New e-hailing app launched for metered taxis
Taxi Live Africa is a new, locally developed, mobile phone application that enables metered, private and owner taxi drivers to benefit from using electronic hailing.
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SAY hello to Taxi Live, a new 100 per cent South Africa e-hailing app for metered taxis launched in Durban in late June 2019. The South African organisation was founded by Luvuyo Ntshayi and his business partner Soyiso Qotyiwe in September 2017. The project is a self-funded model.
The app has been designed to give metered taxi drivers, private and owner taxi drivers their own app to enable them to operate in a competitive marketplace and give passengers an affordable and safe transport solution. The developers spent many months engaging with metered and mini-bus taxi associations abd subce the soft launch of the app at the end of June, Taxi Live Africa has received more than 700 registrations in Durban alone as well as from drivers in both Johannesburg and Cape Town. The company plans to roll out to these two major cities within weeks and extend the service to other South African cities over the next few months.
Taxi Live Africa founder Luvuyo Ntshayi says: “Over the past two weeks we have also seen a substantial growth of users downloading the app and we’re confident that we have found the answer to both the drivers’ and passengers’ prayers.”
The app has been locally developed and rigorously tested and adapted and specifically developed for the metered and licensed taxi driver market in South Africa. Special features for the Taxi Live Africa app include:
- Emergency button: both a user and the driver can add a trusted contact number of a friend or family member during their trip and share the trip. In case of an emergency, they can click on the emergency button and it will immediately alert the person who has been added who can then trace the route until the end and request the relevant assistance on your behalf
- Live chat support: both users and drivers can chat in real-time with the Taxi Live Africa support team and receive a quick response to any of their queries
- Scheduled ride: passengers are also able to schedule a ride with the driver for a later date
- Police Emergency number: is another built-in feature
Hailing a car using your cell phone is not a new concept.“It’s all about trust and safety” said Luvuyo. “Our admin offices are in Durban and Cape Town where we will also provide an email or phone response to both passengers and drivers.”
To register as a Taxi Live Africa driver, several criteria need to be met. For example, vehicles may not be older than six years; they must be four-door cars; and drivers must supply all certificates and permits.
The Taxi Live Africa app allows passengers to select their journey and pay with either their cards or cash at the end of their journey. The app is both Android and Apple friendly and available on iOS and Android platforms.
Visit the website www.taxiliveafrica.com
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