Taxify now has over 1 000 drivers and has provided over 10 000 rides since it entered SA in April. The transport start-up from Estonia has a similar model to Uber, but claims to pay its driver-partners more.
Taxify is available across Europe and in Mexico, and recently launched in Nairobi, Kenya. The start-up has backers from Skype.
Earlier this year, the app was made available in Cape Town and Johannesburg. The company says it decided to enter this market as it saw opportunity in improving the quality of service for both drivers and clients.
Taxify works on the same principle as Uber of not actually employing drivers but allowing them to use the technology platform. Drivers can own more than one car.
"We don't compete on the market with cheaper prices but rather offer better conditions for drivers. We take lower commissions and set prices which are a bit higher. Our partners earn on average 40% more per trip than with competitors," says Taxify GM Clint Sheraton.
"The recent discomfort of drivers with our competitor added an opportunity so we grabbed it. If they don't treat drivers fair, then someone else will and we are second to the market."
Taxify works the same way as Uber, through a smartphone application, and also allows riders to pay via cash or card.
If differs from Uber by offering a call line (0861TAXIFY) to non-app users and those who cannot get Internet connectivity in certain areas at times.
It costs R7.50 per kilometre to ride with Taxify and drivers get a set 15% commission.
Sheraton says the requirements for new drivers are stringent. "This creates less risk to riders and in turn we have more quality drivers."
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