What you don't know about Uber Eats, Taxify

As society rapidly shifts to an on-demand world it is amazing how technology is driving change in the way we live, work, procreate and play.

Uber Eats and Taxify are some of the disruptive technologies whose value proposition is convenience. We spoke to Caitlin Peters and Marilin Nooren who unpacked Uber Eats and Taxify, respectively.

1. UBER EATS

This is an American online food ordering and delivery platform launched by Uber in 2014 and based in San Francisco, California.

When did Uber Eats start in South Africa? Uber Eats was launched in 2017. The platform will celebrate its first birthday in September.

Who is the target audience?? The Uber Eats app is open to everyone.

Where is it accessible in South Africa? Uber Eats is available in Johannesburg and Cape Town, Stellenbosch, the West Coast and Pretoria.

Where does the company see itself in the next 5 years? In the next 5 years Uber Eats sees itself at the forefront of the techspace. The team is determined to push the boundaries to meet the changing needs of users.

Is the app user-friendly? Using the app is super easy. Wherever you are, whatever time it is, you can press a button and have great food delivered.

How does it work? 1. Download the app and add your delivery address. 2. Choose from the full menu of Cape

Town’s best restaurants. 3. Place your order and follow along as your meal is prepared and delivered!

Uber Eats automatically uses the card on file, so you never need cash. As there are a wide variety of restaurants partnered with Uber Eats the prices vary from meal to meal. However, there is a booking fee for Uber Eats at a flat rate of R20 no matter the basket size.

How does one become part of Uber Eats? The Uber Eats website has all the details for delivery partners or partner restaurants. The following requirements apply: • You must be 19 years old or older. • You must have a driver’s license, regular insurance, and proof of vehicle registration, 1 year of driving experience • Vehicle requirements: 1996 or newer for cities that allow EATS-only profiles.

Otherwise vehicle requirements are the same as UberX.

2. TAXIFY

Taxify is an Estonian international transportation network company headquartered in Tallinn, Estonia. It operates in 19 countries through a mobile app that allows people to request a taxi or private driver from their smartphone.

What is the criteria used to be a Taxify driver? All drivers must apply online and go through a training in Taxify’s office. All driver-partners need to have a professional driving permit. By law, one should be 21 years or older to hold a PrDP for a passenger vehicle. There is no maximum age limit to be a driver. One driver can register maximum two cars. Taxify is an IT-platform that mediates rides. Driverpartners drive their own cars as Taxify does not own a fleet.

How user-friendly is the app? Everyone with a smartphone and access to the internet can easily download and use the app. Taxify development and design team has put a lot of effort into making the app as user-friendly as possible and will continue to do so.

What methods of payment can one use? There are two payment methods: cash and in-app payment (credit card). Driver ratings are calculated based on the average rating of last 40 rides.

Are there areas where Taxify is not available if yes which areas are those? Taxify is currently available in Johannesburg, Cape Town and Durban. Plans are afoot to expand to new cities later in the year.

Any challenges to the business? Future plans? The speed of economic and technological changes can mean that the right path yesterday may not work today. Taxify’s business model is very flexible and dynamic.

The South African market holds massive potential given the size of the population and that over a million rides happen on a daily basis. Ultimately, we aim to change the way that people move within the city, create jobs and transform the transportation ecosystem. Competition is good and we believe there is room for several players in the ride-sharing economy. We believe that Taxify can effectively contribute to healthy competition by improving the quality of service, motivating driver-partners and offering affordable prices to riders. 