Driver Tracking Software

Case Study - Updated 13th April 2011

The Software Brief

Building the Driver Tracking software for British Airport Transfers was phase two in taking their private hire taxi service to the next level. They had clear goals for their business, rather than for the software, so wanted to draw on our expertise and have us to take the lead in producing a brief.

Their goals were:

1. Increase the number of bookings they could manage, without employing more admin staff.
2. Improve customer service, by knowing where their drivers were at all times.
3. Ensure drivers were located in popular or sensible locations when they had no booking.
4. Eliminate as much communication with drivers as possible.

To achieve these goals, we developed a real time web app for the admin staff and a mobile Android app for the drivers.

The Project

The Web Application

We immediately identified that this new system had to be visual. By using icons for drivers and journeys on a Google Map, we made it possible for the admin staff to see an overview of the current situation at all times.

Being able to see the journeys and drivers wasn’t going to be enough. The admin staff needed to be able to interact with the system, all through the same screen. We produced customised Google Maps, allowing admin staff to allocate or de-allocate bookings to and from drivers, view detailed journey information, send questions or messages to drivers, and even see the status of inbound flights to UK airports - all in real time.

The Android Application

In order for the drivers to get the most from the application, we felt it had to be quick and easy to use. To achieve this, we ensured as much of the application could run in the background as possible. The app silently checks for new messages, jobs, and tracks its GPS location, reporting it back to the web application - all without bothering the driver.

To keep the user interface tidy, we neatly placed each of the application’s specific uses into tabs, much like the tabs you use in your web browser. The tabs are:

• Main - Allows the driver to view their current journey, update their status, and even activate SatNav.
• Jobs - Allows the driver to view the list of jobs currently allocated to them.
• Messages - Allows the driver to see unread/unanswered messages.
• Logout - Allows the driver to log out of the application.
• SOS - Allows the driver to send an instant SOS message to the admin staff.

End Result

The project took three months, with all four goals being achieved, in particular:

• 300 minutes per day spent on administration has been eliminated - the team can focus on improving customer service and better marketing.
• £6000 per year is being saved by eliminating SMS communication between controllers and drivers.

Tom, Joel, Michael, and Christian worked on this project. Tom and Joel worked on the planning and system architecture, with Tom then leading the development with Michael's assistance. Christian made everything look nice!

Like what you see?

As well as developing bespoke business web apps like this one, we can develop commercial apps for public use on both Android and iPhone platforms. We are based in Eastbourne and would love to help your business harness the power of technology and realise its potential. For more information, fill out our contact form or call us on 01323 760760.