different riders going to the same location can pay individually for their ride.
Split-fare is a default option offered by payment gateway giants like Stripe and Braintree.
6. In-App Messaging & Calling
This is a very beneficial feature, which saves a lot of time for the rider as well as the driver. With the in-app messaging and calling feature, the driver and passenger can quickly and easily coordinate about the pickup point and save time on finding each other.
Read more: Steps to Successful Mobile App Development
By the end of the day, the drivers save enough time to conduct at least 5-6 more rides. By making this feature in-app, there is no risk of leaking out contact information as both parties don’t know the contact number and can talk to each other only until the ride, not after that.
7. Admin Dashboard
Another very crucial aspect that doesn’t directly concern the driver, as well as the rider, is the Admin dashboard. This is more than an app feature; it’s the complete master control panel that you’ll be using to study and handle your entire taxi app business.
You can control every aspect of your business from this dashboard, and the best thing is that you can do it from anywhere, any time, using any device that has an internet connection.
Conclusion:
I believe I’ve given you enough reasons to consider building Uber like ridesharing app seriously as a startup. If you are on a tight budget or looking for a quick app development approach or both, going with the leading Uber clone app development approach is the perfect option for you.
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