Nidge2 wrote:
yellowcars wrote:
westside1 wrote:
It's unlikely, even if you develop your own system, that you will "do something" that your competitors won't be able to copy in any way, shape or form. It's all well and good getting the software right, but then you're going to have to have custom hardware and I'm not sure if everything you want will fit into one unit, and even if it did I bet the cost would be huge!
All of the things that you mention, you can add/run along your existing system (which clearly works) You have clearly done well in the last 2 years and most of that is probably down to clean well maintained vehicles, a reasonable fare structure, and turning up when the customer asks!
You could have the best system in the world, but if you don't give good customer service, it won't matter. I wish you all the best, but don't be too hasty to change what you have.
What I have found is that technology allows the fastest path to growth. Most taxi companies struggle to get work, we have found the opposite, we have bundles or work and not enough drivers that match up to our expectations.
hardware is easy to source, andriod 4.4 5 inch screens around $60.
You have clearly done well in the last 2 years and most of that is probably down to clean well maintained vehicles, a reasonable fare structure, and turning up when the customer asks. That I completely agree with.
And what would your expectation's be of a driver? A Cabbie is a cabbie, he's self employed and runs or rents a motor for a set amount each week.
Don't take this the wrong way but, it seems like your that far up your own backside you can't see daylight.
As for the fare structure, a wise man once said to me, "any fool can run about for nothing". If you charge the going rate and turn up on time every time people will use you no matter what you charge.
It's ok saying "we are the cheapest in Walsall" it's the drivers who have to fund it out of their own pockets, do you knock the drivers any rental off for running about on heap fares.
What happens when you need to put the fares up? Will people stop using you or will they carry on using you? You won't know until that day comes.
There's a firm round here who run on stupidly low fares and I mean stupidly low fares, for instance from our manor to Nottingham we charge £28, they try and undercut us by doing it for £19, will they turn up on time??? Nah they've got form for not turning up.
You've got to think of the drivers who are out there 60/70 hours a week trying to earn a crust, after all the firm would be nothing without the drivers would it??
ok valid comments.
expectation's be of a driver? my expectation's are. turn up on time, do your job to your best ability, charge a fare price and go home and throw in the fact they have to be able to communicate with the passenger (that's 80% of the taxi drivers in Walsall thrown out.)
regarding rent structure - we charge £70, £3.00 minimum fare like all our competitors, £1.25 a mile after that. Its not what your advertise and quote, it is what the driver asks for that matters.
Don't take this the wrong way but, it seems like your that far up your own backside you can't see daylight. - you might be right or might be wrong, but its nice making a comment on someone you have never met.
What happens when you need to put the fares up? Will people stop using you or will they carry on using you? You won't know until that day comes. - we have had two price increase's, one per year, lose about 500 jobs once you increase the prices but if you advertise right that fall is made up within a week.
we are the cheapest airport transfers company from walsall to BHX, the reason being we get alot of work from bhx so we can afford to subsides journeys to the airport with a high likeness of the driver getting a return journey.
just type in any major city to bhx with certain keywords, and you will see one of my sites in ppc or generic rankings.
as for drivers making money, if my drivers make less than £100 a shift they call it a bad day so do I, next question, dead millage? we use micro zones, meaning drivers normally do not need to do more than .5 of a mile to their next pick up, this reducing their fuel bill and increasing their profit.
You've got to think of the drivers who are out there 60/70 hours a week trying to earn a crust, after all the firm would be nothing without the drivers would it?? agree / disagree
first point of contact for customers - call center
second point - driver
driver conduct is the key to success. Training is the way forward. With the comment the firm would be nothing with out drivers, I have to disagree with that, yes drivers are for front of the company, but if they was not making money do you think they would stick around or jump ship? 95% of my drivers have come from other companies and 5% are new drivers to the taxi industry. Also with out guidance and leadership how far do you think the company would get.
Login
Register
FAQ
.
Drivers can get their own ops licence, however, you could not piggyback your customers everywhere 
