GPS-enabled taxi dispatch system launched

Recently, three taxi companies, Sturdy, R & E and Mabuhay Taxi (Davao City), launched the first Global Positioning System (GPS)-enabled taxi dispatching system in Philippines.

The integrated GPS-enabled taxi dispatching system will take job orders received from the call center and automatically assigns a passenger’s call for service to the nearest available taxis in the area.

Better taxi service

Taxi drivers can respond by placing their bid for the order as well as locate their prospective passengers through the GPS system. This results in faster response time from the point of order to passenger pick-up as well as better customer service.

According to SmartTaxi Dispatching Inc. managing director Michael Ranola, “the deployment of GPS system is aimed towards a better management and efficient usage of our taxi fleets. We also want to help our taxi drivers build a stronger and more stable income.

“With the GPS dispatching system, the income of taxi drivers can increase as much as 50 percent as they no longer need to drive around aimlessly to look for passengers or compete with other taxi drivers for the same passenger.”

In addition to that, the response from the taxi community toward the GPS enabled taxis has been encouraging since its introduction.

To date, more than 150 Sturdy and RE taxis have been fitted with the GPS system. By just paying a small monthly fee, taxi drivers can subscribe to the SmartTaxi Dispatching system and will be trained on

Mabuhay taxi owner Ryan Tan said that he is “encouraged to know that SmartTaxi Dispatching Inc. has taken steps to advance the taxi service in the country as well as improve the income of taxi drivers with the GPS system and taxi booking App.” One hundred taxis are currently operating under this system, with a hundred more taxis expected to join.

“At Sturdy and RE, we believe good taxi service comes about when taxi drivers are able to earn a decent income and our aim is to provide a quicker turn-around for taxi booking and a more efficient income generation for our taxi drivers,” said Sturdy Taxi president Jason Enriquez.

For more info, you may call 584-0661 or visit www.smarttaxi.ph.