Due to increasing traffic and lack of parking space, taxi apps like Uber have increased. The growing demand for on-demand taxi services has prompted entrepreneurs to build an app similar to Uber and launch it in their local market or globally.
The market for on-demand taxi booking apps has never been more crowded than in recent years. New apps are constantly being released into the market to be as successful as Uber.
Since Uber is a global success, it will always serve as a source of inspiration for anyone wanting to build a similar app. Before going into the details of the cost of building an app like Uber, it’s important to understand how Uber works.
What Is The Uber Process?
If you want to build an app like Uber, you need to know how it performs in general. Here are five simple steps to explain how it works:
Request – The customer uses the app to request a cab immediately or schedule a pickup later. Drivers in the area receive these requests.
Accept or Decline The Ride – The driver has the option to accept or decline the ride. If the request is rejected, it is forwarded to another driver.
Ride – The customer can track the taxi on arrival and get the estimated arrival time.
Payment – The process has been made easy for both parties by using a cashless payment method and displaying the estimated price before traveling.
Ratings are an important part of Uber’s business model because they improve the reliability of the service.
We hope you have a good understanding of how Uber works. Let us now move on to another important topic.
What Factors Affect The Cost of Developing a Taxi App?
Before you start working on an Uber-style app, there are a few things you should consider. Before we get to the final price, here is a list of things that can affect the cost of development.
Properties
When it comes to developing an app, the features to be included are a major determining factor in the price. The cost of developing a mobile app is determined by the number of basic and advanced features you want to include in the app.
Your Business Type
The type of business is another important factor that affects cost. Do you have a regular taxi service or are you planning to start one? In the first case, you want an app that’s built with your business processes in mind.
In the case of a startup company, developing an app goes along with developing the business. There is some leeway here, but also budget constraints.
Platform For Apps
Which platform should you use? For many entrepreneurs, this is an age-old question. The answer to this question is simple: choose both iOS and Android if you want your app to be used by more audiences.
Technology
It is a better option to develop a native app than a hybrid app in most cases. Architecture, programming languages, and many other factors set them apart.
Features of Yatri App
Routing And Geolocation
This is the first and foremost feature when building an app like Uber. In general, GPS technology is used to determine where a person is. Once the user accepts the request in the taxi booking app, the GPS will allow the user to know the driver’s location.
Routing servers are needed when it comes to determining distance and route. Routing engines work hard from the moment customers start using the app until they are removed. The routing engine is used to calculate the distance and time between pickup and drop locations.
Payments
Another basic feature to consider when developing an app similar to Uber is location. Modern technology has made it possible for all parties to conduct simple financial transactions. It’s a win-win situation for both customers and uber drivers.
Uber users have access to a fare calculator within the app, which provides a near-accurate estimate. The cost of a trip is determined by the service you request and the city you are visiting. Uber uses four main criteria to determine the cost of a ride:
- The Standard Fare
- Price per mile
- The cost of each ride
- Fee for safe rides
If you plan to store and process credit card data, you must comply with all PCI compliance requirements. You can integrate the cashless payment system once it is PCI certified.
Another option is to rely on payment gateway providers such as Braintree or Stripe, which provide fully supported PCI compliant solutions. Consider the following factors when choosing a payment gateway for your app:
Since many app providers use the web view approach, payment gateways must be designed specifically for mobile devices.
The service should be easy to use and allow rapid data extraction from users.
Allow users to link multiple credit cards to their accounts to make life easier for them!
Registration & Personal Information
Any application’s basic features are registration and profile. It’s required for two reasons: you can keep track of your users, and they can access full-featured services. This feature is a must-have for any app that accepts mobile payments!
It’s also a great idea to include a review and rating system. It will make your on-demand taxi app a little more customer-focused. Plus, there’s more. These reviews will assist you in improving the quality of your services.
Notifications & Communication
Although the communication feature does not need to be mentioned separately in a taxi booking app, there are ways to make it more convenient. Uber allows users to contact the driver without having to leave the app.
Keeping customers informed is an important part of communicating with them. They can receive updates on their trip status via SMS, email, or push notifications. To create an app with flexible notifications, use the following tools:
- Apple Push Notification Service (APN) builds Uber-like apps for Apple devices.
- To develop Android apps, use Firebase Cloud Messaging (FCM).
The application will have to go through an additional integration step to receive SMS notifications. To get such access, you need to contact your telecom service provider.
Rent Estimate
Your developer will need to build an algorithm that estimates a price based on the user’s pickup and drop locations in order to provide this feature.
Make a Ride Reservation in Advance
Uber introduced advanced features a few years ago, including the ability to schedule a ride in advance. Customers can book their rides ahead of time and better plan their trips.
Ride scheduling can be a useful feature for the app’s MVP, and by adding other advanced features, you can expand the app’s functionality.
Organize a Ride For Others
Booking a ride for others, like scheduling a ride in advance, is an advanced feature for uber-like app development. It means that a user can use his or her own account to book a taxi for a relative or friend. The details of the booking will be sent to a friend or relative via SMS as soon as it is completed.
Splitting a Ticket
It’s an advanced feature worth considering if you’re considering different ways to create an app similar to Uber. Users will be able to split the cost of the ride with other passengers using this feature.
UI/UX (User Interface/User Experience) Design
Designing an app always consumes a portion of the app development budget. On-demand taxi booking services are customer-centric, so their UI/UX should be attractive and easy to use.
A lot has been said about designing the user experience, but in most cases, simplicity and clarity in design work best. To create an amazing design for your application, stick to these two principles.
Driver App Features
Report on Driver
This feature is designed keeping in mind the safety of both the driver and the passenger. The report gives a brief overview of the driver’s driving style over time. If the incidents of reckless driving are frequent, then the driver who breaks the rules can be banned.
Building Advanced Routes
If you’re thinking about starting a taxi service, you’ll need to invest in route-building software. If your routes are better optimized, the efficiency of your drivers will improve. Increased driver efficiency will lead to higher rates of customer satisfaction.
Destination For Drivers
The Driver Destination feature is designed to improve the overall experience of drivers using your app. Drivers will be able to select their preferred destination and pick up the customers wishing to travel through that route. Drivers can effectively combine work and personal matters in this way.
Within 2 minutes, you can cancel for free.
This feature was created with the goal of preventing loss of time and money in case a customer cancels or delays a scheduled ride. The ability to cancel trips for free is an essential feature as it minimizes risk for both drivers and businesses.
So, what’s the point of this feature? Passengers are free for the first two minutes after the car arrives, but if it takes longer to reach the car and start the ride, additional charges will apply. If a passenger cancels his ride after the time limit has elapsed, he will be charged an amount equal to the base fare.
Heat Maps
Finally, but certainly not least! The heat map is a feature designed to make driving easier. The feature will allow drivers to locate areas of the city where the service is in the highest demand, allowing them to earn more money for themselves and the company.
The time it takes to develop this feature is dependent on a number of factors, and it’s difficult to estimate a timeline without knowing the exact details of the project.
Conclusion
As previously stated, the taxi app development cost is determined by a variety of factors. Taking into account all of the aforementioned factors, the cost of developing an Uber-like application will start at $6000 USD.
