Uber-like app creation? Most taxi booking app development includes designing an Uber-like app, right? Especially when leveraging their company processes and strategy.

Uber-derived “uberisation” is probably familiar to you. Reflecting user behavior for efficient and affordable transport, the company succeeded. Uber dominates ride-sharing in 10,000 cities in 71 countries after 12 years.

The company remains a leader despite competition from other cab booking apps. Lyft, Bolt, Curb, Gett, Grab (for Southeast Asia), DiDi (for Brazil, Mexico, and Asia), Ola Cabs (OL), Didi Chuxing, and others are Uber alternatives.

Uber made $31.8 billion in 2022, up 82% from 2021. Ride hailings accounted for half the revenue and 68% of the US market. The app rebounded well from the coronavirus pandemic.

This article discusses developing an Uber-like app and how the sharing economy might help other applications and digital businesses.

• Business plan for Uber-like app
• Passenger, driver, and admin panel functionality for Uber-like apps
• Uber’s unique tech stack
• Taxi app revenue streams
• Uber creation cost?
• Uber-like app creation steps

How Does the Uber App Work?

Let’s examine Uber’s app operations before diving into how to develop one.

Garrett Camp, his buddies, and Travis Kalanick, an experienced advisor, constructed the initial Uber prototype with rudimentary functionalities. Uber launched on iOS in 2010. The app reached 6,000 users and 20,000 rides in six months, which is outstanding.

Tech events and San Francisco trial trips helped Uber attract riders and drivers. The tech-savvy metropolis makes living easier whenever possible.

This ride-hailing service connects riders and passengers 24/7 with a free iOS and Android app. Today, Uber has 3.9 million drivers serving 75 million customers in 65 countries.

Uber drivers use their cars for each trip request. While parties know each other’s whereabouts, the closest car can reach you in minutes.

Uber’s 5 sub-steps are crucial for customers.

Let’s first look at Uber’s app to see how to develop one:

• Step 1. Trip request with the destination. A trip’s upfront fare is based on Uber category and car type.
• Step 2. Trip confirmation. Confirms info and pickup location.
• Step 3. Finding a nearby driver. Drivers accept or reject requests.
• Step 4. After the Ride, the app pays. The user adds a credit card, PayPal account, Android or Apple Pay, etc., beforehand. Change the taxi service’s default tip.
• Step 5. Uber app business logic requires a rating after each taxi ride.

Uber has also split into the following categories to meet consumer needs:

• UberX—the cheapest option
• UberSELECT is more luxurious than UberX.
• UberBlack—a luxury ride for up to 4 people
• UberXL: a budget alternative for 6 people.
• UberSuv: more luxurious than UberXL.
• UberLux—Uber’s most premium service
• UberPool—the ride-sharing software to divide the cost with other travelers
• UberASSIST & WAV—a car service for disabled people

Step-by-Step Uber App Creation

We want to clarify the project concept conception and implementation process before we start building an Uber-like app.

Tips for creating an Uber-like app include:

• Build a business model on market demand for your Uber-like app.
• Create your Uber-like service based on demographics and target customer needs.
• Define your Uber-like app’s USP and why it’s vital to establish a service like Uber.
• Determine app features and platforms.
• Hire skilled mobile app developers.

Uber-like app development is a long-term commitment and liability, so learn from user comments and make modifications.

For Uber-like projects, MLSDev may be a cost-effective offshore software development business. On-demand economy services and complicated app development are our specialties.

Making an Uber-like App: Functionality

You must grasp the system’s primary components and technology stack to create an Uber-like taxi booking software. Any taxi service needs two apps with different functions connected by an admin panel.

A landing page taxi app booking service is another good concept. This would assist in gathering platform participant requests from interested users and drivers.

Let’s determine what features each service portion needs to construct an Uber-like app.

Also See: Building a Successful Uber Clone App: Key Features and Development Guide

Passenger Features in Apps Like Uber

Uber App Features for Passengers

• Email, Facebook, and verified phone number registration. Social media uses this function the most.
• Taxi Booking – the screen function for entering an address, car type, and pickup location.
• Fare Calculator—customers can estimate ride costs. This backend feature is difficult to build.
• Driver Tracking – function to track the driver during and after the trip.
• Payment: cashless, in-app credit card, PayPal, or cash.
• Push notifications inform passengers about trip request status, driver arrival time, car details, etc.
• App-based driver messaging.
• Driver Rating & Review: service evaluation (driver, car, trip).
• Travel History: last rides and transactions.
• Customer Service

These advanced app development features can be added:

• Pickup Location—passengers can automatically find a driver depending on their Location.
• Offer transportation cancellation within a certain timeframe.
• Split Payment: Share a ride with friends.
• Interactive Map allows real-time viewing of all taxis.
• Later Ride lets clients reserve a ride at a specific time.
• Book for Other lets travelers books for a friend or relative from their account.
• Gamification and discounts—stars, badges, offers, coupons, codes, etc.—increase consumer acquisition and retention.
• Taxi app voice recognition.
• Users can add their requests to a waiting list during peak hours.
• The “panic” button should be added for passenger safety.

Driver Functionality in Apps Like Uber

Log-in, notifications, messaging, reviews, and support are similar to Uber-like driver apps.

Uber Functionality for Drivers

• Want to develop an Uber-like driver app? Taxi driver app development features include:
• Driver Profile & Status – administrator verification of driver’s license, car insurance, etc. Status shows driver availability.
• Trip Alert—accept or decline trip orders with passenger location, route, and travel history.
• Push Notifications: alerts, booking information (location, route, money, etc.), trip updates, and completion.
• Google Maps navigation and route optimization.
• Driver Delivery Reports: daily/monthly trip and earnings statistics.
• Messaging—texting or calling passengers from the app.

Uber has advanced features:

• Driver Destinations—drivers can choose rides with their desired destinations.
• Quest Earnings—drivers earn more by completing the pre-defined number of trips.
• Waiting Time—passengers are charged extra for travel cancellations or wait times beyond 5 minutes.
• Heat Maps can be contrasted to a demand viewpoint on a map to help drivers plan their routes and migrate to areas with more passengers.
• Forward Dispatch lets drivers take another trip while finishing the current one.

Uber Admin Panel

A central control point is needed to manage driving processes and customer satisfaction. Thus, a web-based admin panel for Uber should manage customers, drivers, orders, locations, payments, payouts, and other business activities.

An Uber-like admin platform’s high-level functions include the following:

• Locations and Pricing
• Driver/User Management
• Booking Management
• Car Management
• Driver Orders & Payoffs
• Review Ratings
• Notification Management
• FAQ & Content Management
• Discount Management
• Driver/User Support
• Google Analytics

Uber App Technologies

How to develop an Uber-like app technically? This section covers taxi booking app development technology.

1. Geolocation

Taxi booking apps leverage geolocation. Any Uber-like app relies on mapping and navigation:

iOS’s CoreLocation framework; Android’s Google Location APIs.

MapKit for iOS guides drivers from A to B. Android uses Google Maps API.

The iOS and Android apps include Google Maps. Uber may also use other mapping tools.

2. Push Messaging

App Push Notification & Messaging is another important technical aspect. From passenger requests to driver acceptance, ride cancellations, etc., Uber applications communicate.

App developers can send text messages using Twilio. On iOS, utilize Apple Push Notifications Service; on Android, use Google Cloud Messaging (GCM).

Since push notifications can be missed if the device is offline, SMS notifications are just as crucial to integrate. SMS warnings notify users of message success.

3. Paygate Integration

Uber needs payment gateway integration. Uber-like apps should use card payments to avoid human error. Payment integration requires meeting country data security requirements. US PCI (Payment Card Industry Data Security Standards) exists.

Braintree (used by Uber) or Stripe (used by Lyft, its main US competitor) can be used to add payment capability.

4. Pre-book a Ride

This sophisticated feature delays work. Uber recently added this feature, which might be an excellent USP for your first Uber-like app.

Sidekiq in Rails or comparable platforms could be used for this feature. Thus, the task is “order a taxi on Tuesday at 10 am at a particular address,” and the taxi service will receive the request at that Time. This helps travelers plan.

5. Cost Estimate

Customers can estimate journey costs with this service. Capable engineers can build this algorithm. Theoretically, the entire cost calculation is as follows:

Car delivery cost + (1 km x difference) x driver availability factor

Uber’s car model also affects service fares.

6. Request a Ride

Creating an Uber-like app is easy with this functionality. You can order taxis for family members in your profile. This person will then receive a taxi booking SMS.

How to Make an App Like Uber: Tips

How to develop an Uber-like app that succeeds. Creating an Uber clone app is illogical and unlikely to make you rich.

First, decide whether to create an Uber-like taxi app or an on-demand project. Develop a local taxi-hailing app. That would require working with taxi companies or drivers.

Uber opened its API. This API can be used in several fields.

For services like:

• On-demand beauty industry
• Health care
• Transport services
• Local grocery delivery
• Online retailer delivery
• On-demand house cleaning

Making an app like Uber user-friendly and appealing is just as important as technical implementation. UX/UI Design applies here. Uber design guidelines:

• Comfortable use
• Easy taxi booking app flow
• Eye-catching graphics

Uber-like App Revenues

Your Uber-like app development should include a revenue mechanism. Uber uses drivers with their cars instead of a car park.

Rides generate profit, and the Uber ride calculator uses one or more factors:

• Uber’s base fare depends on car type and Location.
• Mileage cost
• GPS-derived minute costs
• Booking charge (or safe riding fee)—covers some operational costs.

Uber’s dynamic pricing approach was initially criticized. Surge pricing is based on traffic, driver availability, holidays, etc. Airbnb, hotel booking sites, and others with limited supply use this type of pricing since people are willing to pay more.

Uber-like app monetization:

• Commission from drivers
• Trip fares from passengers
• Charges from trip cancellation

Uber-like app development

As you can see, designing an app like Uber is no minor work, but if you structure it properly, it becomes a simple process with minimal disruption over each cycle.

This method helps anyone willing to invest Time, effort, and money in a market that could benefit from a ride-sharing app or another location-based on-demand service.

 

Also Read: How To Build A Parking App: Steps, Features, Cost