FREENOW launches new services in response to passenger & driver needs
Almost two-thirds of passengers rely on prebooks for trips to the airport - new Airport Prebook Promise will compensate passengers for any potential delayed or cancelled trips
One in two passengers appreciate the reassurance of booking a taxi via phonecall, new FREENOW Taxi Booking Line will make booking trips more accessible
A quarter of taxi drivers need a rented vehicle to work as part of the national fleet – new FREENOW Taxi Marketplace creates a free platform connecting taxi drivers and vehicle renters directly
Monday, 2 September 2024: FREENOW, Ireland’s No.1 Taxi App, has officially launched a range of new services to improve its offering for both passengers and driver partners. These new services include: an Airport Prebook Promise initiative, a dedicated national Taxi Booking Line, and the launch of FREENOW Taxi Marketplace, a platform where drivers can easily rent a taxi from vehicle owners.
Airport Prebook Promise
FREENOW’s Prebooking service allows passengers to schedule trips up to four days in advance, with a significant number of customers relying on this service to plan their journey ahead of time. It is especially popular when planning important journeys, with *64% of FREENOW passengers using the prebook feature when travelling to the airport. FREENOW is committed to delivering a reliable service every time, and its new Airport Prebook Promise will ensure passengers are compensated if any pre-booked taxis to airports (Dublin, Cork, Shannon/Limerick and Knock) are delayed or cancelled - a €15 voucher will be provided if the taxi is late by 10 minutes or more, and a €50 voucher will be provided if the trip doesn’t happen.
FREENOW Taxi Booking Line: Enhancing Taxi Booking Accessibility
To make its booking process more accessible in line with certain passenger needs and preferences, FREENOW has launched a new Taxi Booking Line. The dedicated national phone line, exclusively for bookings, will be available seven days a week from 5 am -1 am Sunday to Thursday, and 5 am- 3 am Friday and Saturday, allowing passengers to book taxis by calling 1800 30 30 30.
The dedicated national phone line is intended for users who may not have access to a smartphone, those with specific accessibility requirements and anyone who prefers to make a taxi booking by speaking to someone directly.
Recent data from the NTA** highlights public preference for taxi phone lines, with 40% of passengers in Ireland ordering taxis by phone. Additionally, according to a recent FREENOW survey, 49% of passengers appreciate the reassurance of a phone line, and a further 35% would opt to book via the phone because they like dealing directly with another person.
FREENOW Taxi Marketplace: Facilitating Vehicle Rental for Drivers
Almost a quarter of FREENOW driver partners currently rely on vehicle rental to operate as taxi drivers. To create a new and straightforward way to access taxis for rent, FREENOW has created a free Taxi Marketplace. The new complementary platform will connect taxi drivers directly with taxi vehicle owners, allowing them to rent vehicles from each other via the new online listing platform.
FREENOW is confident this initiative will support drivers, lowering barriers to entry for new drivers by making vehicles more accessible and affordable.
Charlie Gleeson, General Manager of FRENOW says they are committed to continuous improvement,
“At FREENOW we strive to continuously improve the service we offer to ensure that we’re meeting our passengers' and drivers' needs and preferences. The services we're launching today are a direct response to feedback we have received from both passengers and drivers, and we are confident they will provide an even better user experience moving forward.
With our Prebook service and new Airport Prebook Promise, we want our passengers to book journeys with confidence and enjoy the best possible service. Our new national phoneline broadens our booking accessibility, enabling more passengers to book a taxi with FREENOW in a way that works for them. And for our driver partners, we’re excited to launch the FREENOW Taxi Marketplace, making renting a vehicle simpler and more efficient for one in four drivers and, most importantly, removing the barriers to entry for new taxi drivers. These updates demonstrate our ongoing commitment to continuously enhance and invest in the services we provide to both our passengers and driver partners”.
ENDS
More details about new services:
FREENOW Taxi Marketplace – How it works?
1. Individual taxi or taxi fleet owners sign up on the marketplace platform.
2. Owners create a post to rent their vehicle, including details like location, description, price, and images.
3. Taxi drivers looking to rent can browse these listings and connect directly with vehicle owners through the chat function.
4. Once a deal is agreed upon, terms can be finalised between the two parties.
5. Payment is made outside the platform directly between the parties.
Notes to editor:
For more information on the new services, please visit https://www.free-now.com/ie/
**The Taxi User Research by the NTA can be accessed here: https://www.nationaltransport.ie/news/taxi-user-research-may-2023/
The Driver Survey mentioned was carried out in June 2024 amongst 900+ FREENOW driver partners.
*The Passenger Survey mentioned was carried out in June 2024 amongst 4,000+ FREENOW passengers.
ABOUT FREENOW
FREENOW is Europe’s multi-mobility app with taxi offering at its core, available in 9 European markets and over 150 cities. FREENOW users can access various mobility services within a single app, including taxis, PHV, carsharing, car rental, eScooters, eBikes, eMopeds and public transport. FREENOW partners with numerous mobility brands and aggregates their offering with the ambition to make urban mobility more efficient and sustainable without adding new vehicles on the street. The Germany-based company is backed by the BMW Group and Mercedes-Benz Mobility. FREENOW is led by CEO Thomas Zimmermann.
Visit our Website for further information and download the FREENOW app for iOS or Android
