The Future of Taxis: How Technology is Changing the Game

With the introduction of ride-sharing apps and the ever evolving world of technology, the future of taxi services certainly looks increasingly digital.

In order to keep up with competitors and larger corporations trying to get a foot in the taxi industry to make a quick profit, many taxi companies are starting to consider ways in which they can utilise technology to improve their business and create an even better experience for their customers.

Here are some of the changes the taxi industry is continuing to see compared to recent years as a result of technology.

Online Booking

Rather than being limited to exclusively calling up on the phone to book a taxi or having to visit a taxi rank/bay, online booking systems are making it much easier for people to catch a ride. These systems allow customers to choose the locations they wish to be picked up from and dropped off at, along with how many passengers will be travelling, if they have luggage and how much, whether a return journey is required and what time they need picking up at.

This is an incredibly quick and convenient way for people to arrange a taxi both in real-time and for advanced journeys. Some companies, like Lewis Taxis, are taking this one step further and have even created a taxi app for their customers to download, which makes for an especially user-friendly experience for those that want to book a taxi from their mobile!

This is also a great way to introduce perks and benefits to your customers, such as loyalty schemes, promos codes they can use and rating systems, which offers an edge over local competitors that don’t offer this.

Easier Payments

Have you ever gone to get a taxi only to realise you haven’t got any cash on you, thus ensuing a hunt for the nearest cash machine? Well, gone are the days of paying exclusively with cash. As well as online or app booking providing an option to pre-pay the taxi fare, the use of mobile card machines allows taxi drivers to receive card payments in the taxi itself.

This makes it more likely that a taxi company can guarantee customers; it is very rare nowadays that people carry cash on them and even rarer that they will go out of their way to get cash out for the sake of making a taxi journey. Instead, they find it much more convenient to pay with their card, so not offering this as an option could end up losing a taxi company business.

Real-time Access

Thanks to the introduction of high-quality sensors, taxi firms are able to track their fleet of vehicles using real-time data. This is especially beneficial from a business point of view, since it can help identify ways in which their drivers could be more efficient in the routes they take and their driving habits, thus saving the business money.

This could also be incorporated into taxi apps to benefit the customers by showing live updates on where their driver is so they can gauge how far away they are, as well as keeping updated on where they are along their journey when in the taxi.

If you’re looking for a reliable taxi service in and around Coventry that offers easy booking both online and via the phone, then look no further than Lewis Taxis. Get in touch with us today with any queries.