Booking round-trips on cab aggregators; A possibly overlooked method

I believe the "Return Journey" suggestion will go down well with cab aggregators.

BHPian anjan_c2007 recently shared this with other enthusiasts.

Cab aggregators have multiple icons as can be seen on the two screenshots below. which apart from ride-related ones include food, test rides (2-wheeler EV not taxi) and more in respect of Ola. They do not have any icon or provision for a return journey by the same cab in case the passenger decides to return back to the place he started his journey from. A "Return Journey" icon with waiting charges will be of great service to their passengers.

The multiple icons sans any for the return journey here above

A few days ago, I had attended the marriage of the daughter of a departed friend who was close to me. The marriage was in a godforsaken corner of my city. Hence, realising that I will have to travel through roads and also no roads during this rainy and slushy season, I booked a cab aggregator's ride. It was in a lawn on a place almost just outside the city. While undertaking the journey on the Tata Indigo cab, I first realised that I was lucky to get a sturdy car and not those fragile ones that are also the "best-selling." I passed through dirt, potholes, namesake roads, narrow and suddenly becoming a bit wide, dirty nullahs, cow and buffalo abodes with the air filled with the oriental smell of their excreta and so on. Upon reaching the place I saw quite a few private cars parked at the lawn. The driver told me that my return journey could be tough as many drivers may cancel the duty. I requested him to wait a while so that I can finish my formalities at the venue and take back his cab. He readily agreed and volunteered with an extra tip. The App was bypassed. Other cab drivers simply do not oblige to requests for return journeys.

Even the elderly who go for shopping or errands and sell those desirous can benefit from the return journey icon, as in many cases their children/ others book the cabs for them.

I believe the "Return Journey" suggestion will go down well with cab aggregators who could also benefit and so also their cab drivers.

Update: In many cases in Tier II and III cities and also in Tier I cities the total distance (to and fro) to be covered may be less than 20 kms.

My contention was also for elders and senior citizens as stated in the OP who may require going to markets/ banks/social visits/ doctors and so on. In such cases, their dependents may be booking the cab. The return journey option ensures that they are able to return home by the same cab, hassle-free.

The "Return Journey" icon would also do good when near ones need to see off their kin at the airport, railway station or even bus stations and be able to come back home by the same cab.

Many passengers will be willing to pay for the waiting time at the aggregator's rates if they get such an option.

Here's what BHPian porsche_guy had to say on the matter:

The solution to your query sits right there in your screenshots. Most cab aggregators offer rental packages where you can hire a cab for a specific amount of time and distance. For example, Ola and Uber both offer packages of 2 hours/20km, 3 hours/30km and so on just like traditional fleet companies. These work well if you want flexibility in your schedule or a "return journey" as you put it.

Here's what BHPian FanaticOnWheels had to say on the matter:

The solution already exists, as mentioned by some users. If you want the flexibility of having a cab wait for you while you get your work done, you have the rentals option.

If it is about dropping someone (say, which has a short wait), you also have the option of adding a stop and setting the last location as the point from where you started.

Drivers would also look for minimum guarantees & better utilization of their vehicle/time, and it would be more lucrative for them to take another trip rather than wait for short durations (say 10 - 20 minutes). For anything more, you have packages starting from 1 hour I believe.

Here's what BHPian greenhorn had to say on the matter:

People asking for this feature really do not understand or do not care about how driver economics work.

On trip-based pricing - the drivers are paid by distance and the time costs are very nominal, they are better off making more money doing more trips than waiting. Try this with your local auto guy, you will also get the same response.

The solution, as many have pointed out is to get a cab on a rental tariff which values the time of the driver and compensates for it adequately.

If I were Uber or Swiggy, the only commercially feasible way to implement a return is essentially a prebooking of the return trip - with no guarantees.

Otherwise, you are just looking for the operator to implement a mechanism that forces the driver to waste his time without adequate compensation, especially when one is already offered which some are too economically challenged to use.

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