Easy Taxi, one of the main taxi booking apps in Singapore, has just announced a partnership with chatting app WeChat: WeChat users can now book taxis directly via the messaging app.
How does it work? New users can download the WeChat app and simply follow Easy Taxi’s official WeChat account (WeChat ID: EasyTaxiSGP) to be able to use the taxi booking function.
“In the age of mobile internet, much of our social interactions are conducted via our smart phones. Integrating Easy Taxi into WeChat is a logical decision, as it gives consumers an integrated experience both online and offline,” said Jianggan Li, Co-Founder and Managing Director of Easy Taxi Singapore.
“This is our first taxi partnership in Asia, and we are excited to work with Easy Taxi and offer its services to our users,” said Poshu Yeung, Vice President of International Business Group at Tencent, the company behind the WeChat app. He added that the partnership between WeChat and Easy Taxi will bring an enriching experience to users, enabling them to book taxis and travel through the city easily.
To launch the partnership, Easy Taxi is offering $5 off on taxi fares for bookings made through WeChat. As an added incentive, taxi drivers will also get an additional $1 per successful booking made through the messaging app. For example, if the total fare is $22, passengers will only pay $17. Taxi drivers, on the other hand, will earn $23. Users of the popular messaging app can send Easy Taxi a private message to receive the promo code to avail of this exclusive offer.
In a few weeks’ time, Easy Taxi will integrate its cashless payment feature on the WeChat platform, giving users a true hassle-free urban travel experience. It is also working with companies such as FoodPanda to enable a full suite of lifestyle services through WeChat.
The partnership will be extended to other countries where both WeChat and Easy Taxi are available, following the pilot programme in Singapore.
Booking through WeChat is available beginning 16 July 2014, and the special fare concession will run until the end of the month. For more details, please follow Easy Taxi’s WeChat official account: EasyTaxiSGP.
Heating Up Competition with GrabTaxi
Undeniably, the taxi booking feature through a messaging app is innovative. However, Easy Taxi is competing against rival app GrabTaxi, which recently also expanded its service to include those who needs a ride in a premium car.
We also wrote that there are some taxi drivers who are using these third party taxi booking apps almost exclusively to pick up customers.
We are keeping a look out for what taxi operators will do next.
