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Asif Iqbal
Doha
Hiring a cab for just QR3? Yes, you heard that right.
Qatar Taxi, the latest addition to the ride-hailing apps in the country, is offering rides 50 percent cheaper than the nearest competition. Launched two months ago, the 100-percent local startup is gunning for a prime market position by offering cab rides for as low as QR3.
Like all the other ride-hailing apps, Qatar Taxi lets you hire a car with your smartphone. But unlike them, it also lets you choose from four ride options ” Mini, Medium, Large and Business.
'Mini' focuses on affordability, with a base fare at QR3 against its competitors' QR6. It is best suited for short-hauls and city rides with a maximum passenger limit of four. 'Medium' sets the starting fare at QR4 and gives the comforts of a big sedan. 'Large' is mostly used for airport pick-ups/drop-offs and group outings. It can seat up to seven passengers and the fare starts at QR7. 'Business' is meant for passengers who seek superior comforts and luxury. The company is working on a fifth option as well.
The app supports both online and offline payments and awards points that can be redeemed for other rides. The company is also working on another payment model in partnership with other firms.
In an exclusive interview with Qatar Tribune, Mubarak Salem, Business Development Manager at Qatar Taxi, said right pricing was just one part of the startup's growth mantra.
The app is gaining in popularity among the riders, fuelled by an intense market focus, strong local network and word-of-mouth, he added.
"With the best price, we provide our customers with clean cars and good drivers. There is no compromise on safety, security and convenience," Salem said.
By all means, the strategy seems to have struck a popular chord with the people in Qatar. Two months after Qatar Taxi's launch, more than 6,000 users have downloaded the app and around 1,000 drivers (cars) have registered to work for it. It also clocks in a weekly growth rate of around 25 percent, Salem said.
The startup currently focuses on catering to customers in and the surrounding areas of Doha, Al Rayyan and Al Wakrah, with a future plan to cover the entire country.
"Yes, we are the new kid on the block, but we have learned from the mistakes of others and avoided the pitfalls our competitors suffered, especially in protecting user data," Salem said.
The startup, he said, has a partnership with one of the largest international companies in cybersecurity and data protection."Our app offers the best and highest protection to user data," he added.
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28/05/2018
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