How to build an app like Uber: Business prospects, benefits, and cost
People living in cosmopolitan cities are used to hectic traffic and lack of parking space. Nowadays, they do not prefer their cars to work as they find it hard to drive in the traffic that moves at a snail’s pace. People started to choose personal car rides over city buses owing to its comfort and speed. The advent of the Uber app has seeded the change in the people’s mindset and has also inspired entrepreneurs to change their perception of the ride-hailing services sector. It is wise for entrepreneurs to develop an app like Uber as ride-hailing apps’ market share is soaring. The rise of multiple ride-hailing apps and the integration of exclusive features have heated the market.
Benefits of developing an app like Uber for your business:
Real-time location tracking:
The integration of real-time tracking features makes your services more desirable. It helps customers and the admin team to track the real-time location of the drivers. Developers commonly use Google API locators and CoreLocation framework for Android and iOS apps, respectively. Since the Google Maps app is available on Android and iOS platforms, entrepreneurs can buy map services. To further enhance the navigation for drivers, Mapkit and Google Maps APIs can be used for iOS and Android apps, respectively.
Seamless management:
Entrepreneurs who offer ride-hailing services with a traditional business model will be aware of the challenges it poses. Although it seems complicated for a single portal to manage the whole fleet, developers have cracked the possible way. There is no room for confusion arising from phone calls, irresponsible drivers, and other complications. Integrating the technological tools into your existing business model will improve your efficiency and practicality.
Boost your overall revenue:
Building an Uber clone app for your existing taxi business will present many opportunities to expand your business. The app’s flexibility and unlimited customization options make it easier for entrepreneurs to widen their service area. It is a worthy investment to make as the app lets freelancer drivers work for you. As they will bring their own vehicles, you can quickly expand your business to more places. The app establishes a win-win situation for both parties as freelance drivers can earn in their part-time, and you will charge a commission fee for every ride.
Factors that determine the cost of developing an app like Uber:
Although numerous apps in the market offer similar services, no two apps would have the same development cost. Every development team in the market will present their product preloaded with basic features, but you will need more than that to establish a good relationship with your customers. The app’s general concept must be tweaked appropriately to realize your vision and achieve your business goals ultimately. Here are the factors that influence the cost of app development:
Features:
The set of features that pick to integrate into your app significantly influences the overall development cost. The more features you choose to incorporate into your app increases its complexity. Complex applications consume more time from the developer’s side and eventually increases the cost of hiring them. It is recommended that entrepreneurs launch their MVP initially and gradually pick up pace as customers start to use their services.
Your business model:
Your business model plays a vital role in determining the cost of development. You can customize the app to suit your business needs. Each type of business in the market will require different levels of investments.
App platform:
It is recommended that entrepreneurs should develop their apps for both Android and iOS users. But if you fall short of budget, it would be wise to create an MVP in either one of the platforms depending on your user demographics. You can gradually pick up your pace and launch your app on other platforms.
Technologies used:
Business analysts would recommend you develop a native app instead of going for a hybrid app. They differ in various aspects like architecture, programming languages, etc. Even though you have no technical knowledge, it is better to gain a minimal understanding of the technologies used to build your app. The following technology stack is widely used by developers worldwide:
Application and data:
- Jquery
- Python
- Node.js
- React
- Java
- MySQL
- PostgreSQL
- MongoDB
- Nginx
- Amazon EC2
- Redls
- Go
- Swift
- Kafka
- Objective-C
- Backbone.js
- Cassandra
- Hadoop
- Apache Spark
- AresDB
- M3
- RIBs
- Apache Thrift
DevOps:
- Makisu
- Peloton
- Brunch
- Naglos
- Sentry
- Require JS
- Zookeeper
- Graphite
- Jaeger
- Peloton
- Zap
- Prometheus
- Puppet Labs
- Kraken by Uber
Business tools:
- G Suite
- Asana
- Zendesk
- Mattermost
- OneLogin
- iDoneThis
- Delighted
In a nutshell:
To sum up, developing an Uber clone app will help you streamline the on-demand services sector’s full potential. This is when the skills and experience of your Uber clone app development team come into force. It is worth mentioning that you can use a dynamic pricing model to change the fares according to current traffic conditions, drivers’ availability, peak/late hours, holidays, etc. You will also have multiple revenue streams to boost your overall revenue.
