How To Make An App Like Uber

By Author: Aleksandra Bessalitskykh
Total Articles: 1
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How to make an app like Uber? In many cases, any taxi app development involves creating an app like Uber. Mainly using their business processes and strategy as a basis.

You have certainly heard about the term “uberisation,” which comes from a taxi-hailing app Uber. Nowadays it is very succsesful because it reflects existing user behavior regarding efficient and economical transportation. Uber had earned more than $10 billion in revenue by the end of 2018. It was rated the second most disruptive innovation company worldwide.

Undoubtedly, Uber is the best taxi app on a global scale and is present in 600 cities across 65 countries. Despite competition from other similar apps, the company is still the major player in the ridesharing market.

How Does the Uber App Work?

The Uber service employs a free, downloadable iOS and Android mobile application that connects passengers and riders 24/7. These days, Uber serves 75 million users with 15 million rides per day globally.

Each trip request is directed to Uber drivers who use their personal vehicles. The closest car can reach you within a few minutes, ...
... while parties are aware of each others’ location.

The Uber app includes 5 sub-steps which are important to clarify from the customer perspective, namely:

Step 1. Creation of a trip request with the end destination. The user can observe the upfront pricing of a trip’s fare, which is also based on vehicle type among Uber categories.
Step 2. Verification of the trip. User confirms the data and the pickup location.
Step 3. Matching up with the nearby available driver. On their end, a driver can accept or decline a request.
Step 4. Payment process is done automatically in-app after the ride is complete. Beforehand, the user adds a credit or debit card, PayPal account, ties Android or Apple Pay, etc. User may also change the default tip for the taxi service.
Step 5. Rating is requested after each taxi ride and is a core component of Uber app business logic.

Uber app calculates the ride fares by combining time and distance indicators. If the vehicle is driving less than 11 mph (18km/h), the rider is charged per minute. If the car is moving faster, then the charge is per mile.

How to Make an App Like Uber: Functionality

If you want to make an app like Uber, it is important for you to understand the main components of this system. Every taxi service depends on the development of two distinct apps with unlike functionality which are interconnected with the help of an admin panel.

Besides, to build a taxi app booking service as a simple website, would be a fantastic idea which would help to gather interested users and driver requests for participation in the platform.

The main features for creating an app like Uber for the customer application are:

- Registration is possible with the help of email, Facebook, phone number with verification. Social media is the most widely used implementation of this feature.
- Taxi Booking is the feature which is represented on the screen for entering the address, selection of car type, and set pickup location.
- Fare Calculator helps the customer to check the price for a ride beforehand. It is a complex feature to implement on the backend side of the system.
- Driver Tracking is used for the observation of the driver’s movement to make updates during or after the journey.
- Payment can be done in many variants like in-app payment via credit cards, or simply in cash.
- Push Notifications are key features for informing which keeps passenger up-to-date with trip request status, driver arrival time, driver and car details, etc.
- Messaging helps to contact the driver from the app.
- Driver Rating & Review - evaluate the service (driver, vehicle, trip, etc.).
- Travel History - shows details from previous rides and transactions.
- Customer Support

The complete feature-list in a driver’s taxi app development includes:

- Driver Profile & Status - verification process of a driver should be done from the administrator side of things (license, vehicle insurance etc). Status will inform as to the availability of a driver.

- Trip Alert - ability to receive trip orders to accept or deny, including information regarding passenger’s location, route, travel history.

- Push Notifications - used for alerts, taxi app booking information (location, route, payment etc.), trip changes, and completion.

- Navigation & Route Optimization - offer the best trip route using Google Maps.

- Driver Delivery Reports - provides statistical information regarding trips and earnings on a daily/ monthly basis.

- Messaging - texting or calling to a passenger from the app.

In order to organize and control all of the driver's processes, as well as keep track of customer satisfaction, a central control point is required.

Thus, the high-level set of functions within an admin platform for Uber-like service includes:

- Locations & Fares Management
- Driver & User Management
- Booking Management
- Vehicle Management
- Review Driver’s Orders & Payoffs
- Check Ratings & Reviews
- Notifications Management
- System Content Management & FAQ
- Promotions & Discounts Management
- Driver & User Support
- Integration with Google Analytics

The main idea is not to build an Uber clone, but one more successful web & mobile app project.

Follow this article to find out more about how to make an app like Uber.

I work at MLSDev which is one of the Top 10 European IT companies in mobile and web app development, UI/UX and consulting. The company works with famous international brands providing a full range of app development services. My job includes such responsibilities as content development and social media marketing. It's a pleasure for me to make the digital world closer to people and work for a company that gives me an opportunity to develop professionally.