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Enable radio taxi like service for local transport (auto rick)
  • Vote Up1Vote Down kulkarninikhil
    The idea is to connect locals with the local transport in a given area - something like a "location based app" using SMS as a channel (considering that auto drivers may not have App/ Wap enabled phones). Rick driver can check in or check out at a location indicating that he is ready to take fare in that area (say Brigade Rd or Jayanagar). Along with this he will specify few other details like which direction is more preferred (Towards Hosur or Towards Domlur / Indira Nagar etc), what is his minimum fare distance etc.

    When a consumer wants to go somewhere, s/he enters their src / dest and in return they get back mbl no & auto rick number for all (or lets say first 5) ricks in his vicinity which are ready to go his destination. Then it is left to the consumer to pick & choose and directly call up a rick and negotiate! (the app will also order then taxis with its own algo - we can discuss the details later)

    The troubling part in this is that for this app to be successful is not developing the app but that we will need to market this app among rick drivers. Without adoption by 
    ricks we wont have any utility for this app. I have been sitting on this idea because I don't see how I can take out the time for doing this marketing. I was initially looking for someone with sales / channel marketing experience to partner with to launch this. Found a few folks but all were busy with their work and no one could devote time.

    If any startup can devote time to the marketing effort then it makes sense to start thinking of the technical layer of this idea!
  • 7 Comments sorted by
  • Vote Up0Vote Down binarysemaphore
    What is the incentive for rick drivers to sign up ? You need to give them some incentive (may be in form of some money) to sign up for this. 

    You can make up for this money by inserting advertisements in messages that customers get for rick drivers' phone numbers. Since customer already entered source and destination, you already know where he/she is headed and can do targeted ads in that message.


  • Vote Up0Vote Down rgovind
    why this kolaveri :P

    What problem are you solving? Is it just for kicks?

    Btw, I would suggest someone do something about so-called rude auto drivers in bangalore. We could start a corporate company with uniformed auto drivers and predecided auto fares. Further, we could instruct our drivers to not drive rash and we could provide AC in the auto so that its not painful in summers.

    What say?
  • Vote Up0Vote Down sukhneersukhneer
    I read your idea a couple of times but I still cant understand what core problem you are trying to solve.

    Food for thought, Wouldnt it be path breaking if a satellite mapping company released a live feed of an area or city. One could do all kinds of image recognition and map exactly where all the "auto ricks" are or the nearest parking spot in real time !
  • Vote Up0Vote Down SameerSameer
    I think what OPs proposing is, at its core, a local search like offering for mobile/dynamic vendors. Immediate problem is that of finding an auto in one's vicinity (especially true in the suburbs or backroads at some distance from the auto stands/routes) 

    Done right, might even enable other commerce - say courier pickup/delivery. 
    Sameer, Bangalore
    http://linger.in
  • Vote Up0Vote Down ankit_govilankit_govil
    My understanding is your idea is quite similar yo http://www.pluggd.in/indian-startups/auto-rickshaw-bangalore-easyauto-4075/ . However, the threats from auto unions and technology investment are quite high compared to the returns expected.

    However, If you can be innovative you can execute it.
  • Vote Up0Vote Down brijrajVbrijrajV
    @kulkarninikhil. We are working on similar initiatives. Send me a mail at brijrajv  @ gmail dot com to know more. 
  • Vote Up0Vote Down rgovind
    @ankit_govil,

    Can you tell us more about what threats to expect from auto unions? Doesn't this help them?

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