Not only difficult times for catering entrepreneurs, but also for service providers to this sector. Taxi companies receive bookings via the Taxi Butler. The striking little yellow-black box functions as a simple order kiosk and is often seen in bars, restaurants or at the reception of hotels. The Taxi Butlers are direct integrated With the software system of the taxi company and when the button is pressed, the order is processed within a few seconds. Yet these days the service also has a striking downside. Pubs and restaurants have not seen customers for months. The chance that bookings will come in from the cabinets is almost nil, but the costs continue to run for the taxi companies that place these cabinets in the hospitality industry.
The revenue model is simple. The taxi company places the boxes at the customers and pays a fixed amount per month to the supplier of the Taxi Butler. Software companies link the boxes and depending on the agreements made, the taxi operator pays an extra fee for this or the software company has made an appointment with Tooost BV, the supplier of the boxes, and receives a fee for this per box placed. The Taxi Butler hardware (device and EC charger) comes standard with a Vodafone SIM card.
save costs
Every little bit helps for taxi operators who have removed many Taxi Butlers from the hospitality industry in recent months to save costs. Street taxi companies in particular have to cut back and then a monthly invoice of 800, - EUR for the use of the boxes can quickly save costs. The supplier himself thinks along and has adapted the earnings model from a fee per box to a fee per transaction. Realistic in itself, but no customers in the hospitality industry is no transactions either. So fees for everyone are gone. No turnover, no transactions and still ongoing expenses. Removing the boxes is often a difficult decision for the taxi companies. Once the box has been removed, the competitor can easily replace the box and steal the customer. And a taxi company wants to prevent the latter.
alternatively available
In the meantime, the software sector is also busy. If the catering industry is allowed to reopen the doors, the alternative is a tablet with at least the same booking options. Software such as Pitane Arrive now has a fully-fledged alternative that can be used on a cheap tablet and passes on the bookings to the taxi company via the WiFi network. Hotel guests can even place the booking on the television from their hotel room via Pitane Arrive. The customer can book without the intervention of the reception employee. Prepaying the taxi ride via the tablet is also one of the many adjustable options. The software is part of the Pitane Mobility network and communicates with MaaS providers via the Tomp API, so that not only a taxi, but also a shared car, loan bicycle or scooter can soon be ordered.
Also read: TOMP must end spaghetti of connections
