Are you currently looking for ways to build a ride-sharing app like Uber or Lyft? Here, we will discuss all you need to know about building an Uber-like app, and especially the technical side of things.
How Would an Uber-Like App Work?
Since your goal is to build an app similar to Uber, then it’s important to first understand how the Uber app works:
- A customer requests a ride through the app.
- The customer confirms the details of the request.
- The Uber app searches for drivers closest to the customer.
- The drivers can either accept or decline the job.
- When the customer has reached their destination, the fee gets deducted automatically from the customer’s account.
- The customer will be asked to rate the driver based on their experience.
Recreating Primary Features In a Uber-like App
An Uber-like ridesharing app would require us to create three separate app interfaces:
- An interface for the customers/riders
- An interface for the drivers
- An admin panel to ensure seamless functioning of the whole system
Below, we will discuss the essential features of each interface.
Primary Features for the Customer Interface
The app should include the following features:
- Account registration.
- Booking.
- Fare calculator.
- GPS tracking.
- Payments.
- Travel history.
- Messaging and voice calling.
- Book for others.
Primary Features for the Driver Interface
The dedicated app for driver-partners should include the following features:
- Notification: drivers would be notified when there’s an incoming ride request. The interface should provide information on the pickup location, destination, travel route, and other relevant information.
- Driver information: information about the driver like availability status, license, car insurance, etc.
- GPS map: the driver can use this feature to navigate the traffic to reach the destination, and would also receive notifications when there’s any heavy traffic ahead, change in optimal travel route, and so on.
- Reports: reports about trips and earnings
- Upcoming ride: the rider can be notified of the next ride while they are completing the existing ride.
Primary Features for the Admin / CRM Interface
Last but not least, an admin interface is essential to ensure the whole system. The Admin interface should ideally include the ability to monitor all features of both the driver’s and customer’s interfaces, including:
- Monitoring customer details
- Monitoring driver details
- Booking details and management
- Vehicle detail management
- Location and fares monitoring and adjustment
- Communication features (messaging/calling)
- Rating and reviews management
- Promotions and discounts management
- Payroll
- Customer support
- Content management system (CMS)
Technological Requirements for Building an Uber-Like App
Although as we can see from the above features, building an Uber-like app can be quite complex. Importantly, there are three technological requirements in building these features:
1. Payment Integration
The uber-like app must be able to calculate fares, process payments, and confirm transactions in real-time. A proper payment gateway integration must be implemented in the app.
Furthermore, for an app to start accepting online payments, you’ll need to first meet certain regulations. Partnering with a payment gateway company will allow you to reduce the compliance on your end.
Thus, including payment decides whether your organization meets local regulations. Meaning, getting approved for payment integration can be difficult and time-consuming, often with lengthy paperwork.
2. Navigation and Mapping
Uber-like apps use geo-locations for navigating from one point to another. A fairly simple solution is to integrate with ready-made mapping technologies like Google Maps. Note each map lookup does cost as a business, so be sure to factor in the cost.
3. Real-Time Push Notifications
Another important technical requirement when developing an Uber-like app is to ensure real-time notifications. These do again come with a cost, so do your research on who would be the best partner.
Partner with fieldd Customer App To Build Your Uber-Like App
With all the technical requirements discussed above, it’s virtually impossible to build your Uber-like app without an experienced app development team.
This is why partnering with an experienced but cost-effective developer partner like fieldd for your service company is important.
In summary, partnering with fieldd Customer App, you’ll get benefits like:
- No developers and no coding required
- Simple and intuitive visual-editor where you can customize:
- Logos
- Fonts
- Colors
- Services
- Products
- Cost-effective, only $99 for setup and ongoing fee.
- Fast turnaround time, you only need 3 to 4 weeks of development for your app to go live
- In-app push notifications included.
- In-app contactless payment integration.
- Share the app with friends and family with their unique share code. You can arrange campaigns like offering free credit from the person who shares the code.
- Live tracking and secure live chat feature allowing real-time tracking.