Watch above: A Saskatoon taxi company is making it easier for people to track the progress of the car being sent to their home on a phone. Aaron Streck takes a look at a new app introduced at United Cabs and finds out how effective it is.
SASKATOON – Waiting for a taxi can typically mean continuously looking out the window and maybe even calling back to see if it’s on the way. A new app launched by United Cabs aims to make it easier for people to track the progress of the taxi being sent to their home.
“I snoop it sometimes to see whether other cars are in the zone and that,” said United Cabs driver Murray Hume.
When Hume started driving cabs in 1981, he took his orders from voice dispatch. Things have changed over the decades.
“Back in the old days you had to call for help, there was no GPS lock on cars, so if you actually couldn’t tell the office where you were, well you were in trouble. Now they know bang where you are,” said Hume.
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After several months of upgrading their dispatch and in-car phone systems, United Cabs launched its new mobile app, allowing customers to book a taxi using their smart phone.
“What it does is shows a map of where you are in the city or where you need to be picked up, it does show if there are cabs available and then once a cab accepts your trip, on the map of your phone you will see the taxi driving right to you,” said Troy Larmer, general manager of The United Group.
Getting through to dispatch, particularly at Christmas, used to be half the battle. Hume said the new app should alleviate that problem.
“People will be able to get through easier to the cab company now, they won’t have to call on their phone and sit there on hold for 10 to 15 minutes” said Hume. “Some people once they go on hold, click and phone the other company. This way, bang, ordered, done, no messing around.”
“You’re not running to the window to check or you’re not looking out the doors or anything like that, you know when it arrives, you don’t have to risk the possibility of potentially missing it,” said Larmer.
United Cabs launched the free app two weeks ago in all 90 fleet vehicles. Phase one relays everything from who your driver is to when that driver is at your door.
Phase two will allow payments to be made with smartphones.
The United Cabs app can be downloaded from the Apple Store or Google Play Store.
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