Easy Taxi, Nigeria’s leading taxi booking application and Google (Nigeria), a multinational corporation specializing in Internet-related services and products, at the weekend, trained over 100 taxi drivers on the use of Google Map.
Easy Taxi is the largest taxi hailing app in the world. Present in 27 countries and increasing constantly, there are more than 90,000 drivers registered to the Easy Taxi network and over 3.5 million users worldwide.
Mr. Bankole Cardoso, chief executive officer and founder, Easy Taxi (Nigeria), told Nigeria CommunicationsWeek that the coaching session was spurred by the desire to make operations easier for both the drivers and the customers.
“Based on our findings that taxi drivers, registered with Easy taxi, on some occasions failed to locate their ways to pick up a customer. Google map as a user-friendly application we decided to work with the Google to get them improve services to our customers by educating our drivers on how to use the Maps.
“Definitely, it will make them to work more efficiently, save some litters of fuel, time and energy”.
He said, Easy Taxi hopes to replicate such gestures in other areas of its operations like Abuja (Nigeria) and Accra (Ghana). We have plans for more cities on the Continent.
The session, the coordinator said, would not distract the drivers.
Nodding in agreement, Mr. Adepolu Abiodun, business associate intern, Google Nigeria, who lectured the drivers, said that it will not distract them while driving due to the availability of “voice bar”.
In other words, they (the drivers) do not necessarily look at the map while driving. “Of course that feature in the map will tell them when to turn left or right. Google understands safety while driving”.
On how it will impact on their operations, he said, “Everywhere is location based. As a driver you do not know everywhere in Lagos or in Nigeria, but with Maps you have the directions on your palm. Although, every nooks and crannies may not be fully mapped, you can be sure of the entry and exit of Lagos. It covers 80% to 90% of where they may want to navigate. With the map you can choice alternative route when there is traffic gridlock.
Google had recently added five new features on its Map for seamless navigating.
The features are Real Time Traffic report; Related Results; Easy-to-View Review Information; Trip-Planning Tool and Rich Media that allows users to better explore the places they want to visit before actually going there.
“You can save the Map offline so that anything you do not have internet connectivity you can pull that up for usage,” Abiodun added.
One of the participants, Mr. Akinlawon Olugbenga, also said “Although, I have been using the Google Map to locate my way, especially in Lekki where there are a quite number of streets and the Mainland too, however, with today’s coaching session I am more enlightened on the usage.
“The challenges I have been encountering in the usage is the connectivity, but during the training, we were taken on the process on offline connections. Also, when the GPS in that area is not in order, the Map, usually, do not give you the ultimate services; today also, we were told how to navigate your way right from the business area or home.
“The usage to me is seamless and very helpful in the business we are doing. The smartness of the Map is such that it gives you directions ahead of time; measuring your journey, updating you on the distance ahead”.
He expressed delight that the application does not distract them while driving.
Speaking on other empowerment programmes the Firm had adopted to help the drivers, Cardoso said, for those who could ill-afford to purchase smartphone for easier use of the Map, Easy Taxi has provided them with options to buy on three installments through a partnership with mobile phone manufacturing company.
“We do not own any taxi, so any driver that registers with us is an Easy Taxi partner. They have identity card. We are hopeful that the process will restore customers’ confidence on the taxis, because safety is paramount to us. For any registered driver we have the plate-number, residential address, and other important bio-data; car hires number and convince it will give to people.
Another driver who was part of the training session, David Mark said, “I am glad to be part of this training. Easy Taxi and Google have actually added value to my business, because I have learnt how to use the Google Map better. Before, some of us (drivers) do not know how to operate the map to locate our way when a customer calls for services.
“With this training, I am sure Easy Taxi will be well-known within the vicinity. Also, our customers will not be disappointed as the case has been due to delays in locating the way”.
Easy Taxi was launched in Nigeria in July 2013 as leading free smartphone application that provides the safest, fastest and most convenient way of hailing a taxi in Lagos by connecting a network of registered drivers directly to customers.
Easy Taxi has become a safe and convenient way for people to book a taxi anywhere within Lagos, as it pioneered mobile taxi application services in Nigeria.