Thanks to a new aggregator app, different app-based taxi apps such as Uber, Ola and TaxiForSure will all be available together. Loco Cabs, an app which collates data on cabs in the vicinity, was launched in April this year by Shalak Naik and Neha Bora,
"We started with the app showing the cabs available close by and then a few months ago we approached Uber and Ola (and TaxiForSure) to allow us to be able to facilitate their bookings as well," Naik told the
Economic Times.
The aggregator app has tied up with Paytm and CCavenue to facilitate payment and is in talks with Meru and Mega Cabs as well. Apart from cabs, they are also planning to add bus service.
"The immediate priority is India but then as the market matures, we'd like to be a platform for all your surface travel needs. When you need to travel, you should be able to get the cheapest and fastest option here," said Naik.
The company plans to add new verticals like carpooling, self-drive cars and shuttle bus services soon. It is also looking out to create international tie-ups, which would give it a global foot print, said the report.
Loco Cabs is already present in over 100 cities through Ola, TaxiForsure and Uber. For inter-city cabs it has presence in multiple markets through operators with pan-India license, said the report
There is a similar app called Niki, which lets users book cabs, pay bills, and so on. However, according to the report, Loco Cabs hopes to grab a larger share of the pie by staying focussed and going deeper into the urban transportation segment only.
The founders are also in talks with other operators such as Meru and Mega Cabs.
BW Reporters
The author is Senior Correspondent with BW Businessworld