IoT and The Ridesharing Industry
The Internet of Things (IoT) has proven beneficial not only for consumers but also for business owners. According to Digitalist Magazine, because cars are connected through their devices, a significant amount of data about driver behaviour and safety can be obtained through the use of IoT. IoT enables management to evaluate and monitor their drivers in real-time using GPS tracking, as well as to determine whether there is room for improvement or instances of infractions like speeding or overdriving.
Uber is a ridesharing app that doesn’t need any introduction. Uber Fleet, an app that enables fleet partners to grow their business with their driver-partners, has strengthened the IoT features in this app. Fleet managers may monitor the performance indicators of their drivers in great detail with the Uber Fleet app.
In essence, Uber is able to use the IoT data because of its business strategy. Uber assists in matching the appropriate passenger with the appropriate driver by utilising data such as the passenger’s and driver’s location as well as the mode of payment.
By giving the user additional authority, the app enables a whole new level of customer interaction. Additionally, the app’s business strategy opens up a new IoT value chain. By putting itself in the way of the product producer and the service operators that use it, ridesharing has positioned itself as a service facilitator.
Many ridesharing firms have been expanding their service offerings as a result of the Internet of Things’ immense potential. For example, Lyft and Uber have entered the healthcare sector and are planning transportation services for healthcare facilitators, according to an article by The Washington.
Over the past few years, the ridesharing sector has steadily grown as more and more users from all over the world have discovered the benefits of getting a ride when and when they need it for a reasonable price.
Because of this progress, more and more companies are entering the market. Although the importance of IoT in the industry has already been mentioned in passing, let’s take a closer look at how IoT is affecting ridesharing and improving the customer experience.
Role of IoT in Ridesharing
Oversee Drivers in Real-Time
IoT is being used in ridesharing, among other things, to monitor drivers. With such a large fleet of cars, it becomes imperative to monitor whether the drivers are using them properly and to make sure there are no infractions. This is made feasible by the Internet of Things, which gives businesses access to a wealth of information about the driver’s behaviour through linked gadgets. Companies can monitor activities in real-time and make sure that things like overspeeding or unjustified cancellations of passengers are not happening by using GPS and other programmes.
Furthermore, performance metrics also make it easy to determine whether driver safety may use any further enhancement. With all the information gathered, the employers will be able to determine whether their drivers are working excessively long shifts without taking adequate breaks. This is because driving is one of the most dangerous vocations when it comes to exhaustion.
Enhanced Maintenance of Vehicles
For all ride-hailing firms, cars represent one of their largest and most valuable investments, therefore maintaining and protecting them is vital. When it comes to improving car maintenance, IoT shows to be an invaluable tool. Companies may more easily manage fleet performance and identify problems early thanks to the onboard diagnostic ports and programmes installed in automobiles. This helps prevent any hassles, such as a car breaking down while travelling.
IoT-derived data can also be used to analyse factors like fuel use and idle time, which can save expenses and relieve drivers of the burden of routine reporting.
Travel Efficiency
Enabling travel efficiency is another way that IoT is giving rideshare businesses a competitive advantage. Drivers can spend more time focusing on getting to and from destinations since electronic logging devices, which eliminate the need for drivers to manually enter their hours and routes, are mandated for the vehicles.
Furthermore, drivers are able to obtain real-time information on roads to avoid traffic and take faster routes thanks to GPS systems’ interaction with apps and other software regarding factors like traffic conditions, congestion, roadworks, or accidents. In addition to improving client happiness and saving time, this also allows drivers to take on more rides throughout the day.
Partnership Opportunities
These days, a lot of ride-hailing companies collaborate with events and brands to grow their company. Uber and Lyft, as I just indicated, are already attempting to adopt this strategy. For instance, both organisations are adopting IoT for expansion into the healthcare industry. An example of this is Uber Health which is a dashboard that lets health institutions to organise rides for their patients without charge. These attributes are offered to undertake the affairs of patients who frequently tend to miss their medical visits.
Uber has also cooperated with the music streaming services Pandora as well as Spotify for providing a pleasurable riding experience for its passengers, who are allowed to construct their own playlists through the Uber app.
Tipping Drivers
A successful and engaging user experience allows businesses to prosper and drivers to get larger tips, which in turn enhances their pleasure. It’s made possible by IoT. With upgraded and user-friendly tipping methods, owing to internet-connected devices, frequent and high tipping becomes more probable.
For ridesharing companies, the Internet of Things (IoT) has been bolstering operations and opening up a multitude of opportunities. Naturally, there is always room for these companies to grow, which is why a lot of third-party applications are being looked for to address different problems.
