Minicab firms start fightback after Uber Nottingham launchMinicab firm owners in Nottingham have dismissed Uber as "just another company" as they started the fightback against the global phenomenon.
They believe the multinational – which arrived in the city last Friday – does not mean the end for other businesses.
About 20 people, representing eight companies in Nottinghamshire, attended a "How to beat Uber" roadshow, held by the Autocab software company at the DoubleTree Hilton hotel in Nuthall Road on Thursday.
It involved assessing the strategy of Uber - which allows passengers to book rides using a mobile phone app in a cashless system - and advice on how other taxi firms can compete.
Amjid Javaid, managing director of DG Cars, which has 650 vehicles, said: "Uber is just another taxi company. Whatever they do, we've already been doing for quite a while.
"The main thing they have is the app but we've had ours for 18 months, which does similar things. We've always promoted ourselves but now we need to promote it more.
"It's something new coming into town that people will try but it will settle down in a few months' time."
Uber was given permission to launch by Nottingham City Council in July, amid criticism from many private hire drivers worried at a potential loss of business and quality control.
Autocab, which provides dispatch systems for 145,000 cars worldwide, sent representatives to Nottingham to hold a presentation on how existing firms could improve their strategy in response.
They discussed how their companies provided better customer experience and could even be cheaper during peak times.
Hassan Abod, director of Autocab, told the group that increased competition could help them "up their game".
He added: "Uber is no longer the unstoppable, invincible force we thought it was a few years ago but, on the other hand, this is a fight and you need to be up for it."
Speaking after the meeting, Bulwell-based Central Cars manager Rob Gee said: "It's made a lot of companies stand up and listen, and you're a fool if you don't.
"But there's a lot more downsides to Uber than positives because it's definitely open to wrongdoing from the drivers' point of view because there's minimal customer support. It's here to stay but I don't think it will work as well in Nottingham because it doesn't have that local knowledge.
"It's good for us to work together because it will help make us better than Uber."
John Spencer, owner of the 30-year-old A2B Cars in Hucknall, added: "If we do our job there's no reason to be frightened of Uber as every company has invested a lot of money in similar technology.
"The face of the taxi game has changed over the last five to six years and we believe the future is bright."
The Post contacted Uber for a comment but it did not respond.
Uber has become one of the most valuable start-up businesses in the world since it launched in 2009.
After being founded as UberCab by Travis Kalanick and Garrett Camp in San Francisco, it has grown to operate in 58 countries – and is now worth $50 billion.
The popularity of the company owes to its claim that it offers cheaper prices than rival taxi firms through efficiency.
It provides the nearest drivers and uses a centralised meter.
Passengers can book a minicab using a mobile phone app and registering a payment card, which is automatically debited after a taxi ride.
They input the time and address of their pick-up and can track the car journey on a map displayed on the screen of their phone.
Uber has attracted controversy because drivers don't have to be trained and licensed, with recent protests held by cabbies in London and Paris against the firm.
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