The transportation industry has undergone significant transformation, with the advent of technology. Projections indicate that the on-demand transportation industry valued at $153.2 billion in 2022 globally is expected to grow at a CAGR of 7.2% from 2023-2031, reaching $287.6 billion by 2031. Driven by a shift towards convenience and accessibility, taxi booking apps have thus, become the foundation for urban transportation.
With tech giants like Curb redefining the industry, businesses are progressively looking for opportunities to tap into the market. Therefore, with this increasing influence in the market, businesses in this sector should start investing in technology and launch an efficient and reliable taxi booking app.
In this blog, we will delve into the critical aspects, technological considerations, and strategic steps to building an app that mirrors the success of the famous taxi booking app Curb.
Formerly known as TaxiMagic, Curb is a popular ride-hailing app that connects passengers with licensed, professional taxi drivers across the United States.
The app partners with professional taxi companies and provides a seamless, reliable transportation experience by leveraging modern technology while integrating with the traditional taxi industry. Curb bridges the gap between the traditional taxi service model and the contemporary on-demand ride-hailing trend, making it a preferred choice for millions of users.
Here are some insights from Curb’s achievements:
The taxi booking app ‘Curb’ connects passengers with licensed, professional taxi drivers in their area easily with the help of a smartphone. Here’s the basic workflow how the Curb taxi app works:
The prominent taxi app operates on a diversified revenue generation model, leveraging multiple revenue streams to ensure maximum profitability. Below are the primary revenue sources:
Building a competitive taxi booking app like Curb necessitates the integration of robust, user-centric features that prioritize convenience, efficiency, as well as passenger safety. To achieve this, the system must seamlessly connect its three critical interfaces— Passenger App, Driver App, and Admin Panel.
These three interconnected interfaces must work together smoothly to provide a unified and reliable taxi booking experience. By maintaining high performance across all components, businesses can foster trust and loyalty among their users.
Core features of each interface:
Passenger App | Driver App | Admin Panel |
Registration & Profile Management | Driver Registration & Verification | User Management |
Taxi Booking | Ride Requests Management | Vehicle Categories |
Fare Calculation | Availability Toggle | Commission Management |
Real-Time Tracking | Navigation & Route Optimization | Subscription Order Management |
Diverse Payment Options | Earnings Trackers | Geo-Fencing |
Ratings & Reviews | Ratings & Reviews | Withdrawal request Management |
In-App Messaging & Calling | In-App Chat & Call | Reports & Analytics |
Emergency SOS Button | Ride History | Discounts Management |
Mirroring the success of Curb and launching a taxi app requires strategic planning, understanding market requirements, and mindful execution. With the soaring demand for ride-hailing solutions, building a reliable taxi app promises significant business opportunities.
Here are some key steps to help you build a taxi app like Curb:
Conducting thorough market research is crucial to understand industry dynamics, growth potential, and user behavior. Following this approach allows you to identify your target customers, analyze their needs, and uncover gaps in existing solutions.
In addition, research competitors and evaluate their strengths & weaknesses. This will enable you to position your taxi app differently. Leverage insights from market research reports to refine your offering and align your app with user expectations. This approach, thus, ensures a strong competitive advantage in the transportation industry.
Your taxi booking app must deliver some unique value to set it apart from the competitors. The value proposition must address some specific market pain points, whether it is competitive pricing, advanced safety measures, underserved service offerings, superior driver incentives, or exclusive benefits for passengers. You must clearly communicate the benefits for all the stakeholders.
A compelling and unique value proposition will position your app as a viable and attractive alternative.
Outline the functional and non-functional requirements of your taxi booking app. Specify your unique business model and identify the core features, integrations, and payment gateways you want in your taxi app. Also, mention some advanced features and functionalities that will differentiate your app from other taxi service apps available in the market.
These detailed business requirements provide a detailed roadmap for your taxi app development while aligning with operational goals.
Building a taxi app primarily involves two key approaches such as custom development and readymade software.
When choosing between Custom Development and Readymade Software, businesses must weigh their unique requirements, timelines, and budgets. Both approaches offer distinct advantages and considerations, depending on operational goals and scalability requirements.
Below is an in-depth look at the pros and cons of each:
After closely analyzing the advantages and disadvantages of each approach above, utilizing a self-hosted readymade software is an optimal choice when building your own app like Curb.
Self-hosted solutions offer business owners complete control over the infrastructure and allow them to manage the software for a lifetime on their preferred server (in-house or some third-party server). Thus, leveraging a self-hosted readymade software like VivoCabs helps businesses launch their taxi apps cost-effectively and in significantly less time than custom development. This approach offers pre-built, advanced features and APIs that are essential for building your taxi app, providing a swift market entry.
Apart from this, self-hosted readymade softwares are already tried-and-tested which reduces the risk of encountering any unexpected bugs and operational challenges. Moreover, these software also empowers business owners to rebrand the app according to their unique business requirements. Ultimately, ensuring all requirements are met without compromising.