Uber recently revamped its app to add an array of new features. Apart from putting more focus on the destination than the type of vehicle for the ride, it added the option of integrating calendar to automatically display suitable destination suggestions. Lyft has added a similar option giving users the choice to integrate the native phone calendar or Google Calendar to cut down the steps in booking a ride to the right destination.

Of course for the feature to work, you will have to add proper addresses to your calendar entries instead of vague identifiers. The feature is available through the ‘add from calendar’ option. Soon the app will also include the option to add destinations other than home and work so that one doesn’t have to enter them manually whenever required. This will reduce the friction and speed up the process, something the users will really appreciate when calling a cab from roadside.

As it is apparent (and highlighted by Uber), Uber uses machine learning to display destination suggestions which certainly is interesting but might not be always accurate. Lyft take a much simpler route and simply asks the user to add preferences. Expect to see more cab aggregators all over match the features in near future.

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AHA Taxis has roped in two senior professionals, Shailly Tyagi, earlier co-founder at markNmove and Ghanendra Singh, earlier co-founder at LogiXir to its team. The online aggregator of outstation cabs has placed both these ex-cofounders at senior strategic roles.

Shaily Tyagi will head the Customer Experience where she will be overseeing the operations of the company. She had head markNmove, an inter-city logistic marketplace. Shailly has also worked at InnovationM, a consultancy in mobility sector and at HCL Infosystem where she began her career. markNmove was a step to organise the chaotic market of Indian logistics with a focus on optimising shipments through its technology proprietary platform.

Ghanendra Singh will head AHA Taxis’s department of Driver-Partner Engagement. He was the co-founder Bangalore-based LogiXir, an intra-city logistic firm. He’s previously worked with Force Motors and VE Commercial Vehicles Ltd. Ghanendra is an MBA from IIM Indore.

Amit Grover, co-founder and CEO at AHA Taxis, said,

“We are delighted to welcome two seasoned start-up professionals to our team. Both Shailly Tyagi and Ghanendra Singh have had an intense first innings with start-ups and I am confident that they will add immense value at AHA Taxis in managing customers and partner relationships respectively and helping AHA Taxis to the next level.”

The cab aggregator claims to be present in 300 cities and was founded in January 2015. Know more about them here.

Source: Tech2

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Jugnoo, the on demand auto rickshaw aggregator has raised $5.5 million (approx. 37.5 crore) in series-B round led by Paytm with participation from Snow Leopard. In November last year, Jugnoo had raised $3 million in the first slice of this funding followed by $2.5 million adding up to a series-B round of $5.5 million. Previously it has raised $5 million in series A funding in May and $1 million before that.

Chandigarh based auto rickshaw aggregator Jugnoo was founded by Chinmay Agarwal and Samar Singla in 2014. It operates in 22 cities and will expand to more parts of the country using the funds. The funds will also be used in setting up new offices, incentivise and reward the drivers and ramp up marketing activities.

While there are multiple companies operating in the auto aggregator space, the scale of most of them doesn’t pose any real threat to Jugnoo. However things are slightly different if we take the cab aggregators in equation. Ola allows its users to book auto rickshaws through its app. Uber also offers the option to book auto rickshaws through its app in many regions. Both Uber and Ola have got a strong user base and are constantly adding new cities to their list.

Jugnoo is likely to look at entering new cities before the cab aggregators to have a head start and build user base. Aggressive promotion will also be required to catalyse the process. Jugnoo is not only offering auto rickshaws for local travel but also using them for hyperlocal delivery services. With Jugnoo gearing up to surge ahead, it will be interesting to see how things turn out in the auto aggregator segment and how the smaller local players respond to that.

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