Ridesharing truly is the future of transport, with the industry expected to grow exponentially in the coming years due to declining car ownership and a focus on being more eco-friendly with the way we travel. Long gone are the days of trying to hail a cab on busy streets and being overcharged by opportunistic drivers - nowadays finding a ride is cheaper, easier, and kinder to the environment than ever.
And it’s not just the Ubers and Lyfts of the world who can benefit from this growth. Smaller-scale ridesharing initiatives are a great chance for any entrepreneurs looking for their next venture or larger organizations looking for a transport solution.
From software to personnel, here’s everything you need to know about starting a ridesharing business.
First, Find The Demand
To start a ridesharing business, first and foremost, you need to find yourself a market. In terms of wide-ranging ridesharing businesses that function like taxis used to, the market is pretty saturated. With the likes of Uber and Lyft dominating the streets, it’s better to find yourself a niche. Whether it’s in a neighbourhood that Uber or Lyft don’t cover, or a smaller ridesharing initiative for a business or college, there are many opportunities to offer a ridesharing solution to people.
Next, You’ll Need The Right Software
Ridesharing doesn’t work without technology - so you need to get yourself the right software to manage and operate your ridesharing business on. Specifically, you’ll need an application to help you create an end-to-end service for customers and drivers alike. Luckily, there are companies out there that offer this software and enable you to customize your app with branding and other personalization options to really make it your own. You can let passengers drivers create their own profiles, complete with preferences and needs to provide maximum transparency and safety for all.
With hygiene and cleanliness taking centre stage during the coronavirus pandemic and not setting to fade into the background any time soon, it’s something to consider adding into your app experience. You can show riders when the vehicle has last been cleaned and offer sanitizing products to help give them some peace of mind too.
Now You Need Drivers
Whether your drivers are colleagues or outsourced personnel that you employ specifically for your ridesharing program, you need to get the right people on board. Once you have them ready to drive and pick up passengers, you can plan the launch of your ridesharing service.
It’s Time For Launch!
Once the rideshare app is up and running, your drivers are prepped and ready to go and your audience needs a ride, it’s time for launch. Whether you are a college offering rides to students or a neighbourhood program getting people around to appointments and jobs,
Of course, in the context of the coronavirus pandemic, there are a few things that will make your ridesharing initiative slightly different. From transparent and rigorous cleaning protocols to offering protective personal equipment to drivers and hand sanitizing stations in your vehicles, remember to add these touches in to keep everyone safe and feeling at ease.
