Taxi tech firm passes three billion bookings milestone

Cheadle technology company Autocab has surpassed an aggregated three billion bookings via its cloud-based software as it continues to provide taxi firms across the UK with the tech to transform themselves into global booking platforms.

This number comprises a recent milestone of one billion bookings through Autocab’s automated call-handling system, Phantom 3, since its launch in 2014, as well as web and app-based bookings.

In total, the company’s technology now powers 52% of the private hire and taxi market in the UK.

Its fastest-growing booking platform is the iGo network – once signed up, local firms can provide passengers with a branded app, which they can download and use to order a taxi anywhere they travel.

More than 80,000 vehicles are already on the iGo network in the UK, with coverage spanning big cities as well as hundreds of smaller towns and villages.

The network enables traditional taxi firms to compete with newer entrants to the market, such as ride-hailing apps Uber and Lyft, who only have a presence in cities and larger towns.

Established in 1991, Autocab underwent a three-year transition from an in-cab hardware provider to a software as a service (SaaS) company in 2015, after recognising a need for software solutions that could futureproof the private hire industry.

Since then the company’s SaaS revenue profits have been growing exponentially year-on-year.

“In the face of Uber’s disruption, software such as that powering the iGo Network is playing a crucial role in uniting the taxi industry and connecting smaller firms together,” said Autocab’s chief executive Safa Alkateb.

“The iGo passenger app is really easy for customers to use, especially those who are already familiar with ride-hailing apps, while the network’s coverage is second to none – it now covers more than 90% of the UK and we expect that figure to reach 100% by the end of 2019.”

Autocab’s technology is also ensuring taxis are at the forefront of the next transport revolution. In years to come the emergence of Mobility as a Service (MaaS) will enable us to access all our transport on-demand.

“Eventually, we’ll be using a single app to fulfil our end-to-end journeys, across multiple modes of transport,” Safa said.

“So for the transport network to run seamlessly, operators will need to be connected. Our technology is putting the taxi industry one step ahead in this respect.”