As the UK lifts Covid restrictions, how to gear your business for market

The United kingdom is returning to post-pandemic normality, with phased plans for business resuming as normal.

Regulations are being eased gradually but progressively. Various business sectors, including taxi and travel industries, can continue operations with no capacity restrictions, and measures such as wearing a mask and social isolation will be a matter of personal choice rather than a legal mandate, as they are now.

As public venues resume, the UK is already seeing increased demand for public transport, especially taxis. According to current estimates, the taxi industry will grow to £5.37 billion in 2022.

With new technologies that improve the customer experience, there has been a massive shift in how people use private hire taxi services worldwide. Recent findings by Taxi Butler highlight the change in passengers’ preferences for using taxi services, with an increase in demand in taxi bookings from venues around the globe.

However, for some taxi companies, making a comeback has been challenging. How should the industry address key issues?

ATTRACTING AND ENCOURAGING NEW DRIVERS

Skilled professional drivers are a taxi company’s brand ambassadors. The main goal of your driver, apart from getting the passengers to their desired destination, is to make their passengers feel safe and comfortable.

Stand out by providing enhanced packages to support new and existing drivers. The package could include paid sick leave, maternity/ paternity leave, and mental health counselling.

AUTOMATING YOUR CUSTOMER SUPPORT

Customer happiness is critical to a company’s long-term success. It is essential to get clients, but more crucial to retain them. Some taxi fleet owners are already providing customers with compelling reasons to prefer their cab service over others.

MAINTAINING A CONNECTION WITH LOCAL VENUES

All taxi companies aspire to maintain reliable connections with all venues. Taxi booking devices at local venues such as hotels, restaurants, commercial establishments and nightclubs assist in taxi bookings.

Taxi owners can tie up with local venues across the UK and provide offers, discounts, or occasional free lifts to frontline workers, police officers, or NHS staff. This is a fabulous way to give back to the community, also promoting business as a safe and ethical taxi service provider.

Many taxi providers have been providing free transport facilities for people struggling to get to a Covid vaccination site. And taxi companies are increasing investment in electric taxis that minimise environmental impact.

As local venues know your core business ethics and values, they trust you more, thus increasing your chance of generating more business from them. Making small changes such as the ones mentioned above indicate to customers and venues that your taxi company provides more than a basic taxi service. It is also a caring, responsible and green business.

ONLINE PRESENCE

The taxi industry must have a strong presence online and offline through various traditional and digital marketing approaches. The first step is to make a strong – and updated - presence online via your website and social media accounts.

Having a robust virtual presence is as important as your physical office. Make use of various social media sites to promote your cab business. To let people know about the quality of your services, post remarks from delighted clients on your company’s social media accounts.

The total number of social media users across the globe in 2019 was 2.77 billion and rising. Around 80% of the online population has made an online purchase. With targeted advertising and public relations, fleets and taxi owners can have higher chances of converting a prospective client.

TRADITIONAL BRANDING

The traditional branding of featuring the company logo on your vehicles is still a great way to reach more customers. Drive through hotspots or hub zones to make your presence known. Your company’s vehicles will stand out from the crowd with brightly coloured, eyecatching vehicle wraps.

It is a low-cost method of local advertising that can reach thousands of individuals. A recent study shows that 96% of respondents said fleet branding had a more significant impact than other outdoor advertising strategies. And the protection of a logo wrap, can also preserve your vehicle’s condition when the time comes to sell it.

In 2021 we saw a bumpy yet steady rise in taxi bookings worldwide. According to the Taxi Butler Industry Report, by the second quarter of 2022, the industry will have grown by 72.7%. With the lockdown easing in the UK, and the travel sector opening globally, the taxi booking industry is facing a confident future.

Laurence Docherty is head of sales at Taxi Butler contact@ taxibutler.com