Essential set of tools to start a ride-hailing company in Africa
And running a successful ride-hailing business requires efficient management tools that streamline operations.
For example, it's better for new ride-hailing companies that just started their business to kick off with a pre-made app instead of building one from scratch. Existing taxi businesses with no app yet may benefit from tools for fleet, operational management, and marketing.
Ride-hailing apps that already have their app may also seek extra features and tools to compete on the market and offer better customer service.
We summarized the list of tools you may want to use for your ride hailing company in Africa, so you don't have to collect them one by one across the internet. Let's get started!
What is ride-hailing service in two words?
Ride hailing app is a transportation platform that allows users to book rides on demand using a mobile or web app. Rather than looking for a traditional cab through the call center, users can quickly request a ride through a convenient app with the ability to pay through in-app payment gateways.
Essential tools to automate your ride hailing service
Launching a competitive startup has two options: from scratch and using pre-made tools and apps that speed up and ease the process. Let’s quickly explore whys and hows on two approaches:
From scratch:
- Fully customized product;
- Covers all unique business requirements;
- Complete control over the design;
- Expensive option that often takes a year to be developed;
- Requires tech expertise from your side;
- High reliance on the development team for any changes.
Pre-made solution:
- Ability to kick off the project within weeks;
- Much cheaper approach;
- Constant assistance from solution’s provider without extra costs;
- Constant app updates and maintenance is often included in the initial price and does not require the development team or expertise from your side.
- Less flexible in terms of customization;
- May lack some of the features.
Automating various aspects of your service can significantly enhance almost every aspect of the ride hailing software, ensuring smooth operations and happier customers. Here is a set of tools and apps you may want to consider when starting a taxi business:
A set of ride hailing apps
1. Customer app (obligatory)
It acts as a backbone for your ride hailing business, allowing customers to create profiles, order rides, check the status of rides, track their routes, and make payments.
Key features include:
- Ride booking;
- Ride history;
- Driver tracking;
- Route estimation;
- Payment options;
- Notifications;
- User profile;
- Geolocation;
- Ride details.
2. Driver app (obligatory)
A driver app connects drivers with customers, allowing them to accept or decline a ride, navigate to pick-up and drop-off locations, start and end their working day, explore ride details, and manage their earnings.
Key features include:
- GPS navigation;
- Earnings tracker;
- Ride history;
- In-app chat with customers;
- Online and offline buttons;
- Begin/end trip button;
- Ride cancellation options.
3. Admin panel (obligatory)
A bridge that centralized communications, all information and enables control for managing operations within the service. Admin panel is also a hub for monitoring rides and analyzing performance.
Key features include:
- Dashboard with real-time data;
- Driver and customer management;
- Ride analytics;
- Fare management;
- Reporting tools.
4. Operator app (obligatory)
Someone should handle operations within the app, working as a third party that can easily track rides and resolve issues. The operator app facilitates ride dispatching and operational support, offering a centralized control for operators to manage all orders in one place.
Key features include:
- Ride assignment;
- Driver availability;
- Customer support tools;
- Real-time ride monitoring;
- Issue resolution.
5. Web app (optional)
People usually order rides from their mobile apps rather than using browsers. Though in some cases they still may look for your app on browsers, so the web app is a valuable option. The web application acts as a platform for customers who want to book a ride via web browsers and help businesses to integrate ride hailing services.
For example, the web app allows ride-hailing businesses to partner with a range of third-party companies like hotels, business centers and restaurants. This partnership enables all these hotels and restaurants to order your taxi, thus growing your customer base.
Key features include:
- Ride booking;
- Payment processing;
- Ride tracking;
- API integration for business partnerships.
6. Website builder (optional)
Having a website isn't a must-have, though it still makes a difference when it comes to a high-competitive market like ride hailing. With a range of services available (and they will only continue to grow), a website is like a business card that helps potential customers explore your offerings and get to know your app a little bit closer before downloading it. It also helps to promote your business through organic search, reducing the need for paid advertising.
Backend infrastructure tools
At some point, every business owner starts considering expanding their service functionality. And these tools are a crucial part of stability and scalability, acting as a backbone of operations and enabling seamless communication between different parts of your system.
1. Mapping and navigation tools
These software programs or online apps allow users to view, create, and interact with maps and other geo data. This, in turn, helps users better configure relationships between locations and estimate distances.
A ride hailing app in Africa uses these programs to ensure smooth operations for drivers and customers. They enable real-time tracking and route optimization and offer accurate ETAs.
2. Authentication systems
Ride hailing apps operate with sensitive personal data like card details, addresses, email, and phone numbers. Proper authentication enables secure user login and registration processes. Aside from protecting customers' privacy and data security, the authentication system also helps verify the driver's identity, maintaining the integrity of your platform.
3. Customer support tools
With the growing base of clients, you will soon find yourself overwhelmed with both their questions and complaints. This is specifically crucial at the very early stage of your app launch since your users will likely find issues within your app that you would want to fix before the app takes a full scale across the entire African market. Customer support within ride-hailing apps often comes in two forms: phone calls or in-app chat (or both for a win-win).
4. Marketing and promotion tools
Aside from growing organic traffic on your website through SEO, you may also want to use ASO (App Store Optimization), paid campaigns, discount codes, and referral programs. Marketing, analytics, and promotion tools can grow brand awareness, attract customers, and engage drivers.
Let's take the SafeBoda Super app and Gokada Delivery app as an example. These applications have successfully used referral programs to rapidly expand their user base in Africa. SafeBoda's referral program significantly increased their driver's base, while Gokada's discounts and promotions helped them gain a competitive edge in the Nigeria market.
5. Payment processing tools
Any ride hailing service requires at least two payment options, like cash and card. Payment gateway tools enable timely data payouts and cashless transactions and detect fraud among drivers. Here are some popular in Africa options to choose from:
Fleet management tools
Fleet management means overseeing and coordinating a transportation fleet, ensuring optimal use of cars, their timely maintenance, and compliance with regulations. Here are some fleet management products that are used in Africa:
1. Vehicle tracking
Real-time vehicle tracking enables precise location data for all cars, helping prevent unauthorized use and fraud by ensuring that cars are used only for legitimate purposes.
For example, some of the most popular tools are:
Vehicle tracking tools also allow for efficient route planning, so service offers faster response times and improved service for customers.
2. Maintenance scheduling
Regular maintenance is essential to ensure vehicles run smoothly in Africa's varied and sometimes harsh conditions. Connected maintenance scheduling systems organize timely servicing, reducing the risk of breakdowns and extending the lifespan of each car.
In addition to ensuring the safety of cars, maintenance scheduling tools help your ride hailing service comply with regulatory standards. Some of the most popular maintenance scheduling tools in Africa include:
3. Driver management
These tools offer a bird' s-eye view of driver behavior and performance. Closely monitoring drivers allows ride hailing brands to reduce the risk of fraud and vehicle misuse.
Drive management systems also help optimize driver's productivity, reducing time on the road and enabling less time waiting for assignments.
Data analytics tools
1. Customer insights
Personalization is a must-have for any business today, so knowing and understanding customer preferences and behavior helps tailor services to meet their needs. These insights allow ride hailing companies to implement targeted promotions and improvements and increase customer retention.
2. Performance metrics
Performance metrics offer insights on ride frequency, driver performance and customer satisfaction. Lack of performance and analytic tools within the ride hailing services is like driving without mirrors – you suppose you know where to drive, though you will never know for sure.
That's why performance metrics should always assist a company's development and scalability, ensuring you can make only data-driven decisions, facilitating investment opportunities, and supporting business expansion.
Cloud services & localization tools
Cloud services are crucial for a ride hailing platform’s scalability. Using cloud infrastructure allows the service to handle increasing volumes of data and user requests without compromising performance.
Successful localization requires user acceptance and trust in diverse markets. It isn't enough to make your app available in new African regions; you will have to know your new audience, find differences, implement new payment options, and offer relevant discounts to each locale.
Legal and security tools
Compliance with regulatory requirements is critical for a ride hailing software’s legitimacy and sustainability. These tools ensure the service adheres to local laws and regulations, like those related to transportation, labor, and taxation. In addition, expanding your ride hailing service ecosystem with financial management tools also helps manage contracts, licenses, and permits more easily.
- Burp Suite (cybersecurity platform)
- TopNotepad (accounting app)
- Provincial Regulatory Entity (PRE) (online portal for application submissions and permit issuance)
Let's wrap it up
Starting a ride hailing business in Africa requires careful planning, market evaluation, and the right tools to ensure smooth operations and scalability. From driver and customer apps to marketing and localization tools, Onde provides everything you need to launch and manage your ride hailing platform efficiently.
