#source- 555taxi-cabservice-hsinshu-blogspot.com
E-hailing as it may be called is a redefined form of transportation. You request for a ride via your mobile smartphone, PC, or Tablet whiich works by using internet service.
A form of transportation service where you do not have to worry about looking around for a cab to go somewhere, with a click on your phone you get a car to take you wherever you want to go provided it's within coverage of the application in use.
This development has took the place of the old form of requesting cab (though still in use) significantly in some countries of the world - Nigeria : Lagos and Abuja especially such as yellow cab, metro taxi and a popular one called "Baba Mulika" which are found mostly in Lagos. See picture below.
#source www.macworld.com
One owning two cars or more may decide to go into doing the business but it is important to understand the currenct market situation as many have ventured into it but all they could make but loss.
While anyone talks about e-hailing, it is pertinent to unavoidably mention UBER as the giant in the market.
Uber is an application that provide a ride-sharing service to people. The idea was centred on allowing people who own cars parked or in idle mode to make money by offering pick up service of which certain percentage of the pay goes to the application (Uber) and the rest to the owner of the car. Some major ride-sharing applications in Nigeria include :
UBER
TAXIFY
OGA TAXI
SWIFTLEY
SMARTCAB
BUDGET RIDE
SAY TAXI
BUGAA
We will be considering only three applications that are major competitors with higher share in the market.
- UBER
#source EURweb.com
Uber is a smartphone application that allows user to have access to ride (car) to their destinations that are within its coverage via a tap on the phone. it was launched in Nigeria on July 23, 2014 with Ice prince (musician) as the first Nigerian to ride on Uber - having its headquarter located in San Francisco, New York, United States and it's Lagos office on Providence street, Lekki phase one, Lagos - Nigeria.
The existence of Uber has undoubtedly created employment and a reform in the transportation sector of places it operates - Lagos and Abuja, also downsizing the old form of cab such as yellow taxi, baba Mulika, red cab etc. It was able to gain the market by providing quality service, like good and neat cars with AC, Good customer treatment, availability etc through professional drivers.
It has two applications, one for the driver and the other for the riders. See picture below.
Uber driver app
#source www.macworld.com
Uber Rider app.
#source macworld.com
There are two options available on the application in Nigeria to make your journey easier:
UBER BLACK (now Uber select)
UBER X
Uber black was made up of vehicles from 2012 model upward inclusive of SUVs. Its fare was slightly higher than that of Uber x but more of classic vehicles in comparison. While Uber x are cars from 2009 upwards. Few months before now, Uber does not accept any car below 2009 not until recently when TAXIFY came in.
Shortly I shall continue with the part 2 of this article.
Thank you as you read and Upvote.