Three companies, Ecab.gy, Drop and iRide are seeking to “revolutionize” transportation services in Guyana through mobile apps that promise their users speedy access to safe, reliable and inexpensive taxis through just the tap of their smartphones.
Using models similar to billion-dollar US companies Uber and Lyft, the local companies are also aiming to provide employment for persons who they say can choose their own hours and work in the comfort of their own vehicles.
All three companies are seeking to take advantage of GPS navigation available to smartphone users to help users locate available cars nearby. Once the applications are downloaded and installed, users are required to create an account, after which they would be able to request a car.
“One tap and the nearest driver comes directly to you in minutes,” explained Ecab founder Charles Hutson, a former member of the Guyana Defence Force who told Stabroek News that the app connects customers to a host of drivers who provide affordable rides, anywhere and anytime.
Ecab beat its competitors to market as the Ecab.gy Passenger and Ecab.gy Driver apps went live earlier this month.
The company’s mission “is to provide customers with secure, reliable, professional and comfortable taxis in a timely fashion via our mobile and web applications, solving the ongoing issue of ‘hard-to-find’ and ‘long-to-arrive’ taxis, while simultaneously revolutionizing the traditional and monopolized taxi industry.”
Hutson noted that he decided to create the app after years of noticing the troubles people often face when trying to get a taxi. “Sometimes you call a taxi base and they tell you five minutes. Five minutes gone and you are still waiting for the taxi. Or at times the dispatcher say no taxi is available,” he said.
He said that he started to develop the app and after it got a bit difficult he had some friends overseas who helped. He said his cousin, Gerrard Miller, was a big help.
Hutson said the base fare starts at $260, with an additional $100 for every mile after the first two miles. He added that an additional charge of $8 per minute would also be applied for the duration of the ride. The app is also equipped with a calculator that automatically computes the rates.
Asked what percentage the driver makes, Hutson said they just pay a subscription fee to the company. “We provide a service to the drivers so they make 100%,” he noted.
Currently, Ecab only caters for cash payments but Hutson said the company is working to enable debit and credit card payments as well.
Addressing security, he said users of the app would be able to see the names and pictures of the drivers, the vehicle type and the registration number after they make a request for a cab. He also noted that drivers are carefully screened. “We are going to conduct background checks on all drivers. Anybody can sign on but until we approve the driver, they would not be able to use full features of the app and nobody would be able to see them,” he explained, while noting that drivers would need to submit police clearances, proof of address, licences and registration, TIN numbers and the fitness for their vehicles.
In addition, he said the company has a 24-hour support system for drivers and customers who might encounter problems with the application. He also said that it is preparing a proposal for the Guyana Police Force to provide support in the event of emergencies.
Asked whether the app is available for use countrywide, Hutson said the company is currently only offering its services in Georgetown. However, he added that within two months, it is hoping to expand its operation to Berbice and Essequibo. He pointed out that it would need to set up support bases in the other counties before it can begin operating there.
‘Uber of Guyana’
Another company Drop, which is branding itself as the “Uber of Guyana,” is aiming to launch in March. “Our aim is to transform the transportation industry in Guyana and bring it on par with the rest of the developed world,” Chief Executive Officer John Singh told Stabroek News, while adding that the company has been working with software engineers from the US, and Guyanese can “expect a world class product and rest assured of the quality and safety of the app they will be using.”
Drop, he explained, is a part of Social Gurus Inc, a United States-based company with Guyanese ownership.
According to Singh, the app is configured to deliver ride orders to the nearest available driver to users fairly quickly. “Users of Drop will no longer have to call a dispatcher, guess their waiting time and fares, not knowing who is picking them up or with what car, the app is built to show these features,” he said, while noting that GPS tracking, verified profiles for both passengers and drivers and a rating system would add layers of security for all.
He added that all drivers will be vetted and would be required to provide a valid police clearance before being accepted into the network. He said the company will take all steps to keep all of its users safe and the company would take all legal steps if necessary in any situation where a passenger or driver may be put at risk.
For Singh, the venture is not intended to compete with taxi services or freelance drivers operating in the across the city. “…We actually want to help them,” he stated, while noting that the service would allow drivers “to be their own boss, work on their own schedule and operate independently to earn while they drive. It’s their own little business. How much they invest is up to them.”
Currently, Singh said, the company is still negotiating rates but he assured that its prices would be competitive. “All users of the Drop app will be able to get an estimated fare of their ride before booking,” he said. A subscription rate for drivers is also still being considered, he added.
Like Ecab, Singh said Drop would also be expanding countrywide once its operations are up and running.
‘This is not a taxi business’
The developers of iRide, another software application that has been in the making for over eight months, would be offering more than just a transportation service to its users.
During an interview, owner Ravi Mangar, of Gizmos and Gadgets, and Chief Executive Officer Mellissa Davy explained that they are entering the market since they recognise that the transportation business in Guyana needs to be developed, with more reliable, safer and faster options. “We want to make things simple and this is just the start,” he said.
Mangar said Guyana is becoming a modern society, particularly with the government putting systems in place to boost the Information Communication Technology (ICT). He acknowledged the company was inspired by Uber but noted that it is customised to meet the needs of Guyanese public. “Our culture is not the same as in countries Uber operates, so we have developed the app from the ground and it is customised for Guyana and its culture,” he stated.
“This is not a taxi business… what you are doing is not just picking up passengers. Being part of iRide is not just about picking up and dropping off passengers. You would be shopping for customers as well… You are picking up packages from stores and deliver[ing] groceries, pharmaceuticals, food from restaurants,” he added, while explaining that the app is designed to accommodate the additional features.
He also said that they are working to get companies to sign on.
He noted that the company is working with almost 20 software developers from across the world to develop the application. “The app is designed to allow you to locate available vehicles that are in your area. When you accept the ride you are able to see how far away the ride is from you, the driver and the vehicle number. You are also able to leave comments after the ride and rate your experience,” Mangar said, while adding that the company has been trying to make sure it is perfect and that it works for Guyana.
Mangar said iRide’s rates are lower than other cab services as it would charge $100 per kilometer, while the drivers would be required to pay a commission.
Davy, who is a consultant in the customer service field, emphasised that before drivers start to operate under the company, they would undergo training in customer service. “We will be training the iRide family. We are going to be available at all times for our customers. If you had a bad experience, we are going address it. Customer service is a top priority,” she declared.
Davy went on to say that they would be working to change the labels associated with hire car drivers, who are seen as not being respectful to customers. “Our job is to change this culture and I am confident we can do it professionally,” she pointed out.
Asked about security for customers, both Mangar and Davy stressed that they would be conducting background checks, screening the drivers, and ensuring vehicles are in working condition and not in breach of the traffic laws. “Even though these vehicles would be owned by the drivers, we would have to ensure that the interior is pleasant and has a good smell, the engine and other parts are in working condition,” he noted.
Mangar emphasised that they would be working to ensure a standard is maintained. “Drivers who consistently get low grades would be removed from the service. They have to maintain a certain rating. If not, we make a decision if the driver stays or goes,” he explained.
Asked about the responses since the announcement of the operation, Davy said it has been overwhelming. “We have seen a lot of expressions of interest from females who welcome the part-time gesture and are willing to shop for clients,” she pointed out. She added that iRide believes in empowering women and she was happy that the company serves as an opening for them to be employed.
Davy noted that one of the main reasons why they started iRide was to create jobs. “We try to give people an opportunity for full-time or part-time [employment], it doesn’t have to be a full-time something. In this modern society, people look for secondary jobs. We are giving that opportunity,” she explained.
The company is gearing up to launch shortly and is currently recruiting drivers. Despite two potential competitors in Ecab and Drop, Mangar said iRide welcomes the competition. “This is the way forward… together we change the culture creating opportunities,” he added.
Challenges
While all three are supportive of efforts to move the ICT sector forward, they said the poor quality of the available internet service is a hindrance.
Hutson pointed out that while the telecommunications giant GTT has invested to boost data services, customers frequently complain of not being able to get quality internet reception. As a result, he said more should be done to improve the service.
Singh added that it is quite a challenge for any technology company to get started primarily because of the internet service.
“Another challenge is the fact that most Guyanese prefer to use cash over cards. I think for security reasons, Guyanese should embrace local debit and credit cards and use them more often,” Singh said.
He also called for some laws to be amended to further open up Guyana to the tech sector.
The CEO of Drop noted that a payment gateway for Guyana should be established where local banks can process credit card transactions without companies having to seek foreign sources to conduct their business.
In addition, Mangar said that with the rapid transformation of the ICT sector around the world and in Guyana, he would like to see internet in the hands of everyone.
When that happens, he opined, it will help to fix security issues and create jobs. “If we are looking to modernize, data service needs to be on point and be at a low cost for everyone,” he stressed.
The mobile software applications are available for download in the app stores for Android and iOS devices.