App for ordering Tuk Tuks?
App for ordering Tuk Tuks?
What do people think about an app for ordering Tuk Tuks? Would you use it? What would the challenges be in implementing this? Thanks for any feedback.
What a fucking dumbass idea. Seriously, do you have porridge for brains?
Firstly, how would tuk tuks know they have been ordered? Do you think there is some kind of centralised operations headquarters, or would you perhaps issue iphones to every tuk tuk driver in town?
Secondly, you can't spit in this town without it hitting a tuk tuk driver. Why would you need to order one?
Seriously, what on earth are you thinking?
Firstly, how would tuk tuks know they have been ordered? Do you think there is some kind of centralised operations headquarters, or would you perhaps issue iphones to every tuk tuk driver in town?
Secondly, you can't spit in this town without it hitting a tuk tuk driver. Why would you need to order one?
Seriously, what on earth are you thinking?
Scooby answered your first question, so I'll answer your second: NOblt2hel wrote:What do people think about an app for ordering Tuk Tuks? Would you use it? What would the challenges be in implementing this?
Maybe someone will come along and answer your third question.
Good luck.
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- MerkinMaker
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Someone pitched this as an idea a Startup Weekend Cambodia. I'm not sure how far they progressed with it. I think it could work if you built an Uber (https://www.uber.com/) style business model that was modified to work in countries with informal transport networks as you have in this region. You would need the drivers and the passengers to have smart phones with your app.
Process:
1. Travellers put departure location, destination and time of departure, choice of transport in the app
2. Drivers in vicinity (known from GPS on their phone) are made aware of the request and can submit a price (also view reviews of passenger from other drivers)
3. Traveller chooses driver from submitted bids based on price and existing user ratings of driver
4. Traveller can see on the app where there chosen driver is
5. Driver picks up traveller
6. Upon completion of the journey both parties mark the journey as complete and company moves credit from travellers account to drivers account minus 15%
7. After trip both driver and passenger can rate each other
Uber has already proven this model to work in the West, the challenge is adapting it to developing countries, the biggest problem will be payment. With no credit cards you would likely need a pre-pay system as you have with mobile phone top-ups. You might even be able to integrate with mobile money providers such as Wing.
The first thing you would need to do is prove these assumptions:
1. People have trouble finding tuk-tuks/moto/taxis etc
2. Drivers already have smart phones or would invest in one if they think they could get more work.
3. Passengers would be willing to pre-buy credit.
4. Drivers are capable of following instructions provided to them by phone.
5. Review system is enough to ensure quality control.
If you were able to make the model work in Phnom Penh you could then scale up to other population centres with informal transport networks in the region.
Process:
1. Travellers put departure location, destination and time of departure, choice of transport in the app
2. Drivers in vicinity (known from GPS on their phone) are made aware of the request and can submit a price (also view reviews of passenger from other drivers)
3. Traveller chooses driver from submitted bids based on price and existing user ratings of driver
4. Traveller can see on the app where there chosen driver is
5. Driver picks up traveller
6. Upon completion of the journey both parties mark the journey as complete and company moves credit from travellers account to drivers account minus 15%
7. After trip both driver and passenger can rate each other
Uber has already proven this model to work in the West, the challenge is adapting it to developing countries, the biggest problem will be payment. With no credit cards you would likely need a pre-pay system as you have with mobile phone top-ups. You might even be able to integrate with mobile money providers such as Wing.
The first thing you would need to do is prove these assumptions:
1. People have trouble finding tuk-tuks/moto/taxis etc
2. Drivers already have smart phones or would invest in one if they think they could get more work.
3. Passengers would be willing to pre-buy credit.
4. Drivers are capable of following instructions provided to them by phone.
5. Review system is enough to ensure quality control.
If you were able to make the model work in Phnom Penh you could then scale up to other population centres with informal transport networks in the region.
i think its common knowledge in asian places, that pre-ordering a tuktuk is one the stupidest things to do, as in 90% of the cases they just wont show up, even if you have negiotated a very good price for THEM...
and so it will work with your enterprise... they will have engine trouble, wife got sick, police stopped them and whatever else...
instead of your "prepaid" tuktuk another tuktuk will show up and pick up the guys, well knowing about place/time...
the guests will be surprised, but hey - the tuktuk driver knows also the destination,will have some "friends" there, perhaps a guy in police dress, and and and and and... they will cash in double and triple...
perhaps you try a tuktuk before developing the app...
and so it will work with your enterprise... they will have engine trouble, wife got sick, police stopped them and whatever else...
instead of your "prepaid" tuktuk another tuktuk will show up and pick up the guys, well knowing about place/time...
the guests will be surprised, but hey - the tuktuk driver knows also the destination,will have some "friends" there, perhaps a guy in police dress, and and and and and... they will cash in double and triple...
perhaps you try a tuktuk before developing the app...
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- MerkinMaker
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The fact that the problem you explain exists only strengthens the case for a business like this, it's an existing pain point and if the product can make that pain go away there will be a market. A review system for both sides of the transaction is critical, wasters will need to be weeded out quickly.potty wrote:i think its common knowledge in asian places, that pre-ordering a tuktuk is one the stupidest things to do, as in 90% of the cases they just wont show up, even if you have negiotated a very good price for THEM...
and so it will work with your enterprise... they will have engine trouble, wife got sick, police stopped them and whatever else...
instead of your "prepaid" tuktuk another tuktuk will show up and pick up the guys, well knowing about place/time...
the guests will be surprised, but hey - the tuktuk driver knows also the destination,will have some "friends" there, perhaps a guy in police dress, and and and and and... they will cash in double and triple...
perhaps you try a tuktuk before developing the app...
- Lucky Lucan
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How many Tuk-tuk drivers have smartphones FFS?
Romantic Cambodia is dead and gone. It's with McKinley in the grave.
Lucky Lucan wrote:How many Tuk-tuk drivers have smartphones FFS?
It's utter idiocy, and as potty (bless him) said, how many would turn up anyway? I can't even get the regular taxi drivers to turn up when I call them.
Every street corner in the entire city has tuk tuks waiting around. Walk 50 metres and you've been reverse hailed by another 2-3.
Seriously. You have to wonder what makes people think of nonsense like this and think it might be a good idea.
I agree with scobienz on this one.scobienz wrote:What a fucking dumbass idea. Seriously, do you have porridge for brains?
I refuse to go out with nothing more than a whimper followed by a small farting sound and a shit stain on my bed sheets..
Just thought I'd share that with you.
Just thought I'd share that with you.
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- MerkinMaker
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The more people who slam this idea because is can't work rather than it's not needed the better it looks. A startup unlike a traditional new business venture is about solving a problem which is surrounded in massive uncertainty, don't be afraid of cracking tough problems be much more worried about working to solve a problem that isn't a real pain point.scobienz wrote: I can't even get the regular taxi drivers to turn up when I call them.
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- MerkinMaker
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You can get Android phone for under $100 with the required hardware. The question is whether or not you could give the drivers enough business to make them want to make the investment. The key would be to start with a limited/closed beta, start in a small area with limited drivers and go heavy on marketing, give the first drivers lots and lots of business (word will then get out) then make a waiting list for drivers wanting to join. If drivers have to invest in a phone and wait to be added and you have very strict rules about service levels drivers will be incentivised to take it seriously.Lucky Lucan wrote:How many Tuk-tuk drivers have smartphones FFS?
I imagine they get a few a month with drunk Barangs leaving their phones in the tuk tuk when they get shit faced.Lucky Lucan wrote:How many Tuk-tuk drivers have smartphones FFS?
It can't work because it's not needed.starkmonster wrote:
The more people who slam this idea because is can't work rather than it's not needed the better it looks.
It's almost as silly as saving the money you will use to but a new moto if your current moto get stolen IN your current moto. Or a parachute that opens on impact.
An app to help you find a TukTuk in Phnom Penh? Seriously?
That's like......you get the idea..
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