Taiwan Taxi S ICall System
Taiwan Taxi’s iCall System: Realizing the Value of GPS-Dispatch Systems
1. Why do you think Comfort Taxi was able to attract 16,000 taxi drivers and to adopt the GPS-dispatch system within two years, whereas Taiwan Taxi managed to recruit only 6,700 members over a seven-year span?
Jun-Ze Hong, Taiwan Taxi founder chose iCall, the GPS-dispatch system developed by Comfort Taxi to be implemented in Taiwan Taxi because of the following reasons:
Taipei and Singapore were deemed similar in terms of geographical size and metropolitan traffic problems.
The GPS-dispatch system in Singapore had maintained a higher standard of dispatch efficiency and service quality.
Comfort Taxi had been using this system for more than eight years and attracted 16,000 taxi drivers within two years.
Thus Taiwan Taxi had expected to attract more than 6,000 members in the first two years and 20,000 members in the fourth year after implementing the proven iCall technology. However, in the seven-year span, Taiwan Taxi managed to attract only 6,700 members. This unexpectedly low turnout may be explained as follows:
Some drivers quit because they did not receive enough calls dispatched through to them to justify subscription fees. Some drivers thought that the dispatch system was not fair as other drivers received more dispatches than they did.
In Taipei, taxis are easily available due to oversaturation. This led to a belief among drivers that they did not have to join a taxi company as they could still get passengers from the streets. Also, it was perceived that the passengers did not really think it was necessary to ‘book’ taxi due to availability.
In Singapore, Comfort Taxi used a vehicle-leasing model, whereas Taiwan Taxi used a subscription model. In Taiwan, many taxi drivers drove their own vehicles, and would easily switch the taxi companies if they thought they were getting a better deal.
Some drivers lacked faith in the GPS system and preferred the old fashioned way of
1. Why do you think Comfort Taxi was able to attract 16,000 taxi drivers and to adopt the GPS-dispatch system within two years, whereas Taiwan Taxi managed to recruit only 6,700 members over a seven-year span?
Jun-Ze Hong, Taiwan Taxi founder chose iCall, the GPS-dispatch system developed by Comfort Taxi to be implemented in Taiwan Taxi because of the following reasons:
Taipei and Singapore were deemed similar in terms of geographical size and metropolitan traffic problems.
The GPS-dispatch system in Singapore had maintained a higher standard of dispatch efficiency and service quality.
Comfort Taxi had been using this system for more than eight years and attracted 16,000 taxi drivers within two years.
Thus Taiwan Taxi had expected to attract more than 6,000 members in the first two years and 20,000 members in the fourth year after implementing the proven iCall technology. However, in the seven-year span, Taiwan Taxi managed to attract only 6,700 members. This unexpectedly low turnout may be explained as follows:
Some drivers quit because they did not receive enough calls dispatched through to them to justify subscription fees. Some drivers thought that the dispatch system was not fair as other drivers received more dispatches than they did.
In Taipei, taxis are easily available due to oversaturation. This led to a belief among drivers that they did not have to join a taxi company as they could still get passengers from the streets. Also, it was perceived that the passengers did not really think it was necessary to ‘book’ taxi due to availability.
In Singapore, Comfort Taxi used a vehicle-leasing model, whereas Taiwan Taxi used a subscription model. In Taiwan, many taxi drivers drove their own vehicles, and would easily switch the taxi companies if they thought they were getting a better deal.
Some drivers lacked faith in the GPS system and preferred the old fashioned way of