Taxi Driver Online

I have just been reading through the latest issue of Private Hire Monthly, and came across an article about a taxi utilising the text facility for customers to book a taxi.

The company in question is National Cars, Oakengates in Telford. I would love to know how this system works if anyone has any clues, or better still it would be great to hear from drivers who work at that office or anyone else who uses texts to book taxis.

Does anyone else think this is a good idea??

I think we have discussed it before. But I'm not that sure I'm a fan.

http://taxi-driver.co.uk/phpBB2/viewtopic.php?t=2280

Why would people text when they can just phone a number?

How many incorrect addresses are we going to get?

How many wind ups are we going to get?

And who in their right mind is going to text for a cab if they are in a rush, say to the station?

They will want to know exactly how long their cab will be (yeah about 10 foot ) else they might miss their train.

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IDFIMH

I was thinking that the SMS system to book a taxi would only be used when people are in a pub or a loud place when a normal phone conversation would not be able to take place.

Would'nt it cut down on 'bum runs' as you would have a phone number to make it easier to track down your fare. We have alot of 'bum runs' through the normal phone call system so surely text to book is not more likely to have people misusing it.

I just think its another string to the taxi bow and taking advantage of today's technology? Any thoughts people?

Has anyone booked a taxi using SMS or work for an office using SMS?

we use Auriga's text back. i can pull up outside a busy pub, and if it looks like it's going to be like trying to find a needle in a haystack, i can push a couple of buttons on the data pad and they fare gets sent a text telling them i'm outside waiting, what car it is, colour and reg number.

works a treat most of the time, unless they dont notice they've recieved a text ,

it also comes in handy for those 3am in the moring pick ups where you go to a big house and all you see on the door is 10 doorbells for all the flats. where before i might have gone back to the car and asked the office to give them a call i can now do it myself.

And no customer has thumped you because he has lost 25p credit on his phone because you have texted him without notifying him in advance?

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A member of the Hire or Reward Industry

i pay for the text

Really.

Sure Mr Preece isn't charging you and the customer.

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A member of the Hire or Reward Industry

no charge to the fare, that would be commercial suicide.

25p is a small price to pay if it ensures i get my fare and reduce my waiting times.

Daft question I know, but has anyone thought about getting Mr Preece to pay for it?

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IDFIMH

Think about it, busy Friday/Saturday night people can't get through on the phones, [edited by admin] rain perhaps?

I would take a bet that the company computer systems can process a lot more texts than telephone calls? You might not even need the staff to take the calls maybe just a couple of people processing the texts and the emails.

If your the customer what would you rather do, head for a rank and stand with the cattle or text from your mobile or maybe one of the nice new phone boxes with the email and text facilities, both maybe? The data unit will despatch the job just like any other job.


Who do you think has the most to gain from a system like this?


Everyone been keeping up with the new technology. Soon everyone will have smart phones and it won't be just texts but emails as well.

I wonder how long it will be before they can ping the siginal and give a location?

Wi-Fi connections are appearing all over the place. Laptops, Palms, Blackberry, Smart Phones.


What next?

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All animals are equal but some animals are more equal than others.
George Orwell, "Animal Farm"

We also got the new IVA automatic answering thing, where regular customers who's address details are already on the office system, just press 1 sraight after dialing our number, and the computer puts their address in to the booking system for a ASAP booking. saves a lot of missed calls at peak times.

and you'll still have backwards thinking HC drivers stilling at a rank in their 20 year old cab wondering why he's quiet and why the PH are busy as hell.

How long before Text, email, Postcodes Data units and Sat-Nav are all in one?


You text or email for a taxi you put in your home address or post code and maybe the address or post code of where you are going, it appears on the data unit and goes straight to the Sat Nav.

I will take a bet that someone is already working on it.


Message to all the Hacks out there. Don't worry it probably won't happen for at least 18 months the Ph won't use it and your market share will be as safe as houses. Not for getting your plate value.

You will still be able to bump about the streets in your Tx1 Tx 11 bucket competing with all the 6-8 seater Merc Vitos, Tuk-Tuks Rickshaws and God only knows what else.


Dream on!

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All animals are equal but some animals are more equal than others.
George Orwell, "Animal Farm"

Still want some info on how we (National Cars) use the Text ?

Kam-325i
National Cars Desk Operator.