A Complete technical guide to develop an app like Uber: Cost and Features

For any industry, there are changes that show occasional flickers now and then, there are changes that create revolutions. Even better are those revolutionary changes that result in better processes and better profits. This is precisely what mobile applications did to the transportation industry at large and the cab industry to be specific.

The good news is that the industry is still wide and open for opportunities. It means that an aspiring entrepreneur can create a business like Uber and not just survive but also be successful and profitable!

Startup an Uber-like app in this ever-growing industry by researching the cost and features of taxi applications.

The essential features

To make an app like Uber, there are a few features that are considered inevitable by all means. Let us look at the details of these features and how it can be incorporated in the application.

Geolocation and direction

GPS that was once confined to the military and aviation has now been made a feature of almost every smartphone. It is this small step that ensured the gargantuan success of Uber and other location-based on-demand applications.

This should be the first feature that should be considered when creating your app like Uber. In addition to GPS, your app will also need to take advantage of the mapping and navigation systems provided by the two big mobile ecosystems-iOS and Android. The combination of GPS and mapping ensures that the driver does not face any difficulty reaching the location of the user and in reaching the destination as well.

The services provided by Google Maps for Android and Core Location for iOS can come in handy to incorporate the mapping features in your app.

Digital payments

Another revolution that aided the growth of on-demand applications is digital payments. Your users should be able to make their payments either by using cash or digital payment methods.

Apps like Uber have their own cost calculation engine that provides an accurate estimation of the ride even before it starts. The cost is estimated using a host of factors like the type of vehicle, the base fare, the cost per minute, the cost per kilometer, the traffic and the demand.

Since cashless payments are in vogue, your cab app needs to be integrated with payment service providers like PayPal or Braintree. This ensures that your app is flexible enough to accommodate multiple payment instruments like credit cards, debit cards, internet banking, and wallets. In the future, it might not be surprising if cab applications start to accept even cryptocurrency.

When creating an app like Uber, you should consider giving your customers the digital payments as the priority option.

Push notifications

Communication is key when it comes to apps that work passively – the entire matching and assigning of the driver happen without the knowledge of the user, and it is important for the user to be informed about the progress. One of the best methods to communicate on a smartphone is to use push notifications. This ensures that a user does not miss out on the vital elements of communication like the confirmation of the cab booking and the arrival of the driver to their pickup point.

For Android, FCM (Firebase Cloud Messaging) takes care of these notifications. For iOS by Apple, APN (Apple Push Notification) is used by apps like Uber. It might not take a lot of time and might not cost a lot, but it is considered to be one of the most important features because if your users are not notified about what matters to them, your brand and your services are bound to suffer a lot.

The three features listed above are the ones that need third-party assistance. You will need to use mapping and notification services provided by players like Apple and Google. The same goes for payment services and for providers like PayPal. The features that we will discuss from now on are the features that are present within the app itself.

Creation of profiles

Both the user and the driver need to create their profiles and register for the services/job without any hassle. The user can be made to log in using their Google or Facebook credentials. The driver side of the application, on the other hand, might be a bit complicated because the driver should be able to establish their identity. They will need to provide a valid proof of identity, a photograph, and the details of the car that they will drive.

Although the feature might seem trivial, it is one of the most important steps in ensuring that you capture all the rides of the user and the rides provided by a driver. The review and rating system would not be complete without a proper profile.

Scheduling of rides

We always tend to equate on-demand with instantaneous requirements! There might be instances of a passenger wanting a scheduled ride in case of business trips or occasions or airport transfers. Given the circumstances, the passengers should be able to book a ride in advance. This ensures that your app stays on the minds of people not only during instant requirements but even during planned requirements.

Conclusion

It is quite evident that an app like Uber is a grand culmination of an intuitive front-end, robust backend, and impeccable design. You can choose to build an app like Uber by either hiring your own team of developers or by partnering with an app development company.